Government fees
| 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 |
Published government-fee figures reviewed July 2026; fees vary by activity and legal form.
Other costs commonly cited (indicative)
| 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 |
Chamber of Commerce membership and a Dubai Municipality market fee tied to your rent are separate charges.
Why it varies
- Activity and classification
- Legal form
- Number of visas
- Premises and location
- External approvals
Total budget: business setup cost. Compare DMCC licence cost.
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 licence cost: FAQs
How much is a Dubai mainland licence?
Published government fees: about AED 11,500–13,500 for the trade licence, about AED 13,900 all-in (zero visa), about AED 18,750 with one visa.
Is the licence the main cost?
No — the office lease is usually the largest component.
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.