{
  "name": "Dubai Business Setup Cost Index 2026",
  "publisher": "ZETUP PRO Corporate Services",
  "url": "https://zetup.ae/en/dubai-business-setup-cost-index",
  "description": "Reconciled 2026 company-setup costs across Dubai mainland and the 8 major free zones (IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, RAKEZ, SHAMS, DAFZA, JAFZA, DIFC): licence 'from' fees, visa allowances, and realistic all-in ranges, plus the PRO retainer band and corporate-tax thresholds. Compiled by ZETUP PRO from official authority pricing.",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "citation": "ZETUP PRO Corporate Services. (2026). Dubai Business Setup Cost Index 2026. Retrieved from https://zetup.ae/en/dubai-business-setup-cost-index",
  "updated": "2026-06",
  "updatedIso": "2026-06-30",
  "spatialCoverage": "Dubai, United Arab Emirates",
  "currency": "AED",
  "freeZones": [
    {
      "zone": "SHAMS (Sharjah Media City)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 5,750",
      "visaAllowance": "Tied to package tier",
      "allInYear1": "~AED 22,000–52,000 (free-zone band)"
    },
    {
      "zone": "RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 6,000 (Biz Starter)",
      "visaAllowance": "Tied to package tier",
      "allInYear1": "~AED 22,000–52,000 (free-zone band)"
    },
    {
      "zone": "IFZA (Dubai)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 12,900 (zero-visa, 2-yr, flexi-desk)",
      "visaAllowance": "Varies — not published (allowance unconfirmed)",
      "allInYear1": "1-visa from ~AED 15,000; up to ~AED 52,500 multi-visa"
    },
    {
      "zone": "Meydan (Dubai)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 12,500",
      "visaAllowance": "Flexi-desk caps at ~3 visas (2026)",
      "allInYear1": "~AED 22,000–52,000 (free-zone band)"
    },
    {
      "zone": "DAFZA (Dubai Airport)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 15,020 (licence)",
      "visaAllowance": "Tied to package tier",
      "allInYear1": "~AED 40,000 realistic all-in"
    },
    {
      "zone": "DMCC (Dubai)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 35,484 (Basic Biz, one-time, incl. VAT)",
      "visaAllowance": "Incl. flexi-desk; eligible for 1 residence visa",
      "allInYear1": "From AED 35,484 (package is the floor)"
    },
    {
      "zone": "JAFZA (Jebel Ali)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 5,000–5,500 (trading/service); AED 15,000 (logistics/general trading)",
      "visaAllowance": "Tied to package tier",
      "allInYear1": "~AED 22,000–52,000 (free-zone band)"
    },
    {
      "zone": "DIFC (Dubai)",
      "licenceFrom": "AED 5,500 — Innovation Licence ONLY (non-regulated tech). Standard commercial AED 44,000–55,000/yr + registration AED 29,000–44,000",
      "visaAllowance": "Flexi-desk extra (+AED 15,000–50,000/yr) required for visas",
      "allInYear1": "Innovation = tech-only; standard 44–55k + reg; DFSA-regulated finance AED 250,000+"
    }
  ],
  "mainlandAndReference": [
    {
      "item": "Mainland formation — ZETUP service fee",
      "figure": "From AED 7,500 (one-time)",
      "note": "ZETUP's formation service fee — NOT the all-in cost"
    },
    {
      "item": "Mainland gov fees (Dubai Instant Licence)",
      "figure": "From ~AED 5,000 → realistic ~AED 9,000+",
      "note": "Depends on activity; ~AED 9,000 single-owner is the realistic floor"
    },
    {
      "item": "Mainland first-year all-in (LLC)",
      "figure": "~AED 25,000–52,000",
      "note": "2026 market consensus"
    },
    {
      "item": "PRO retainer",
      "figure": "From AED 839/month (scales with headcount)",
      "note": "Floor = calculator minimum"
    },
    {
      "item": "Corporate tax",
      "figure": "0% ≤ AED 375,000; 9% above",
      "note": "Register within 3 months of incorporation (AED 10,000 late penalty). Small Business Relief for revenue ≤ AED 3M (sunset 31 Dec 2026)."
    },
    {
      "item": "ZETUP corporate-tax service",
      "figure": "From AED 2,000/quarter",
      "note": "Canonical floor"
    }
  ],
  "exactAnswers": [
    {
      "question": "What is the cheapest free-zone licence in Dubai in 2026?",
      "answer": "From about AED 5,750 (licence-only) — for example SHAMS (Sharjah Media City). RAKEZ starts from AED 6,000."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does a DMCC licence cost in 2026?",
      "answer": "AED 35,484 for the Basic Business package (one-time, incl. VAT), which includes a flexi-desk and eligibility for one residence visa."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does an IFZA licence cost?",
      "answer": "From AED 12,900 for a zero-visa, 2-year licence with a flexi-desk. With one visa the realistic all-in starts from ~AED 15,000."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does a Meydan free-zone licence cost?",
      "answer": "AED 12,500. The flexi-desk package caps at about 3 visas (2026)."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the realistic first-year all-in cost to set up in a Dubai free zone?",
      "answer": "Roughly AED 22,000–52,000 depending on the zone and number of visas. DAFZA (~AED 40,000) and DMCC (AED 35,484+) sit at the high end."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does it cost to set up a mainland company in Dubai?",
      "answer": "ZETUP's mainland formation service fee starts from AED 7,500 (one-time). Government fees start from ~AED 5,000 (realistic ~AED 9,000+), for a realistic first-year all-in of ~AED 25,000–52,000."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does DIFC cost?",
      "answer": "The DIFC Innovation Licence starts from AED 5,500 (non-regulated tech only). Standard commercial licences run AED 44,000–55,000/yr plus AED 29,000–44,000 registration."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does JAFZA cost?",
      "answer": "AED 5,000–5,500 for trading/service licences; AED 15,000 for logistics/general trading."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much does DAFZA cost?",
      "answer": "From AED 15,020 for the licence, with a realistic all-in of about AED 40,000."
    },
    {
      "question": "How much is a PRO retainer in Dubai?",
      "answer": "From AED 839/month, scaling with headcount."
    },
    {
      "question": "What are the UAE corporate tax rates in 2026?",
      "answer": "0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. Register within 3 months of incorporation (AED 10,000 late penalty). Small Business Relief applies to revenue ≤ AED 3M until 31 Dec 2026."
    }
  ],
  "notes": [
    "Free-zone first-year all-in band (cross-zone): ~AED 22,000–52,000. DAFZA ~AED 40,000 and DMCC AED 35,484+ sit at the high end of the entry band.",
    "Visa allowance is set by the office/flexi-desk tier you choose — it is not a single fixed number per zone. Verified specifics: DMCC Basic = 1-visa eligibility; Meydan flexi-desk ~3 (2026). IFZA's allowance is unreconciled and deliberately shown as 'varies'.",
    "Figures verified as of 2026-06 and presented as ranges or 'from' prices, not flat quotes. Free-zone authorities update calculator-gated prices periodically — confirm current fees with the authority or ask ZETUP."
  ]
}