How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Company in Dubai Mainland? [2026]

Answer Capsule: Setting up a mainland company in Dubai in 2026 costs approximately AED 25,000–55,000 in the first year, depending on your business activity, office type, and number of visas needed. This includes DET trade license fees (AED 10,000–15,000), office registration (AED 5,000–15,000), MOA notarisation (AED 2,000–5,000), and formation service fees (AED 7,500–15,000). Employee visas cost an additional AED 3,500–6,000 each.

The single most common complaint from entrepreneurs setting up in Dubai is that the real cost ended up being far higher than the initial quote. Company formation consultancies routinely advertise "packages from AED 15,000" that exclude essential costs like office registration, visa processing, establishment cards, and government approval fees — effectively doubling or tripling the actual first-year expenditure.

This guide breaks down every cost component with real AED figures so you know exactly what to budget before you commit.

The Complete First-Year Cost Breakdown

Cross-check the government-fee components in our live Dubai Government Fees table — 39 fees with official-source citations, downloadable as JSON/CSV (CC BY 4.0).

Key insight: The "headline price" many consultancies advertise (AED 10,000–15,000) typically covers only the trade licence fee. The real first-year cost including all mandatory government fees, office registration, and at least one visa is consistently AED 35,000–60,000 for a standard LLC.

What Affects Your Total Cost

Several factors push costs up or down:

Business activity: Some activities require additional department approvals (e.g., food-related activities need Dubai Municipality approval at AED 2,000–5,000). Activities in regulated sectors like healthcare, education, or legal services require professional qualification attestation.

Number of activities: Adding multiple activities to a single licence increases DET fees by approximately AED 1,000–2,000 per additional activity.

Office type: A flexi-desk (AED 5,000–8,000/year) satisfies the minimum requirement. A shared office desk costs AED 12,000–24,000/year. A private office starts from AED 30,000/year. Your visa quota is linked to office size — a flexi-desk typically supports 1–3 visas, while a larger office supports more.

Number of partners: Multi-partner structures require more complex MOA drafting and additional notarisation fees.

Visa count: Every employee visa adds AED 3,500–6,000 to your first-year costs. A company hiring 5 employees in the first year should budget an additional AED 17,500–30,000 for visas.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

These are the costs that consultancies frequently omit from their "package" pricing:

1. Ejari registration — required for standard licences and renewals (with an exception for the Instant Licence's first year), often excluded from quotes
2. Establishment card — ~AED 700–2,000 MOHRE fee (by company category), often bundled invisibly
3. Document attestation — if your qualifications need UAE attestation, budget AED 1,000–3,000
4. Bank account opening — while technically free, some banks require minimum deposits of AED 50,000–100,000
5. Annual audit — many mainland companies need audited financial statements for licence renewal or corporate-tax compliance; requirements vary by activity, legal form, and revenue (AED 3,000–8,000/year from Year 2)
6. Corporate tax filing — while registration is free, annual filing compliance has costs from Year 2 onward

Year 2 and Ongoing Costs

The Cheapest Way to Set Up in Dubai

The Dubai Instant License programme offers the lowest entry point: AED 5,000–18,000 for a licence covering selected activities, issued in 5–10 minutes. Limitations: not all activities available, no physical office required in Year 1 for the licence itself (visa capacity beyond the included permits may require registered premises), and it is a DET product — not a free zone licence.

For a standard mainland LLC with maximum flexibility, the most cost-effective approach is: Instant License (if your activity qualifies) + flexi-desk office + formation assistance from a transparent provider like ZETUP, whose service fee is quoted individually and itemised in writing, for Year 1 before visas.

How ZETUP Keeps Formation Costs Transparent

At ZETUP, our company formation quote includes a line-by-line breakdown of every cost — our service fee, every government fee, and every third-party cost. We provide this before you commit, and the final invoice matches the quote for the agreed scope of work. Government fees are passed through at cost with receipts attached.

Our formation service fee covers: activity code guidance, trade name reservation, initial approval, MOA coordination, DET submission, Ejari assistance, MOHRE/GDRFA card processing, corporate tax registration, and bank account introductions. There are no hidden "processing fees," "admin charges," or "handling surcharges" within the agreed scope; costs arising outside the original scope (rejections, bank charges, or requested scope changes) are quoted separately.

Get a free, itemised formation quote: Book a consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the absolute minimum cost to start a company in Dubai? A: The Dubai Instant License starts from AED 5,000 for a select number of activities. For a standard mainland LLC, expect a minimum of AED 25,000–30,000 including all government fees and a flexi-desk office, before any visas.

Q: Are there any recurring government fees after setup? A: Yes. Annual costs include trade licence renewal (AED 10,000–15,000), establishment card renewal (~AED 700–2,000), visa renewals (AED 1,500–3,000 each), and office lease renewal. Budget AED 15,000–25,000 per year in baseline recurring costs before PRO services.

Q: Can I set up a company without a physical office? A: You need a registered address with an Ejari contract. A flexi-desk (virtual office) starting from AED 5,000/year satisfies this requirement without physical office space. However, your visa quota is linked to your office space — flexi-desks often support a limited number of visas (commonly cited as 1–3), but the exact quota varies by licence route and immigration rules — confirm your specific allocation with DET/GDRFA.

Q: How does ZETUP's pricing compare to Virtuzone or Creative Zone? A: We cannot speak to their specific pricing, but we can tell you that ZETUP's formation quote includes every cost in an itemised breakdown — our fee, government fees, and third-party costs — with no hidden charges. We encourage you to compare line-by-line with any other provider.

Q: Do I need a business plan to set up a company? A: Not for most standard activities. Certain regulated sectors (healthcare, education, financial services) may require a business plan or additional documentation. We confirm exact requirements during the initial consultation.

Q: How much should I budget for my first year including employees? A: For a standard mainland LLC with 5 employees: approximately AED 45,000–75,000 in Year 1 (formation + office + 5 employee visas + establishment card). Ongoing PRO services would be additional.

Q: Is the corporate tax registration mandatory? A: Yes. Nearly all mainland companies — every taxable juridical person, with only specifically exempt persons excluded — must register for UAE Corporate Tax with the Federal Tax Authority, regardless of revenue. Registration is free. Companies with revenue under AED 3 million can claim Small Business Relief through December 2026, treating taxable income as zero.

Q: What is the difference between formation cost and PRO service cost? A: Formation is a one-time cost to establish your company and obtain the trade licence. PRO services are ongoing monthly costs for government liaison, visa processing, licence renewals, and compliance management after formation. They are separate services, though many companies engage the same provider for both.