Business Setup UAE Compare Packages, Costs & Providers
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.
Free Zone vs Mainland vs Offshore — Which UAE Setup Fits You?
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.
Limited-time discounted packages from verified setup partners across the UAE.
How Much Does Business Setup in UAE Cost?
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, comparable published prices start at AED 1,925, but a licence-only figure is not the same as a licence plus visa and establishment card.
Trade licence / registration fee charged by the authority
Establishment card and immigration (e-channel) file where visas are required
Office, flexi-desk or Ejari-registered premises
Residence visa per person, plus medical examination and Emirates ID
Activity-specific approvals from regulators (for example media, education, health)
Published package price ranges by UAE setup route
Setup route
Packages on file
Published price range
Free zone
212
AED 1,925 – AED 96,000
Mainland
44
AED 5,750 – AED 59,999
Offshore
13
AED 5,650 – AED 21,600
Ranges cover comparable published prices only; government-cost-only and quote-only records are excluded. Last package verification: 2026-09-13.
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.
Package prices for a similar activity can differ between providers because the inclusions differ, not because one licence is cheaper.
Some prices are fixed, some are 'starting from', and some are government cost only — those figures are not interchangeable.
Visa allocation, establishment card and immigration file are included in some packages and billed separately in others.
Office solutions range from a shared flexi-desk to an Ejari tenancy, which changes both cost and visa quota.
How Business Setup AE Verifies Package Information
Provider source discovery — the provider's own published package page or PDF is located.
Published price capture — the price is recorded exactly as published, with its basis (fixed, starting from, government cost from, or promotional).
Inclusion capture — inclusions and exclusions are recorded verbatim; anything unpublished is stored as 'Not stated by provider'.
Source URL stored with every package so any figure can be traced back.
Paid placement does not affect organic comparison results, price sorting, filters or Find My Setup matches.
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.
How It Works
Business Setup AE compares published packages and routes your enquiry. Your chosen provider handles the formation, and the licensing authority issues the licence.
1
Tell us what you need
Set your activity, visa count, budget and where you plan to sell — or answer the Find My Setup questions.
2
Compare suitable packages
See verified provider packages side by side on price, price basis, visas, inclusions and verification date.
3
Request quotes
Send one enquiry to the providers you shortlist, or open the provider's own published source first.
4
Your provider handles the formation
The provider you choose quotes, prepares the application and works with the licensing authority, which issues the licence.
How to Choose a UAE Business Setup
1.Confirm the exact business activity you need licensed.
2.Decide between free zone, mainland and offshore based on where you will sell.
3.Work out how many residence visas you need now and in year two.
4.Check the office or facility the visa quota requires.
5.Compare total first-year cost, not the headline licence price.
Avoid the most common mistake: Choosing on advertised licence price alone and discovering the establishment card, immigration file and visa are extra.
Business Setup in UAE — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions asked most often before choosing a UAE setup route.
How much does business setup in UAE cost?
There is no single UAE-wide price. Cost depends on the jurisdiction, the activity, the number of residence visas, the facility and which services the provider bundles into the package. Compare published package prices with their stated basis and inclusions side by side rather than a single headline figure.
What is the difference between mainland and free zone?
A mainland licence is issued by an emirate's economic department and gives the most direct route to unrestricted UAE market activity, normally with Ejari-registered premises. A free zone licence is issued by a free zone authority and is limited to that authority's activity list, so operating outside the zone can require an additional mainland licence, permit or commercial arrangement depending on the activity.
What is the cheapest way to set up a business in the UAE?
The lowest published route is usually a zero-visa free zone licence with a shared desk. It is only suitable if you do not need UAE residence or direct mainland trading. The cheapest licence is rarely the cheapest outcome once the establishment card, immigration file, visas and renewal are added.
Can foreigners own 100% of a UAE company?
Yes for free zone companies, and for most mainland activities following amendments to the Commercial Companies Law. A limited set of strategic and regulated activities still requires Emirati participation or a local service agent, so confirm your specific activity with the licensing authority.
How long does UAE business setup take?
It depends on the authority and the activity. Straightforward free zone licences are often issued within a few working days once name approval and documents are in place. Mainland and regulated activities take longer because of external approvals and tenancy registration, and residence visa processing runs after licence issuance.
Can I set up a UAE company remotely?
In many cases yes. Several free zone authorities accept remote incorporation with digitally signed or notarised documents, and some allow remote signing of the licence application. A UAE visit is normally still needed for medical testing, Emirates ID biometrics and, for most banks, in-person account opening.
Is a UAE free-zone company tax-free?
Not automatically. A Qualifying Free Zone Person may benefit from a 0% UAE Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income where the applicable conditions are met; other taxable income may be subject to the standard rate. Tax treatment depends on the company's status, activities and income, so confirm your position with the Federal Tax Authority or a qualified tax adviser.
What is included in a business setup package?
It varies by provider. Packages commonly include the licence and registration fee plus a facility, and may or may not include the establishment card, immigration file, visa costs, medical and Emirates ID. Where a provider does not publish a detail we record it as 'Not stated by provider' rather than assuming it.
How does Business Setup AE verify package prices?
Each package price is read from the provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and the date it was checked. We never convert a 'starting from' or government-cost figure into a fixed all-in price. Verification confirms what the provider published on that date — it is not a guarantee of service quality or of a final quotation.
Which UAE free zone is best for my business?
There is no single best free zone; it depends on your activity list, visa requirement, facility needs and budget. Compare the zones that license your activity, check the visa quota attached to each facility, then use Find My Setup to shortlist the verified packages that match.
Compare before you commit
Request quotes from the providers whose packages actually fit your activity, visa count and budget — after you have compared what each one includes.
