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Company setup cost in the United Arab Emirates

Official fees, firms' starting prices and registration time, with the source of every figure.

Company setup cost

United Arab Emirates

2. Choose a company type
Setup cost AED 5,500 to 11,000 about EUR 1,340 to 2,670
First year in total AED 11,490 to 22,990 about EUR 2,790 to 5,590
Registration time About 1 day once the application is complete

Official fees of the base option plus the starting prices published by firms for the services switched on below.

Get your detailed report and quotes from firms in the United Arab Emirates

Services from a firm

Starting prices published by firms on Accountanty, one price per firm. Most firms do not say whether government fees are included.

  • AED 5,500 to AED 11,000 one-offStarting prices published by 94 firms
  • AED 5,990 to AED 11,990 per yearStarting prices published by 29 firms
  • Price on requestFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
  • AED 499 to AED 774 one-offStarting prices published by 10 firms
  • Price on requestFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
  • AED 3,000 to AED 6,150 one-offStarting prices published by 17 firms

Breakdown of the estimate

Official setup feesIncluded in firms' packagesOfficial, at setupsee the note below
Official yearly feesIncluded in firms' packagesOfficial, every yearsee the note below
Company formation by a firmAED 5,500 to AED 11,000Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 94 firms
Accounting and annual accounts (small company)AED 5,990 to AED 11,990Firms, per yearStarting prices published by 29 firms
Registered office or legal addressPrice on requestFirms, per yearFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
VAT registrationAED 499 to AED 774Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 10 firms
Bank account opening assistancePrice on requestFirms, one-offFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
Residence visaAED 3,000 to AED 6,150Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 17 firms

Firms' free zone packages usually include the licence, so the official packages (RAKEZ Basic AED 6,000, Meydan AED 12,500, DMCC AED 35,484) are listed below for reference and not added to them. Visas, medical tests and Emirates ID are extra unless a package says otherwise. No renewal amount is published for RAKEZ.

Get your detailed report and quotes from firms in the United Arab Emirates

We email you a PDF with the official fees and their sources, the firms' starting prices, the steps, the documents, the yearly obligations and the firms offering company formation in the United Arab Emirates. We also share your request with firms we select there, who may contact you with quotes.

Setup cost AED 11,000 to 18,500 about EUR 2,670 to 4,500
First year in total AED 17,590 to 31,090 about EUR 4,270 to 7,550
Registration time Not published once the application is complete

Official fees of the base option plus the starting prices published by firms for the services switched on below.

Get your detailed report and quotes from firms in the United Arab Emirates

Services from a firm

Starting prices published by firms on Accountanty, one price per firm. Most firms do not say whether government fees are included.

  • AED 11,000 to AED 18,500 one-offStarting prices published by 73 firms
  • AED 5,990 to AED 11,990 per yearStarting prices published by 29 firms
  • Price on requestFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
  • AED 499 to AED 774 one-offStarting prices published by 10 firms
  • Price on requestFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
  • AED 3,000 to AED 6,150 one-offStarting prices published by 17 firms

Breakdown of the estimate

Official setup feesIncluded in firms' packagesOfficial, at setupsee the note below
Renewal of a licence (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 600Official, every yeardlp.dubai.gov.ae
Company formation by a firmAED 11,000 to AED 18,500Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 73 firms
Accounting and annual accounts (small company)AED 5,990 to AED 11,990Firms, per yearStarting prices published by 29 firms
Registered office or legal addressPrice on requestFirms, per yearFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
VAT registrationAED 499 to AED 774Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 10 firms
Bank account opening assistancePrice on requestFirms, one-offFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
Residence visaAED 3,000 to AED 6,150Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 17 firms

Firms' mainland packages usually include the licence fees, so the Dubai Department of Economy fees (2011 schedule) are listed below for reference and not added to them. The yearly licence renewal is added. Chamber, municipality, Knowledge and Innovation Dirham and office lease are not included, because no current official amount is published.

Get your detailed report and quotes from firms in the United Arab Emirates

We email you a PDF with the official fees and their sources, the firms' starting prices, the steps, the documents, the yearly obligations and the firms offering company formation in the United Arab Emirates. We also share your request with firms we select there, who may contact you with quotes.

Setup cost AED 7,500 to 12,500 about EUR 1,820 to 3,040
First year in total AED 13,490 to 24,490 about EUR 3,280 to 5,950
Registration time Not published once the application is complete

Official fees of the base option plus the starting prices published by firms for the services switched on below.

Get your detailed report and quotes from firms in the United Arab Emirates

Services from a firm

Starting prices published by firms on Accountanty, one price per firm. Most firms do not say whether government fees are included.

  • AED 7,500 to AED 12,500 one-offStarting prices published by 28 firms
  • AED 5,990 to AED 11,990 per yearStarting prices published by 29 firms
  • Price on requestFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
  • AED 499 to AED 774 one-offStarting prices published by 10 firms
  • Price on requestFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
  • AED 3,000 to AED 6,150 one-offStarting prices published by 17 firms

Breakdown of the estimate

Company formation by a firmAED 7,500 to AED 12,500Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 28 firms
Accounting and annual accounts (small company)AED 5,990 to AED 11,990Firms, per yearStarting prices published by 29 firms
Registered office or legal addressPrice on requestFirms, per yearFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
VAT registrationAED 499 to AED 774Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 10 firms
Bank account opening assistancePrice on requestFirms, one-offFewer than 5 firms publish a price (4)
Residence visaAED 3,000 to AED 6,150Firms, one-offStarting prices published by 17 firms

No official fees are published for offshore companies, so the estimate shows firms' prices only.

Get your detailed report and quotes from firms in the United Arab Emirates

We email you a PDF with the official fees and their sources, the firms' starting prices, the steps, the documents, the yearly obligations and the firms offering company formation in the United Arab Emirates. We also share your request with firms we select there, who may contact you with quotes.

Taxes in the United Arab Emirates

Your country of residence may tax the dividends you receive, and it may also tax the company's profits under its rules on foreign companies controlled by its residents. A company managed from your country may be treated as resident there. This is general information, not tax advice.

Corporate tax

  • Corporate tax 0% on the part of taxable income up to AED 375,000. mof.gov.ae
  • Corporate tax 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. mof.gov.ae
  • A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income; it must keep adequate substance in the UAE, earn qualifying income and meet the transfer pricing and audited accounts rules. mof.gov.ae
  • Small Business Relief: a resident company with revenue of AED 3,000,000 or less in the current and each previous tax period may elect to be treated as having no taxable income. mof.gov.ae
  • Small Business Relief applies to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. mof.gov.ae

Tax on dividends paid abroad

  • Withholding tax on UAE-sourced income of non-residents without a permanent establishment is 0%. mof.gov.ae

VAT

  • VAT standard rate 5%. mof.gov.ae
  • VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 and voluntary from AED 187,500 of taxable supplies, imports or expenses in 12 months; the mandatory threshold does not apply to foreign businesses. tax.gov.ae

Try a yearly profit

Assumption: one shareholder, an individual who is not resident in the United Arab Emirates, holds 100% of the company.

Paid out as dividends
Which applies to the company?

Destination taxes only, before tax treaties and before any tax in your country of residence.

Corporate tax in the United Arab EmiratesAED 11,250 (2.3%)
Dividend paidAED 488,750
Tax withheld in the United Arab Emirates on the dividendAED 0
Dividend received, before any tax in your countryAED 488,750
Profit kept in the companyAED 0
  • The 0% rate of a Qualifying Free Zone Person is not computed: it depends on the conditions above and on the kind of income.

Tax facts checked on 2026-10-23 from the official sources linked above. Rates change: check them with a firm before you act.

How the estimate is built

What the figures include

  • Firms' figures are starting prices published by firms listed on Accountanty, read from their websites in October 2026: the range runs from the lower to the upper quartile, with at least 8 firms; "from" means 5 to 7 firms; below 5 the price is on request.
  • Official fees are added up only for the base option named in the breakdown. Other options and fees that apply only in some cases are listed separately.
  • Euro amounts are approximate: Euro equivalents at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-22; AED and SAR via their US dollar pegs.
  • Free zone packages are alternatives, one per zone, and are not added up.
  • DMCC also publishes its set-up items one by one: application AED 1,035, registration AED 9,020, articles of association AED 2,020, licence AED 20,285 a year and establishment card AED 1,825 a year.
  • Set-up time differs by zone: RAKEZ states a licence within 24 hours for its Biz Starter package, DMCC around 10 working days for the whole process.
  • RAKEZ also publishes an all-inclusive package with one residence visa at AED 14,000; Meydan Free Zone add-ons include an establishment card at AED 2,000 and an investor visa at AED 4,000.
  • DMCC requires share capital sufficient for the licensed activities; it sets no fixed minimum.
  • Small Business Relief applies to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, and late corporate tax registration costs AED 10,000.
  • Economic substance reporting was cancelled for financial years ending after 31 December 2022.

All official fees: Free zone company (FZE, FZCO or FZ-LLC)

RAKEZ Basic package (1 shareholder, 1 activity, co-working access)AED 6,000At setuprakez.com
Meydan Free Zone services licence package, no visa (3 activity groups, flexi-desk; visa, medical and Emirates ID not included)AED 12,500At setupmeydanfz.ae
DMCC Basic Biz Package (individual shareholders only, flexi desk, one visa; VAT and Knowledge and Innovation Dirham included)AED 35,484At setupdmcc.ae
DMCC 1-year licence renewal (trading and service licence)AED 20,265Every yeardmcc.ae

Not published by the authorities: RAKEZ licence renewal amount (RAKEZ says it varies by type of entity); Meydan Free Zone separate renewal fee; IFZA fees, set-up time and share capital (quoted only through its partners); Visa, medical test and Emirates ID costs outside the packages listed.

Time to register: Meydan Free Zone: standard applications typically completed within 24 hours, depending on the activity and documents. Minimum share capital: RAKEZ: minimum share capital of an FZ-LLC AED 10,000, higher for some activities; Meydan Free Zone requires no paid-up share capital.

All official fees: Mainland company (Dubai, limited liability company)

Initial approval for issuing a licence (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 100At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Reservation of a trade name (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 200At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Trade name in a foreign language or numeric, or with the words Dubai, Emirates or Gulf (only in that case)AED 2,000At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Issuance of a licence (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 600At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Registration in the commercial register (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 200At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Registration in the central register of economic activities (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 200At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Appointing a service agent for a licence (only where one is appointed)AED 700At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Licence for a general trading activity (only for general trading)AED 15,000At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Urgent processing fee (optional)AED 500At setupdlp.dubai.gov.ae
Renewal of a licence (Dubai, 2011 schedule)AED 600Every yeardlp.dubai.gov.ae
Renewal of a general trading licence (only for general trading)AED 3,000Every yeardlp.dubai.gov.ae

Not published by the authorities: Dubai Chamber membership fee; Municipality (market) fee; Knowledge and Innovation Dirham and Ejari charges; Any fee changes by the Department of Economy and Tourism after 2011; Office lease cost; Department of Economy and Tourism processing time.

Time to register: The federal Basher platform states a business can be established online in 15 minutes; the page does not say this applies to every emirate or activity. Minimum share capital: No minimum set by the Commercial Companies Law: capital must be sufficient for the company's objects and paid in full at incorporation.

All official fees: RAK ICC company (offshore)

No official fee amounts are published for this route.

Not published by the authorities: RAK ICC registration fee; RAK ICC annual fee; RAK ICC set-up time; Registered agent requirement and what the company may do inside the UAE (stated only on firms' pages).

Time to register: No official set-up time published on a page that could be read.

Steps

  1. Determine the nature of the business activity moet.gov.ae
  2. Determine the company's legal structure moet.gov.ae
  3. Register the trade name moet.gov.ae
  4. Select the business space and location moet.gov.ae
  5. Obtain the initial approval moet.gov.ae
  6. Register and pay the fees moet.gov.ae
  7. Register for corporate tax within three months of incorporation tax.gov.ae

Documents and requirements

  • Mainland: a memorandum of association (MOA) or a local service agent agreement (LSA) moet.gov.ae
  • DMCC: articles of association, prepared as part of the registration dmcc.ae
  • Beneficial owner records and the register of partners or shareholders, filed with the registrar within 60 days of licensing dda.gov.ae
  • Foreign investors can fully own mainland companies; activities of strategic impact may face restrictions on foreign ownership u.ae
  • One person may incorporate and own a mainland limited liability company moet.gov.ae
  • In a free zone, an FZE allows a single shareholder and an FZCO allows several shareholders jafza.ae
  • A beneficial owner is a natural person holding 25% or more of the capital or voting rights, directly or indirectly dda.gov.ae
  • Meydan Free Zone: no mandatory requirement to lease a physical office meydanfz.ae

Every year

  • Corporate tax return within 9 months from the end of the tax period mof.gov.ae
  • Late corporate tax registration carries an administrative penalty of AED 10,000 mof.gov.ae
  • Records and documents kept for 7 years after the end of the tax period mof.gov.ae
  • Audited financial statements required for a Qualifying Free Zone Person and for revenue over AED 50,000,000 tax.gov.ae
  • Mainland LLC: accounts audited every year by one or more auditors elected by the partners moet.gov.ae
  • RAKEZ: audited financial statements by a RAKEZ approved auditor within six months of the financial year end; late filing fine AED 2,500 rakez.com
  • DMCC: accounts approved by the directors and reported on by a DMCCA approved auditor within six months of the financial year end dmcc.ae
  • RAKEZ: licences are generally valid for one year; late renewal penalty AED 50 per day rakez.com

What the cost of a company in the United Arab Emirates is made of

In Dubai the company setup cost starts with a choice of route, because a free zone licence and a mainland licence are priced in different ways. Free zone authorities sell packages: Meydan Free Zone lists a services licence at AED 12,500 with no visa, and DMCC a Basic Biz Package at AED 35,484 with one visa. Elsewhere in the UAE, RAKEZ lists a Basic package at AED 6,000. Each is one zone’s offer, not part of a sum.

On the mainland, the Dubai fee schedule of 2011 sets AED 600 to issue a licence, AED 200 to reserve a trade name and AED 100 for the initial approval, plus two register entries of AED 200 each. It leaves out the Chamber, municipality and Ejari charges and the office lease, which have no current published amount.

Firms usually quote the licence and their own work together as one package, so the calculator does not add the zone’s package to their price. Starting prices for a free zone company published by 94 firms run from AED 5,500 to AED 11,000 at the quartiles, and 88 of them do not say whether the zone’s charges sit inside that price. For a mainland company, 73 firms publish starting prices between AED 11,000 and AED 18,500.

Each year brings a licence renewal, AED 20,265 at DMCC or AED 600 for a Dubai mainland licence, plus bookkeeping and the corporate tax return. Standard Meydan applications are typically completed within 24 hours. The calculator below sets out these Dubai figures for the route you pick; to compare firms, open the UAE guide or request quotes.

Setup costs in the United Arab Emirates: questions and answers

Is the RAKEZ Basic package all I pay?

No. The AED 6,000 package covers one shareholder, one activity and co-working access. Visas, medical tests and Emirates ID are extra, and RAKEZ publishes no renewal amount, saying it varies by type of entity. RAKEZ also expects audited financial statements from a RAKEZ approved auditor within six months of the year end, with a late filing fine of AED 2,500 (RAKEZ FAQs), so an audit belongs in the yearly budget.

How much is a Dubai trade licence on the mainland?

Under the 2011 schedule the economic department charges AED 600 to issue a licence and AED 600 to renew it each year. A general trading activity costs AED 15,000 to license and AED 3,000 to renew, and a trade name in a foreign language costs AED 2,000. The schedule covers only the department's own fees, not the Chamber or the municipality.

What does a Dubai free zone licence cost each year?

DMCC publishes a 1-year renewal of AED 20,265 for its trading and service licence. Meydan Free Zone publishes no separate renewal fee, and RAKEZ none either, so ask each firm to put the renewal in writing before you sign. RAKEZ charges a late renewal penalty of AED 50 per day.

Do I need share capital for a company in Dubai?

It depends on the route. Meydan Free Zone requires no paid-up share capital. A RAKEZ FZ-LLC needs at least AED 10,000, more for some activities. For a mainland LLC the Commercial Companies Law sets no minimum, but the capital must suit the company's objects and be paid in full at incorporation.

Which tax steps add to the cost after the licence is issued?

The company registers for corporate tax within three months of incorporation, and a late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty (Ministry of Finance). Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Your own country of residence may still tax the company's profits or the dividends you take, so check its rules too.

Sources and notes

  1. meydanfz.ae read 2026-10-23
  2. rakez.com read 2026-10-23
  3. rakez.com read 2026-10-23
  4. meydanfz.ae read 2026-10-23
  5. dmcc.ae read 2026-10-23
  6. u.ae read 2026-10-23
  7. moet.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  8. dlp.dubai.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  9. moet.gov.ae read 2026-10-13
  10. tax.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  11. dda.gov.ae read 2026-10-13
  12. u.ae read 2026-10-13
  13. jafza.ae read 2026-10-13
  14. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-13
  15. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  16. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-13
  17. tax.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  18. dmcc.ae read 2026-10-23
  19. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  20. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  21. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  22. mof.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
  23. tax.gov.ae read 2026-10-23
Compare 451 firms offering company formation in the UAE Guide: setting up a company in the UAE Compare: UAE free zone vs mainland companyCompare: UAE vs CyprusCompare: Malta vs UAE All destinations in the calculator

Official figures checked on 2026-10-23. General information, not legal or tax advice: check the official sources and confirm costs with a firm before you act.