Compare zones side by side The comparison matrix shows licence cost, fee-data reliability and visa quota for 40 free zones.
What drives UAE company formation cost
- Jurisdiction — free zone, mainland or offshore, and which authority
- Activity — some activities carry higher fees or need approvals
- Premises — desk, office, shop, warehouse or factory
- Visas — number and type; establishment card fees
- Legal form — FZE, FZ-LLC, LLC, branch, holding
- Services — professional fees, translation, attestation, PRO
- Ongoing — renewal, accounting, tax registration, bank minimums
Government-fee estimator (year one)
Select a jurisdiction and visa count for an indicative government-fee range. It uses only figures we hold: where none exist it says so instead of guessing.
Published entry costs by zone (reviewed July 2026)
| Free zone | Published entry cost | Year-one budget guide |
|---|---|---|
| DMCC | Official packages from AED 29,185; licence typically AED 20,000–50,000 a year (DMCC, Apr 2026) | About AED 35,484 (Basic Biz, flexi desk eligible for one visa) to AED 43,780 (Jump Start, includes one 2-year visa); more with extra visas or a larger office |
| IFZA | From AED 12,900 (zero-visa) · about AED 21,450 with one visa | AED 21,000–35,000 with one to two visas |
| Meydan Free Zone | From AED 12,500 (zero-visa) · about AED 20,670 with one visa | AED 20,000–32,000 with one to two visas |
| DIFC | From about AED 104,079 (about AED 108,579 with one visa) | AED 104,000+ before regulatory fees and office costs |
| Sharjah Media City (Shams) | From about AED 5,750–6,900 (zero-visa) · about AED 14,300 with one visa | AED 14,000–25,000 with one to two visas |
| Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) | From about AED 6,875 (zero-visa) · about AED 14,325 with one visa | AED 14,000–25,000 with one to two visas |
| RAKEZ | From about AED 6,010 (zero-visa) · about AED 12,010 with one visa | AED 12,000–25,000 with one to two visas |
| Ajman Free Zone | From AED 5,565 (zero-visa) · AED 13,141 with one visa | AED 13,000–25,000 with one to three visas |
Compiled from public guides and zone schedules; confirm with the authority.
Indicative bands (planning only)
| Free zone | Indicative band (not a quote) |
|---|---|
| JAFZA | Trading licence from about AED 5,000/yr (one activity group) · office, warehouse and visas extra |
| DAFZ (Dubai Airport Freezone) | Year-one from about AED 55,000 (smart desk + one visa) |
| Dubai South | Indicative from about AED 10,000–12,500 for entry packages |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) | Indicative from about AED 11,900 (unconfirmed — quote required) |
| Dubai Internet City | Sector band about AED 25,000–50,000 in year one (quote required) |
| Dubai Media City | Sector band about AED 25,000–50,000 in year one (quote required) |
| Dubai Studio City | Sector band about AED 25,000–50,000 in year one (quote required) |
| Dubai Design District (d3) | Sector band about AED 25,000–50,000 in year one (quote required) |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) | Indicative AED 25,000–55,000+ for non-financial licences; regulated activities cost more |
| KEZAD | Indicative AED 55,000+ for industrial or warehouse setups (quote required) |
| twofour54 | Entry packages indicative AED 15,000–25,000 (quote required) |
| Masdar City Free Zone | Indicative AED 15,000–55,000 depending on office (quote required) |
| Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ) | Entry packages indicative AED 15,000–25,000 (quote required) |
| SRTIP (Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park) | From about AED 5,500 (zero-visa; published by market guides) |
| Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA) | Packages advertised from about AED 8,800 |
| Ajman NuVentures Free Zone | Zero-visa licence advertised from about AED 4,888 (confirm live figure) |
| Creative City Fujairah | Zero-visa licence indicative from about AED 5,530 (unconfirmed — quote required) |
Mainland cost anchors
| Item | Dubai mainland (government) |
|---|---|
| Trade licence (government) | ≈ AED 11,500–13,500, plus name approval, initial approval, Tasheel and MoA |
| All-in, zero visa (government) | from ≈ AED 13,900 |
| All-in, one visa (government) | ≈ AED 18,750 |
| Establishment / immigration card | ≈ AED 750–2,000 one-off |
| Investor or partner visa | ≈ AED 3,500–6,000 each |
| Employee visa (incl. labour card) | ≈ AED 5,000–8,000 each |
| Office / desk | Rent extra — from a flexi arrangement to a private office |
Other emirates: quote required.
What estimates usually exclude
- Professional or consultancy service fees
- Office rent beyond a bundled desk; warehouse or factory lease
- External approvals (health, education, finance, food, media)
- Bank minimum balances and account fees
- Attestation, translation and courier costs
- Corporate-tax, VAT and accounting services
UAE company formation cost: FAQs
How much does company formation cost in the UAE?
It ranges widely. Published government licence costs run from about AED 5,000–7,000 in the northern emirates to over AED 100,000 at premium centres; Dubai mainland starts near AED 13,900 all-in plus an office lease. Visas, office, professional fees and approvals are extra.
What is the cheapest company formation in the UAE?
On published government fees, the northern-emirate zones (Ajman Free Zone, RAKEZ, Shams and SPC) have the lowest entry licences, with Ajman NuVentures advertised lower. The cheapest licence is not always the cheapest overall — check bank acceptance, client perception and activity fit.
How much does a UAE trade licence cost?
Free zone licences follow each zone’s schedule; mainland trade licences follow the emirate’s schedule and vary by activity and legal form. Dubai mainland government costs start near AED 11,500–13,500 for the licence itself plus approvals (reviewed July 2026).
What does company setup with a visa cost?
Visa-inclusive packages typically add the establishment card, entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID for each holder. Published examples: IFZA about AED 21,450, Meydan about AED 20,670, Ajman about AED 13,141, RAKEZ about AED 12,010, DMCC Jump Start about AED 43,780 (one visa included), DIFC about AED 108,579 with one visa. Extra visas are typically AED 3,500–6,000 each (indicative).
Are company formation packages worth it?
A package can simplify budgeting, but compare what is bundled (desk type, visas, establishment card, bank introduction) against the authority’s fee schedule and ask for government fees and service fees separately.
Do costs repeat every year?
Yes. Licence, desk or office, establishment card and any visa renewals recur annually or per the visa term; multi-year packages are sometimes discounted. Confirm the authority’s renewal schedule.
Get a written quote for UAE company formation cost
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.