A single, sourced reference for what it actually costs and takes to start a business in the UAE in 2026 — every cost figure tiered (zero-visa vs with a visa, low-cost zone vs Dubai), alongside the tax, VAT, ownership and timeline rules that shape a real setup. Free to cite; please link back.
Each figure below is a quotable starting point. Full tables and sources follow.
Cheapest zero-visa free zone license — Ajman. Dubai zones start from AED 12,500 zero-visa.
A Dubai free zone company with one residence visa (IFZA, Meydan, Dubai South).
Typical starting cost of a mainland company. Offshore starts from around AED 8,000.
Corporate tax above AED 375,000 profit; 0% below it, and 0% on qualifying free zone income.
VAT rate. Registration is mandatory once turnover crosses AED 375,000 a year.
Foreign ownership allowed for free zone and offshore, and most mainland activities since June 2021.
Typical free zone license issuance. Mainland takes 5–10 working days.
Cost per residence visa, including medical and Emirates ID.
Annual license renewal — the recurring cost most first quotes omit.
Indicative starting license cost in AED. "Zero-visa" is the license only; "with 1 visa" adds one residence-visa allocation and the establishment card.
| Free zone | Emirate | Zero-visa (from) | With 1 visa (from) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | AED 5,555 | AED 12,000–13,000 |
| SHAMS / SPC | Sharjah | AED 5,750–6,500 | AED 12,500–16,000 |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000–7,500 | AED 13,000–17,000 |
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 | AED 17,900–21,000 |
| Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | AED 12,500 | AED 21,500–23,000 |
| Dubai South | Dubai | AED 12,500 | AED 21,500–23,000 |
Figures are indicative 2026 starting packages; the exact price depends on your activity, number of visas and office type. General trading is priced from the same starting point in most zones, with each additional activity adding roughly AED 1,000–2,500.
| Structure | Starts from | What it includes | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free zone (zero-visa) | AED 5,555 | License only, low-cost zone (Dubai zones from AED 12,500) | AED 5,000–8,000 |
| Free zone (with 1 visa) | AED 12,000 | License + flexi-desk + 1 visa (Dubai zones AED 17,900–23,000) | AED 8,000–13,000 |
| Mainland | AED 15,000 | Professional license + initial approval + Ejari tenancy | AED 10,000–15,000 |
| Offshore | AED 8,000 | RAK ICC / JAFZA Offshore + 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 (2–3 yrs) |
| Figure | 2026 value |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax rate | 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% at or below AED 375,000 |
| Free zone corporate tax | 0% on qualifying income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person; 9% on non-qualifying income |
| Corporate tax registration | Mandatory for taxable persons, including most free zone and mainland companies |
| VAT rate | 5% |
| VAT registration threshold | Mandatory at AED 375,000 taxable turnover; voluntary from AED 187,500 |
| Foreign ownership | 100% for free zone and offshore; 100% for most mainland activities since June 2021 |
| Personal income tax | None |
The most significant 2026 change for founders: under Dubai Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2026, qualifying Dubai free zone companies can apply for a Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit to legally do business in the onshore Dubai market without setting up a separate mainland entity or taking a local sponsor. In practice this narrows the old, hard line between "free zone" and "mainland" — a free zone company can increasingly serve mainland customers directly, which changes the free-zone-vs-mainland decision for many activities.
Cost figures are Kinzaad's compiled 2026 market data, drawn from live free-zone and government quotes we process for clients across Ajman, Sharjah (SHAMS/SPC), RAKEZ, IFZA, Meydan and Dubai South. They are indicative starting points in AED, not fixed quotes — the real figure depends on your activity, visa count, office type and the emirate, and government fees change through the year. Every cost states its tier so a zero-visa price is never confused with a with-visa one.
Tax, VAT, ownership and timeline figures reflect UAE public regulation as of mid-2026: the Federal corporate tax regime (9% above AED 375,000; the Qualifying Free Zone Person 0% band), the 5% VAT regime and its AED 375,000 / AED 187,500 thresholds, the foreign-ownership reforms effective June 2021, and Dubai Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2026. Always confirm the current rule for your case with the Federal Tax Authority or your advisor before relying on it.
Cite this page. Source: Kinzaad Business Setup Consultants — UAE Business Setup: Facts, Costs & Figures (2026), https://kinzaad.com/uae-business-setup-facts-2026.html. Journalists and writers are welcome to use these figures with a link back; contact [email protected] for a comment or a custom breakdown.
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