Setting up a company in the UAE involves more than just a licence fee — and that licence fee itself isn't one number. Mainland trade licences are issued per emirate, and each emirate's Department of Economic Development sets its own fees; free zones are even more distinct, since each authority (DMCC, IFZA, SHAMS, RAKEZ, and dozens more) runs its own pricing entirely. Pick your emirate or free zone below for a realistic estimate, not a generic average.

Business Setup Cost Calculator

Estimate the first-year cost of setting up a company in the UAE.

These are estimated costs only — licence and visa fees, office/lease excluded. Real prices vary by business activity, share structure, and current promotions — always confirm the exact fee with the authority or with us before budgeting.
Trade licence costs vary significantly by emirate.
Include yourself if you need an investor/partner visa.
Estimated first-year costAED 0.00
Excludes office/lease, a foreign trade-name surcharge (~AED 2,000 for non-Arabic names), and external approvals for regulated activities.
This calculator uses researched, emirate- and free-zone-specific licence and visa figures as a planning estimate. It excludes office/lease costs, foreign trade-name surcharges, and external regulatory approvals — all billed separately by the authority. For a quote you can rely on, talk to our team — book a consultation.

Documents you'll need before you apply

The single biggest cause of a slower-than-expected setup isn't the paperwork itself — it's finding out what's missing only after you've already booked an appointment or submitted an application. The list below covers what's typically requested, so you can start gathering the obvious items early.

This is a general starting checklist, not the final or complete list for your specific case. Every emirate's Department of Economic Development and every free zone authority sets its own exact requirements, and your business activity can add further items — additional documents are often requested during review. Confirm the full checklist for your specific licence with our team before your appointment, so nothing catches you out on the day.

Every application

  • Valid passport copies for every shareholder and manager (at least 6 months' validity)
  • Passport-size photographs, white background
  • Current UAE visa copy and entry stamp, if you're already a UAE resident
  • No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current sponsor, if you're switching from an existing UAE employment visa
  • 2–3 proposed trade name options, for name reservation

Setting up on the Mainland

  • Memorandum of Association (MOA), signed by all partners
  • Tenancy contract, registered with the relevant emirate (Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi, etc.)
  • Local Service Agent agreement, for professional licence categories that require one
  • Approval from the relevant external authority, for regulated activities (e.g. legal, healthcare, education)

Setting up in a Free Zone

  • Business plan, for some free zone authorities and licence types
  • Lease agreement or flexi-desk confirmation from the free zone
  • Passport copy and CV of the manager, for certain licence categories

If a company — not an individual — will hold shares

  • Parent company's trade licence copy
  • Certificate of incorporation and Memorandum of Association of the parent company
  • Board resolution appointing a signatory and authorizing the UAE company setup
  • Attested copies of the above, if the parent company is incorporated outside the UAE — see our guide on Power of Attorney and notary services for how that legalization chain works

Not sure which documents apply to you?

The exact list depends on your nationality, activity, and chosen jurisdiction. We review your situation up front and tell you exactly what to gather before your appointment.

Book a consultation

Frequently asked questions

It depends on which emirate or free zone you compare, not "Mainland" or "Free Zone" as single categories. Abu Dhabi's Tajer initiative makes Mainland licensing there very competitive, while a budget free zone like SHAMS or RAKEZ can undercut most other options. Pick your actual emirate or zone rather than assuming either category wins by default.

Each emirate's Department of Economic Development (or equivalent authority) sets its own trade licence fees. Abu Dhabi's Tajer Abu Dhabi initiative significantly reduces licensing costs there, while Dubai's DET fees run higher given the scale of activity the licence covers.

No. Office and tenancy costs (a business centre desk vs. a dedicated office, registered as Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi, or each other emirate's own system) vary too much by location and provider to state a single figure, so this calculator excludes them entirely. Ask our team for current office options alongside your licence quote.

A non-Arabic trade name typically adds a foreign-name surcharge of around AED 2,000 in government fees. Specialized activities regulated by a third-party authority (health, transport, security, civil defence, and similar) usually carry additional approval fees on top. Visa costs can also scale with an employee's skill-tier classification and any required bank guarantee.

Some do, bundling a small visa quota into the licence package. Beyond that quota, or if your chosen package doesn't include one, each additional visa is a separate cost — worth confirming with the specific free zone authority you're considering.