How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Dubai or the UAE?

That depends — are you registering a company in a Dubai Free Zone, or opting for a Mainland license? Will you need investor or employee visas? Are you looking for an ecommerce license in Dubai, or a more traditional setup?

Choose your business activity to start your business setup cost estimate *

The cost of starting a business in Dubai or the UAE can vary significantly based on the type of business activity you choose. Different activities have different licensing requirements, fees, and regulations. For example, a trading license may have different costs compared to a professional services license or an industrial license. To get an accurate estimate of your business setup costs, please select your business activity from the list below.

What is your main reason for setting up a company in the UAE? *

New company formation

Expansion plan (ie. new branch or franchise)

Company relocation

Visa purposes only

This will help us determine the potential type of company structure you will need for your company.

How many owners/shareholders will your company have? *

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The number of owners/shareholders your company will have can help in identifying the most suitable legal structure for your company, as well as the number of residence visas you will require.

Will you also require visas for your dependants? *

Yes

Dependants include your family members, nanny or other household staff you may personally employ.

What type of office space do you need? *

Virtual Office

Physical Office

Shop Front

Business Centre

Warehouse

Depending on the nature of your business, will you need a flexi-desk, a co-working space or an entire office space? This is an important factor in calculating your total setup cost.

When do you plan to start your business? *

This Month

Next Month

3 Months

6 Months

Choose your preferred jurisdiction *

Free Zones

Mainland

This will have the biggest impact on your final proposal, but is also required based on your choice of activity and whether you need to be based in the mainland or not.

Are you currently living in the UAE? *

Yes

What's your nationality? *

First name *

Last name *

Phone *

E-mail *

Not sure what type of business license you need?

Use this quick comparison to understand the types of business licenses in the UAE, and how each impacts your setup cost, scope of work, and operations.

License Type	Best For	Ownership	Tax Benefits	Setup Speed
Free Zone License	Online businesses, exporters	100%	0% corporate tax on qualifying income	Fast
Mainland License	Businesses targeting UAE market	100% (new laws)	Access to UAE-wide contracts	Medium
E-commerce License	Online trading or service platforms	100%	Eligible for tax exemptions	Fast
Professional License	Consultants, freelancers, creatives	100%	Depends on structure	Fast

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Dubai or the UAE?

Not sure what type of business license you need?

Contact Us

Sections

Information

Business Setup