UAE 2026 • AED

UAE Business Setup & Free Zone Cost Calculator

Estimate your first-year cost and annual renewal for a UAE free zone or Dubai mainland company. Includes the trade licence, establishment card, visas, office, insurance and compliance costs.

100% foreign ownershipFree zone & mainlandCorporate tax & VAT awareOne-page PDF report

1Jurisdiction & licence

Jurisdiction / free zone

Licence category

Number of business activities

Number of shareholders

Regulated activity?

External approval fee (AED)Applies only if regulated = Yes

2Office / facility

Office type

Annual rent (AED)Auto-filled. You can edit it.

3Visas & people

Investor / partner visas

Employee visas

Applicants inside UAE (status change)

Health insurance per person / year (AED)Mandatory for visa holders

4Services & compliance

Setup / PRO service fee (AED)

Bank account opening (AED)

Bookkeeping & tax filing / year (AED)Corporate tax return due every year

Local service agent / year (AED)Mainland professional licences only

Advanced: government & authority fees (auto-filled, editable)

Trade licence fee / year

Registration, initial approval, trade name and MoA (one-time)

Establishment / immigration card / year

Licence category surcharge / year

Activities included in licence

Fee per extra activity / year

Shareholders included

Fee per extra shareholder (one-time)

Investor visa cost (each, 2-year)

Employee visa cost (each, 2-year)

Labour card / work permit (each employee)

Status change fee (each)

Chamber / membership / year

Ejari / lease registration / year

Statutory audit / year

Estimated first-year cost

AED 0

≈ USD 0

One-timeAED 0

Annual recurringAED 0

Year-2 renewalAED 0

Cost item	AED

UAE legal framework you should know

Company ownership

Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies allows 100% foreign ownership for most mainland activities. Free zones also allow full foreign ownership.

Corporate tax

Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can get 0% on qualifying income. Every company must register for corporate tax.

VAT

Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017: 5% standard rate. VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and optional above AED 187,500.

Visas & labour

An establishment card is needed before you can sponsor any visa. Employment follows Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Residence visas are usually valid for 2 years.

Health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for all residence visa holders. Its cost is recurring and is part of your yearly budget.

UBO & records

Cabinet Decision No. 58 of 2020 requires companies to keep a register of ultimate beneficial owners and file it with the registrar. Proper accounting records must also be kept.

Disclaimer: The default figures are indicative 2026 market estimates. Actual fees depend on the authority’s current price list, your activity, your package and any promotions. Check the latest fees with the relevant free zone or the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) before you commit. This tool is for budgeting only and is not legal or tax advice.