UAE company setup cost calculator
Pick a free zone and the number of residence visas to see an estimate of your minimum first-year cost. The method is explained below the result.
Residence visas
1
Licence—
Establishment cardAED 2,000
Visas × 1 (medical test and Emirates ID)—
Zone visa allocation—
Estimated first year—
The entry licence of this zone includes no visa. With visas you need one of its visa packages, which cost more than the licence shown.
This zone publishes no tariff: the licence figure is our market estimate.
Get an itemised quote for your companyEstimate preview. The written quote lists every fee on its own line.
How the estimate is calculated
- Licence: the entry-level licence fee in the selected zone. The Free Zone Index shows what each fee includes and whether it comes from the zone’s own published tariff or is our estimate.
- Establishment card: the company’s immigration registration, needed before it can sponsor any visa. We use AED 2,000; the actual fee differs by zone by about AED 500 either way.
- Each residence visa: entry permit, change of status, medical test and Emirates ID. We use AED 5,500 as an estimated average; urgent processing costs more.
- Not included: office rent where the zone requires an office, extra activities, name reservation surcharges, bank minimum balances and attestation of foreign documents.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to set up a free zone company in the UAE?
With one founder and one residence visa, a realistic first year costs about AED 13,000–15,000 in a budget free zone and AED 20,000–24,000 in a Dubai free zone. That is the licence plus about AED 2,000 for the establishment card and about AED 5,500 per visa. Licence fees for each zone are in the Free Zone Index.
What does the advertised licence price leave out?
Office rent where the zone requires an office, extra activities, name reservation surcharges, bank minimum balances and attestation of foreign documents. The “from” price is the minimum, and the final invoice is usually higher.
Is the cheapest free zone always the best choice?
Not always. A budget zone whose entry package includes no visa, or covers a narrow list of activities, can cost more once you add visas or the activity you need. Choose the zone by your activity and visa plan first, then compare prices.