Indicative first-year scenarios
| Scenario | Indicative total (excludes professional fees) |
|---|---|
| Solo founder, zero visa, flexi/shared office | AED 13,900 (govt all-in) + AED 12,000–25,000 office ≈ AED 25,900–38,900 |
| Solo founder, one visa, flexi/shared office | AED 18,750 (govt all-in) + AED 12,000–25,000 office ≈ AED 30,750–43,750 |
| Team or private office | Quote required — depends on size and location |
Sums combine published government figures with indicative office ranges from market guides; they exclude professional-service fees, approvals, bank minimums and Chamber/Municipality charges.
Line items
| Item | Government cost (reviewed July 2026) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Item | Indicative (market guides) |
|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | ≈ AED 620–735 (guides differ) |
| Ejari registration | ≈ AED 220 |
| Flexi desk or shared office (rent) | ≈ AED 12,000–25,000 a year |
| Annual licence renewal (excluding lease) | ≈ AED 8,000–15,000 |
Where the money goes
Office rent and visas dominate. Starting with a flexi or shared office (where your activity allows) and fewer visas lowers year one — but check visa quota rules first. Compare with DMCC company formation cost and use the estimator.
Sources and verification
Government-fee figures are those published by Dubai’s authorities as compiled in public guides and reviewed July 2026; amounts marked indicative come from market guides and vary. Confirm every figure with Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) before paying. Reviewed September 2026.
- UAE Government portal
- Federal Tax Authority
- Market guide: Mainland company formation Dubai cost (2026)
- Market guide: How to set up a company in Dubai (2026)
Fee-data status: Published (government) and Indicative (market) as labelled in each table.
Dubai mainland business setup cost: FAQs
How much does it cost to start a mainland company in Dubai?
Using published government fees and indicative office rent, roughly AED 26,000–44,000 for a solo founder in year one, before professional fees and approvals.
What are the hidden costs?
Chamber of Commerce membership, Dubai Municipality market fee, approvals, bank minimums and professional fees.
Get a written quote for Dubai mainland
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.