Business setup cost in Dubai. The whole number, not the headline.
Because business setup is just the beginning. A free zone license starts from AED 12,500 in Dubai and AED 9,999 in the other emirates. What that figure does not include — authority fees, residence visas, premises, the annual renewal — is where the surprises live. We put all of it in writing before you commit.
- 100% foreign ownership, with a renewable residence visa
- License in 2–5 working days, subject to activity and approvals
- From AED 12,500 in Dubai, AED 9,999 in the other emirates
- Flexible payment plans via Tabby and selected bank cards
- Free 30-minute consultation
- Itemised cost breakdown
- No obligation
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- 2–5 days typical license timeline
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What makes up the cost
Every line that goes into a UAE company setup
The same 6 lines apply whichever route you take — they just behave differently. This is the comparison worth having before you look at any headline figure.
| What you are paying for | Free zone | Mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Trade license | The core line, set by the zone. From AED 12,500 in Dubai and AED 9,999 in the other emirates; an e-commerce license starts from AED 5,999. | The Dubai trade license cost, set by the authority and driven by your activity and which approvals it triggers. |
| Government and authority fees | Charged on top of the license, varying by zone, activity and visa count. | Charged on top, and typically wider — external approvals apply to some activities. |
| Premises | A flexi-desk is usually sufficient, and often bundled into the package. | Physical premises with a registered Ejari tenancy are generally required — usually the largest single line. |
| Residence visas | Quoted per person. Allocation is generally capped by your package. | Quoted per person. No fixed cap — premises size usually decides how many you can hold. |
| Annual renewal | License and visas renew. Worth knowing the figure before year one, not during it. | License, tenancy and visas all renew, on their own cycles. |
| Corporate tax and VAT | Registration and ongoing accounting, once the relevant thresholds apply. | Registration and ongoing accounting, once the relevant thresholds apply. |
Indicative only. Government and authority fees, thresholds and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authorities and change from time to time. Which lines apply to you depends on your activity, structure and visa count. Your written proposal itemises your actual figures before you commit to anything.
The cost of setting up a company in Dubai moves on 3 variables and no others: what you are licensing, how many residence visas you need, and whether your activity requires physical premises. Settle those 3 and the number stops moving — every figure below is a consequence of one of them.
Partnered with almost every free zone in the UAE
- IFZA Dubai
- Meydan FZ Dubai
- DMCC Dubai
- DIFC Dubai
- JAFZA Dubai
- RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah
- SHAMS Sharjah
- ADGM Abu Dhabi
And many more
Indicative only. Zone names shown are a selection of those we work with. Activity lists, visa allocations, premises rules, fees and processing times are set by each free zone authority and can change at any time. Creative Zone prepares and submits applications and supports you through the process; all approval decisions rest with the authority concerned.
What we handle
What the fee actually buys
6 things have to happen for a UAE company to actually operate and bank. Each sits with a different body, which is why people hand the lot to one firm rather than managing six relationships.
Free zone or mainland
Which one you need, and what it changes about the cost
This single decision moves the number more than anything else, because it decides whether you need premises. It also decides who you are allowed to sell to, which matters longer.
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Most businesses
Free zone company
Selling internationally, or services from anywhere
- 100% foreign ownership, with no local partner required
- A renewable residence visa for you, and family you sponsor
- No premises requirement in most zones — a flexi-desk is typically enough
- A trade license in Dubai free zone jurisdictions is faster and cheaper to set up than mainland
- Visa allocation is generally capped by your package
- Selling into the UAE domestic market usually needs a distributor or a mainland branch
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Selling inside the UAE
Mainland company
UAE customers, retail, or government contracts
- Trade directly with customers anywhere in the UAE
- Eligible to bid for government and semi-government work
- 100% foreign ownership on most commercial activities
- Physical premises with a registered Ejari tenancy are generally required
- No fixed visa cap — premises size usually decides it
- We will tell you on the call if this is the better fit
| Free zone | Mainland | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can sell | Inside your zone and internationally. Selling into the UAE market usually needs a distributor or a mainland branch. | Directly to customers anywhere in the UAE, plus export. |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership across the board. | 100% foreign ownership on most commercial and industrial activities. |
| Premises | A flexi-desk is usually sufficient. | Physical premises with a registered Ejari tenancy are generally required. |
| Setup speed | Faster, with fewer external approvals for most activities. | Longer, because premises, Ejari and any external approvals sit inside the timeline. |
| Visa allocation | Generally capped by your package, with more available at extra cost. | No fixed cap — driven by the size of your premises. |
| Typical starting cost | From AED 9,999 in the other emirates, AED 12,500 in Dubai. | Quoted individually — premises and approvals vary too widely to publish. |
Residence visas
The residence visa a free zone license gives you
A license supports a renewable residence visa — for you, and the family you sponsor on it. Here are the routes, and where the Golden Visa genuinely sits.
| Visa route | Who it is for | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Investor visa Dubai — owner or partner | You, as owner or partner in your own company. This is the visa a free zone license supports, and what people search as a Dubai investment visa or Dubai business residence visa. | 2 years, renewable |
| Employee visa | Staff you hire under your license. How many you can hold is generally capped by your package, with more available at extra cost. | 2 years, renewable |
| Family and dependants | Spouse, children and in many cases parents, sponsored on your own residence visa once it is issued. | Tied to your visa |
| Golden Visa | A separate route with its own qualifying criteria — property investment at a set threshold, public investment, or recognition as a specialist. Setting up a company does not grant one. | 10 years, renewable |
There is no permanent residency in the UAE. Every route above renews, the Golden Visa included. A business visa Dubai-side, a Dubai free zone visa, a Dubai freezone visa — they describe the same renewable investor route your license supports. Anyone implying a company license comes with a Golden Visa is selling you something that does not exist. The free zone visa Dubai cost is quoted per person alongside your license, not bundled into a headline figure.
What it costs
What it costs to set up
Your final figure depends on the zone, the activities you license, how many residence visas you need and whether you take physical space. These are the honest starting points, and they are the same numbers your advisor works from.
Payment plans available — the cost can be spread rather than paid up front.
- Free zone license — Dubai
- from AED 12,500
- Free zone license — other emirates
- from AED 9,999
- E-commerce license
- from AED 5,999
- Residence visas
- Quoted per person
- Mainland license
- Quoted individually
Starting prices, exclusive of government and authority fees that vary by zone, activity and visa count. Mainland pricing depends on activity and premises, so we quote it directly rather than publishing a figure that would mislead you. Every line is itemised in your written proposal before you commit.
How it works
How you get from a question to a real number
You keep the same advisor from the first call through to renewal.
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Step 1Tell us what the business does
30 minutes on your activity, where your customers are, how many visas you need and whether you want premises. An advisor calls you, not a call centre.
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Step 2Get the real number in writing
A written proposal with every line itemised — license, government and authority fees, visas, premises if any, and what renews annually. Comparable against anyone else’s without guessing what has been left out.
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Step 3License applied for
Name reservation, incorporation documents and the license application prepared and submitted to the zone authority.
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Step 4Visas, banking and tax
Establishment card and residence visas processed, bank introduction made, and corporate tax and VAT registration completed.
Meet the team behind your next chapter
In the UAE since 2010, 75,000 companies set up and 15+ languages spoken across the floor. Your advisor stays with you from the first call through to your first renewal — no handover to a processing team you have never spoken to.
Book A Free Consultation
Trusted by 75,000+ Entrepreneurs
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“From start to finish, the process was incredibly smooth and stress-free.”
I had an excellent experience with the team assisting me with my visa renewal. From start to finish, the process was incredibly smooth and stress-free.
A huge thank you to Racky, Roxanne, and Julie — their communication was outstanding throughout. Every step was clearly explained, instructions were simple and easy to follow, and they were always quick to respond to any questions I had. Their professionalism and attention to detail gave me complete confidence that everything was being handled properly.
Dennis Joseph -
“The entire team is extremely efficient and professional.”
I had an excellent experience with Creative Zone and couldn’t be more satisfied with their service. The entire team is extremely efficient and professional, and everything was handled with impressive speed from start to finish. What really stands out is their well-organized logistics, which makes both sending and receiving documentation smooth, clear, and stress-free.
Creative Zone is a reliable and trustworthy agency that I highly recommend to anyone looking for fast, efficient, and well-managed services. An outstanding experience overall!
Manuel Grandi -
“I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to establish a business.”
They were incredibly professional, responsive, and knowledgeable about every step of the process. The team made what can often be a complicated setup feel smooth and stress-free. Their attention to detail and commitment to getting everything right stood out. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to establish a business efficiently and with complete confidence.
Daniel Harris -
“..helped me out sorting my Emirates ID.”
Creative Zone recently helped me out sorting my Emirates ID. The process was quick and smooth. They were always happy to help with any questions I had and supported me with the required documents. If you're looking to get your Emirates ID sorted - highly recommend using Creative Zone.
Ben Clucas -
“..incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful..”
I had a great experience with Creative Zone! From the very beginning, their team was incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. Every question I had was answered clearly and with patience. They made the process feel smooth and stress-free, which I truly appreciated. Special thanks to Judianna, for her professionalism and prompt response to my follow-ups - quick and reliable. I highly recommend Creative Zone to anyone looking for trustworthy business set-up support in the UAE! Kudos guys.
Roan Abellera
Questions
Your cost questions, answered
1. Is a consultation useful if I only want to know the cost?
That is the most common reason people book it, and it is the only way to get a figure that will not move afterwards. The 3 variables above — activity, visa count, premises — have to be answered against your actual business before any number is real, and that takes about 10 minutes of the 30. You leave with every line itemised, including what renews. 30 minutes, free, no obligation. If the honest answer is that you should not set up in the UAE at all, we will say so — it is a worse outcome for us to sell you a structure you did not need and have you leave in year 2.
2. How much does business setup in Dubai cost?
Free zone licenses start from AED 12,500 in Dubai and AED 9,999 in the other emirates, and an e-commerce license from AED 5,999. Mainland we quote individually, and you should be wary of anyone who publishes a mainland figure — it depends on your activity, which approvals that triggers, the premises and tenancy behind your registered address, and how many residence visas you need. A published mainland number has to assume all of those, and the assumption is where the gap between the quoted price and the real one appears. Every line is itemised in your proposal before you commit, and payment plans are available.
3. What is not included in the headline price?
Usually: government and authority fees, which vary by jurisdiction, activity and visa count; residence visas, which are quoted per person; premises, if your setup requires them; and the annual renewal, which is the figure most people never ask about until it arrives. None of those are hidden exactly — they are just rarely in the number on the website. Ours are in the proposal.
4. Is a free zone or mainland company cheaper?
Free zone, almost always, and usually by a wide margin, because premises are the single biggest difference. A free zone license typically needs only a flexi-desk; a mainland license is issued against a registered address with a real tenancy behind it. But cheaper only matters if it fits — if your customers are UAE businesses and consumers, a free zone license restricts you to selling through a distributor or opening a mainland branch, and the saving disappears.
5. What is the trade license cost in Dubai specifically?
For a free zone trade license, from AED 12,500 in Dubai. For mainland, the Dubai trade license cost is driven by the activity you register and whether it triggers Municipality, Civil Defence, Police or other sign-offs, plus the premises behind the license, so we quote it against your actual requirements rather than publishing a figure. In both cases the license is one line of several — authority fees and visas sit alongside it.
6. What does an instant license in Dubai cost?
Instant licenses are offered by some authorities to get a company trading quickly, usually with a narrower activity scope and conditions attached — and the instant license Dubai cost is rarely the whole picture, because the premises and visa steps still follow. We will tell you on the call whether an instant route genuinely suits what you are doing or whether it just moves the cost later.
7. How much are the government fees on top?
They vary by jurisdiction, activity and visa count, which is why nobody can give you an accurate figure without asking what you do first. For some activities they are modest; for regulated activities with external approvals they can exceed the license itself. The Dubai new trade license fees and the UAE free zone license cost both move with the same variables. We list them as separate lines in your proposal rather than folding them into a single number.
8. What does a residence visa cost, and how many can I have?
Visas are quoted per person, so a family of four shows as four lines rather than disappearing into a package price. How many you can hold depends on your setup: free zone packages generally cap it, with more available at extra cost, while on mainland it is usually driven by the size of your premises.
9. What will it cost to renew?
Your license renews annually, your visas on their own cycle, and on mainland your tenancy too. The renewal is the number most people never ask about at the point of buying, and it is the one that decides whether the cheap first-year quote was actually cheap. We put the renewal figure in the original proposal, not in an email 11 months later.
10. Can I pay in instalments?
Yes — payment plans are available through Tabby and selected bank cards, so the cost can be spread rather than paid up front. Your advisor sets out the options alongside the itemised proposal, so you can see the staged cost rather than only the total.