Zero-visa free zone licence, first year
Per residence visa, all-in
Typical mainland with office and visas
| Scenario | First year (AED) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Solo consultant, free zone, no visa | 12,500 – 16,000 | Licence, registration, flexi-desk, corporate tax registration. Owner stays non-resident or holds a visa elsewhere. |
| Solo founder, free zone, one visa | 20,000 – 27,000 | Adds establishment and immigration cards, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping for the owner. |
| Small team, free zone, three visas | 30,000 – 45,000 | Larger package with a dedicated desk or small office and three residence visas. |
| Mainland LLC, office, three visas | 38,000 – 62,000 | DET licence, Ejari tenancy, market fee, MOA notarisation, establishment card and three visas. |
Ranges reflect what our clients actually paid across 2025 and 2026 for standard activities. Regulated sectors, large activity lists and premium zones sit above these bands.
| Cost line | Typical (AED) | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Licence & registration fee | 9,000 – 20,000 | On incorporation, annually thereafter |
| Additional activities beyond the bundle | 500 – 2,500 each | On incorporation |
| Flexi-desk / shared workstation | Often bundled – 8,000 | Annually |
| Establishment card | 1,200 – 2,000 | One-off, then renewed |
| Immigration (e-channel) card | 1,200 – 1,800 | One-off, then renewed |
| Residence visa, inside country | 4,000 – 6,500 | Per person, per 2–3 years |
| Medical fitness & Emirates ID | Usually included above | Per person |
| Corporate tax registration | Government fee nil; advisory from 1,500 | Within registration deadline |
| VAT registration (if applicable) | Government fee nil | On crossing the threshold |
| Statutory audit, where required | 5,000 – 15,000 | Annually before renewal |
| EBL advisory & PRO | Quoted for your file | Shown separately from government fees |
| Cost line | Typical (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | 620 – 2,000 | Higher for foreign-language names |
| Initial approval | 120 – 500 | Per application |
| DET licence fee | 7,000 – 15,000 | By activity group and count |
| Market fee | 2.5% of annual rent | Calculated on the Ejari value |
| MOA drafting & notarisation | 1,500 – 3,500 | Scales with shareholders |
| Office lease & Ejari registration | 12,000 – 45,000+ | Sets your visa quota |
| Local Service Agent, where required | 5,000 – 15,000 | Annual, professional licences |
| Establishment & immigration cards | 2,000 – 3,000 | One-off per company |
| Residence visa | 4,000 – 6,500 | Per person |
| External approvals | 1,000 – 15,000 | Municipality, DHA, KHDA, RERA, Civil Defence |
| EBL advisory & PRO | Quoted for your file | Shown separately from government fees |
The lowest genuine entry points are a zero-visa free zone licence, from roughly AED 12,500, and the DET E-Trader permit for eligible sole traders, which is cheaper still but restricted in who can hold it and what it allows. Anything advertised far below that usually excludes the establishment card, the immigration file, VAT registration or the first renewal — costs you will meet within twelve months regardless.
Three reasons. First, activity count: many zones bundle three activities and charge for each additional one. Second, visa allocation: a zero-visa package and a three-visa package can differ by AED 15,000 for the same licence. Third, what is excluded: establishment card, immigration card, medical tests, Emirates ID, document attestation, translation and the tax registrations are often left out of the headline number and invoiced later.
Renewal typically runs 65–85% of the first year, because the one-off incorporation items fall away but the licence fee, office fee, establishment card and visa renewals do not. Visas renew on a two or three-year cycle depending on type, so year two is sometimes lighter and year three heavier. If your zone requires audited accounts, add AED 5,000–15,000 annually. We publish a three-year view in every proposal for exactly this reason.
Not hidden, but easy to miss. The most commonly overlooked are the Dubai municipality market fee of 2.5% on annual rent for mainland licences, knowledge and innovation fees added per transaction, external regulator approvals for activities such as healthcare, education, recruitment and real estate, and the cost of attesting foreign documents, which can run into thousands of dirhams if your home country has a long legalisation chain.
Call an advisor
Message us
B1 Mall, Shop 3, Opposite Mall of the Emirates
