Four variables determine what a UAE company setup costs: the activity, the jurisdiction, the number of visas and what recurs annually. The first estimate calculates the range for a concrete case; the quote states the binding price. As of 09/2026.
Why "from X AED" helps little
Every advertisement quotes a starting price, and almost every one means something different: sometimes the bare licence, sometimes the licence with a registered address, sometimes a package excluding the fees the client later pays directly. It only becomes comparable once you know the items individually.
Four variables move the price. Knowing them lets you read any quote — including our estimate.
1. The activity
It decides first which zone may licence you at all, and then what it costs. A consulting licence is the cheapest case. Regulated activities bring additional authority fees and conditions — real estate brokerage via RERA, financial and investment advice via DFSA or FSRA, healthcare services via the DHA, crypto services via VARA.
For those activities the price only emerges after review. Anyone quoting a figure beforehand is guessing.
2. The jurisdiction
Free zone or mainland — and which zone. Mainland additionally requires an Ejari tenancy contract and an establishment card. The differences between emirates are considerable: Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah are lowest at setup, Abu Dhabi and the financial centres DIFC and ADGM highest.
The cheapest licence is rarely the cheapest structure. Saving a few thousand at setup and then waiting three months for a bank account is no saving at all.
3. The number of visas
The biggest lever. Each person brings an entry permit, medical fitness test, biometrics, Emirates ID and health insurance — shareholders, employees, partners and children alike. From four visas most free zones apply package pricing that cushions the jump.
On the mainland the quota depends on office space. Plan for four people and rent space for two, and you stall mid-process.
4. What recurs every year
The item first-time founders overlook most often:
- licence renewal
- establishment card
- health insurance per person
- Ejari, if mainland
- corporate tax return, even at 0 %
What the quote says is what gets invoiced — even when a step takes longer than planned. Some fees you pay directly yourself, on the mainland the economic department's licence fee for example. It varies by activity and does not run through us, so it is listed separately in the quote.
What an estimate does not contain
So nobody is surprised later: health insurance, our service charge, a bank account, tax registration and visas for dependants are not part of the range. What applies to you depends on your structure and is set out in the quote.
What we recommend
Do not compare starting prices, compare the full picture over two years — including renewal, insurance and what you pay authorities yourself. And decide the jurisdiction by client base, not by setup cost.
You get the range for your case through the first estimate: choose the activity, the jurisdiction and the number of visas — result in 60 seconds, without sales pressure.
Exit Palm does not provide legal or tax advice. For legal and tax questions we work with licensed partners in Germany and the UAE. All information without warranty, as of the date shown.