Every agent advertises a low "starting from" price, then the real number lands later. This page does the opposite. Here's what a Dubai company genuinely costs in 2026 — the five components, honest all-in ranges, a fully itemised example, and the one fee almost nobody puts on the first quote: your annual renewal.
The short answer. In 2026, a Dubai free zone company costs from AED 12,500 all-in with one visa (or from ~AED 6,000 for a zero-visa licence). Mainland starts from AED 15,000 because it needs a tenancy. Offshore starts from AED 8,000. Add AED 3,000–5,000 per residence visa. And budget AED 8,000–15,000 every year to renew — the number most quotes leave out.
"All-in" means the licence plus the basics you actually need to operate — not a stripped teaser. Your final figure depends on your activity, visas and office, and we always quote it fixed and itemised first.
| Setup type | Starts from | What that includes | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Zone (with visa) | AED 12,500 | 1 activity + flexi-desk + 1 visa allocation + establishment card | AED 8,000–13,000 |
| Free Zone (zero-visa) | ~AED 6,000 | Licence only, low-cost zone (Fujairah, Ajman, SHAMS), no visa | AED 5,000–8,000 |
| Mainland | AED 15,000 | Professional licence + initial approval + Ejari tenancy + establishment card | AED 10,000–15,000 |
| Offshore | AED 8,000 | RAK ICC / JAFZA Offshore incorporation + registered agent (no visa, no office) | AED 6,000–9,000 |
| Each residence visa | AED 3,000–5,000 | Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping per person | Similar on renewal (2–3 yrs) |
Every Dubai setup cost breaks down into these five buckets. Once you can see them, "starting from" prices stop being mysterious — and you can spot what a cheap quote has quietly left out.
The trade licence itself, priced by your business activity and the authority (DET for mainland, or a free zone like IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, RAKEZ). Some activities need extra external approvals. This is the core fee every quote leads with — typically AED 5,750–15,000+.
Each residence visa costs AED 3,000–5,000 and covers the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping. On mainland your visa count follows office size; in a free zone it's capped by your package, so buy the right tier from day one.
Free zones accept a low-cost flexi-desk (often bundled in). Mainland needs a real tenancy with an Ejari contract, which adds rent. Offshore needs neither. Office is the biggest reason mainland costs more than free zone.
Your immigration establishment (or e-channel) card, required before you can sponsor any visas — usually AED 1,000–2,000. Small, mandatory, and often missing from a headline "starting from" price.
Name reservation, initial approval, MOA notarisation, chamber of commerce and knowledge/innovation fees. We always show these separately from our fee so you can see exactly what goes to the government.
AED 8,000–15,000 every single year to keep the licence, desk, establishment card and visas live. This is the No. 1 hidden-fee complaint about UAE setup agents — and we put it in your quote before you sign.
Here's an honest, itemised Year-1 cost for a common case — a solo consultant taking a free zone licence with one residence visa. Numbers are typical 2026 mid-range figures; your quote may come in lower or higher depending on the zone and activity, but nothing will be hidden.
Why this matters: a competitor might advertise this as "from AED 12,500" and quote only the first three lines. The visa, medical insurance and bank setup are real costs — showing them now is how you avoid a surprise later.
You won't repeat the one-off setup and establishment fees, but you will renew the licence, flexi-desk and visa. For this example, budget roughly AED 9,000–11,000 a year, every year. We hand you that figure up front so Year 2 is planned, not painful.
Most "Dubai was more expensive than they told me" stories come from the same five gaps. Close them before you pay a deposit.
No teaser price, no gated ranges. Tell us what you need and we'll send a fixed, itemised quote with the renewal cost included the same day. If a cheaper setup fits you, we'll say so.