Business Setup In Dubai - Expert Business Setup Consulting

Business Setup in Dubai costs around AED 8,000 for an offshore business, AED 12,500 for a free zone firm, and AED 25,999 for a mainland corporation with a lifetime free visa. A typical single-owner free zone arrangement with a flexible desk and one visa costs between AED 15,000 and AED 25,000. The final cost is determined by your activities, the number of visas required, and the size of your office.

The cheapest option is a free zone license, which costs roughly AED 12,500 in Dubai, or a zero-visa package in a Northern Emirates free zone, which costs about AED 6,000. The cheapest choices frequently come with banking and credibility trade-offs, so weigh the savings against how easy it is to create a corporate account.

Meydan Free Zone and IFZA are among the most economical Dubai free zones, with packages starting at AED 12,500. If a Dubai address is not required, Northern Emirates zones such as RAKEZ and Ajman are more affordable, starting at AED 5,000-6,000.

Yes. Aside from the license, plan for yearly renewal (typically 80-90% of the first-year price), a corporate bank account minimum balance (AED 25,000-500,000), corporate tax registration, VAT if your turnover exceeds AED 375,000, audit fees, and PRO charges. The cheapest first-year plan is sometimes the most costly after five years.

A Dubai trade licence usually costs between AED 10,000 and AED 50,000 per year, depending on the jurisdiction and activity. Free zone licences start at roughly AED 12,500, but mainland permits include extra office and Chamber of Commerce expenses.

Once documentation are available, free zone and offshore permits are typically issued within 1-2 weeks, whereas mainland licences take 5-10 working days. Residence permits and business bank account setup take extra time, so allow 3-5 weeks to be completely active.

Yes. Most free zone firms may be established remotely, with documentation signed digitally or through a power of attorney. You will typically need to visit the UAE once for your residence visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics, and frequently in person to open the corporate bank account.

All shareholders’ passport copies, passport-size pictures, a trade name reservation and initial approval, a business plan for specific operations, and, for mainland firms, a Memorandum of Association as well as an Ejari office lease are required.

The DET licenses mainland companies, which can trade anywhere in the UAE. A free zone firm provides 100% ownership and quick formation, although it trades mostly worldwide or in-zone. An offshore corporation is for holding and doing worldwide business; it cannot trade within the UAE or issue resident permits.

Choose mainland if you want to sell directly to the UAE market or compete for government contracts. Select a free zone for reduced costs, faster establishment, full ownership, and worldwide or in-zone business. The best option relies on your activity and consumers, which an adviser can map for you.

Not directly. A free zone firm can service both foreign and in-zone clients, however to operate on the UAE mainland, it must hire a local distributor, create a mainland branch, or employ a dual license. A&A can recommend the cleanest path for your activities.

Yes. As you grow, you can migrate to the mainland, however this normally involves founding a new mainland corporation or branch rather than a simple conversion. Many entrepreneurs start in a free zone and then expand to the mainland when they require UAE-wide commerce.

Yes. Free zones have always permitted 100% foreign ownership, and since 2021, most mainland activities do as well, with no local sponsor. A limited number of key operations still require a UAE partner.

For the majority of activities, no. The majority of mainland economic activity no longer required a local sponsor under the 2021 amendments, and free zones never did either. Only certain strategic-sector operations require an Emirati partner or service agent.

Mainland enterprises require a physical office with an Ejari tenancy agreement. Companies in free zones can typically begin with a flexi-desk or shared desk, making the setup process less expensive and faster.

Free zone packages have a certain visa quota, which ranges from 1-6 depending on the zone and office type. Mainland enterprises have practically limitless visa capacity, which is determined by the size of the office space they lease.

As of 2026, Dubai has around 30 specific free zones, making it the emirate with the most free zones in the UAE. Each free zone is intended to serve certain businesses and sectors.

Yes. Setting up a firm qualifies you for an investor or partner residence visa, which allows you to sponsor family members and employees. Most A&A packages include the owner’s visa, Emirates ID, and medical as part of the setup.

There is no personal income tax in Dubai. Only business earnings in excess of AED 375,000 are subject to 9% corporation tax, and if turnover surpasses AED 375,000, 5% VAT is applied. Both need registration with the Federal Tax Authority, which A&A arranges as part of the setup.

Under the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) system, free zone enterprises can pay no corporate tax on qualifying revenue as long as they retain appropriate substance, earn qualifying income, comply with transfer-pricing requirements, and file audited accounts. Non-qualifying income is taxed at 9% over AED 375,000.

It might be. UAE banks evaluate your activities, shareholders, planned turnover, and source of funding and may reject poorly prepared applications. Accounts normally open in a few weeks with the correct documentation and bank match – A&A prepares your application and connects you with the banks that are most suited to your needs.