UAE business setup costs vary depending on whether you choose a mainland, free zone or offshore structure, your licence type, visa requirements, office needs and the emirate you register in — compare verified packages side by side, with every price linked to its published source.
272 verified packages from 62 providers · last checked 2026-09-13
Packages on file from recognised UAE authorities
Business setup in the UAE means registering a company and obtaining a trade licence from a licensing authority. There are three routes: a free zone company, licensed by a free zone authority; a mainland company, licensed by the economic department of an emirate and able to trade directly across the UAE; and an offshore company, used for holding structures rather than UAE operations.
Free-zone requirements, permitted activities and setup procedures can vary between authorities. Founders can also review the official UAE guidance on starting a business in a free zone before choosing a jurisdiction.
100% ownership, potential 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, fast setup
From AED 4,888
Trade anywhere in UAE, no restrictions
From AED 5,750
Asset protection, international trade
From AED 6,500
| Consideration | Free zone | Mainland | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership in the free zone | 100% foreign ownership for most activities; some still require an Emirati partner or agent | 100% foreign ownership of the offshore entity |
| Business activities | Limited to the activity list of the chosen free zone authority | Broadest activity lists, issued by the emirate's economic department | Holding, ownership of assets and international business only |
| UAE market access | Trading inside the UAE mainland usually needs a distributor, branch or extra approval | Can contract and trade directly across the UAE | No trading inside the UAE |
| Office requirement | Flexi-desk or office package, depending on the authority and visa count | Ejari-registered premises typically required; some activities allow shared options | No physical office; registered agent address only |
| Visa eligibility | Visa quota tied to the facility chosen (flexi-desk vs office) | Quota tied to premises size and activity | No residence visas issued |
| Typical setup model | Fixed or starting-from package from the free zone or an agent | Government fees plus provider/PRO fees, quoted per activity | Registered-agent fee plus authority fee |
Rules, fees and eligibility vary by authority and activity. Full detail: free zone setup, mainland setup and offshore formation.
Mainland company formation can involve activity selection, legal structure, trade-name registration, initial approval and any required external approvals. The official UAE mainland business setup steps provide further guidance on the government process.
Business Setup AE lets you compare provider-published UAE business setup packages across free zone, mainland and offshore routes using published prices, visa allowances, workspace information, source URLs and verification dates.
Start with compare UAE business setup packages, check the compare business setup providers directory, or open the side-by-side comparison tool. For location and licence detail, see business setup in Dubai, Abu Dhabi free-zone licence cost, RAKEZ licence cost, UAE trade licence and opening a business bank account in the UAE.
Personalized shortlist
Answer a few questions about your activity, visas, budget and selling plan. Find My Setup turns the verified package data into a shortlist you can compare.
Comparable first-year package prices only. Special, partner and eligibility-based offers are labelled separately.
General
Year 1 · Starting from
from AED 4,888
Annual renewal: Not stated— ask for the year-two invoice before paying.
The lowest published entry price. Your final price depends on activity, visa count and zone, and is not a fixed total.
Last verified: 29 Aug 2026
General business
Year 1 · Starting from
from AED 4,888
Annual renewal: Not stated— ask for the year-two invoice before paying.
The lowest published entry price. Your final price depends on activity, visa count and zone, and is not a fixed total.
Last verified: 13 Sept 2026
General business
Year 1 · Starting from
from AED 4,888
Annual renewal: Not stated— ask for the year-two invoice before paying.
The lowest published entry price. Your final price depends on activity, visa count and zone, and is not a fixed total.
Last verified: 13 Sept 2026
General business setup
Year 1 · Starting from
from AED 4,888
Annual renewal: Not stated— ask for the year-two invoice before paying.
The lowest published entry price. Your final price depends on activity, visa count and zone, and is not a fixed total.
Last verified: 13 Sept 2026
General / multi-activity
Year 1 · Starting from
from AED 4,888
Annual renewal: Not stated— ask for the year-two invoice before paying.
The lowest published entry price. Your final price depends on activity, visa count and zone, and is not a fixed total.
Last verified: 13 Sept 2026
General business
Year 1 · Fixed package price · Published package price
AED 4,888
Annual renewal: Not stated— ask for the year-two invoice before paying.
The provider publishes this as the package price. Confirm scope and any government-fee variations before payment.
Last verified: 13 Sept 2026
Limited-time discounted packages from verified setup partners across the UAE.
There is no single UAE-wide price. Your total depends on the jurisdiction, business activity, visa requirement, facility and which services the provider includes. Across the verified packages currently on file, standard comparable published prices start at AED 4,888, but a licence-only figure is not the same as a licence plus visa and establishment card.
Separately, providers and free zones publish conditional offers — limited-time promotions and ecosystem, member or partner programmes, currently from AED 3,813, which can be lower than the standard figure above. Each carries published eligibility conditions, so we keep them out of standard price comparisons rather than presenting them as the normal cost of forming a UAE company.
Visa and residency-related costs may be separate from the headline licence price depending on the package. Founders can review UAE residence permit requirements published by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP).
| Setup route | Packages on file | Published price range |
|---|---|---|
| Free zone | 156 | AED 4,888 – AED 48,136 |
| Mainland | 37 | AED 5,750 – AED 59,999 |
| Offshore | 7 | AED 6,500 – AED 21,600 |
Ranges cover comparable published prices only; government-cost-only and quote-only records are excluded. Last package verification: 2026-09-13.
Free zones with verified packages on file, showing the lowest published price for each.
Emirates covered by verified packages on file: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah.
16
Free zones with verified packages
272
Verified packages on file
62
Providers compared
From AED 4,888
Lowest standard published price
Two providers can license the same activity in the same free zone at different prices because their packages contain different things. Comparing scope, not just the headline licence price, is what changes your real cost.
Business Setup AE is a UAE business setup comparison marketplace. It does not form companies and does not issue UAE licences. Package prices are sourced from provider-published information and each package carries a recorded verification date. Last package verification: 2026-09-13.
Business Setup AE compares published packages and routes your enquiry. Your chosen provider handles the formation, and the licensing authority issues the licence.
Set your activity, visa count, budget and where you plan to sell — or answer the Find My Setup questions.
See verified provider packages side by side on price, price basis, visas, inclusions and verification date.
Send one enquiry to the providers you shortlist, or open the provider's own published source first.
The provider you choose quotes, prepares the application and works with the licensing authority, which issues the licence.
Avoid the most common mistake: Choosing on advertised licence price alone and discovering the establishment card, immigration file and visa are extra.
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