What will your company in Dubai cost? A range in 60 seconds.
Activity, free zone or mainland, number of visas. You get the breakdown straight away and by email. Not a quote, a bearing for the conversation.
First estimate
What will your company do?
Choose the main activity. Yours missing? Choose "Other".
As of 10/2026. Sources: UAE Federal Tax Authority, GDRFA. Not legal or tax advice.
What the price is made of.
Anyone advertising a licence fee is naming one of 7 items. This table shows all of them.
| Item | One-off | Annual | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence (free zone or mainland) | ✓ | ✓ | depends on activity, visa quota, emirate |
| Establishment Card | ✓ | ✓ | required before any visa |
| Visa per person (entry permit, medical, biometrics, Emirates ID) | ✓ | every 2 years | government fees passed on 1:1, no mark-up |
| Health insurance per person | ✓ | mandatory, tied to the visa | |
| Company account | ✓ | minimum balance | the KYC file decides |
| Tax registration (corporate tax, VAT where due) | ✓ | ongoing | mind the deadlines |
| Office or flexi-desk | ✓ | substance, depending on the structure |
Government fees are passed on 1:1, without a mark-up. What the quote says, holds.
Free zone or mainland? 4 questions are enough to start.
Who are your clients?
Clients outside the UAE, or other companies: free zone. Consumers inside the UAE, in person: usually mainland.
How many visas do you need?
Free zone packages are tiered by visa quota. Mainland scales with office space.
Do you need an office?
A flexi-desk is enough in many free zones. Mainland requires a tenancy agreement with Ejari.
What does your profit look like?
Above AED 375,000, corporate tax of 9 % applies. As a Qualifying Free Zone Person, 0 % on qualifying income, with substance.
In full: free zone vs mainland, 12 criteria and a decision tree
From the first call to the Emirates ID.
First call, 15 minutes
Activity, revenue, visa needs, timeline.
Written structure recommendation
Emirate, free zone, licence type, cost range, timeline.
Licence
A free zone licence typically within a few working days.
Visas and Emirates ID
2 to 6 weeks per person: entry permit, entry, medical, biometrics, Emirates ID.
Bank account
Personal account after the Emirates ID, company account with a prepared KYC file.
Europeans need no entry permit in advance to enter; the visa process starts with the licence.
| Fits | Does not fit |
|---|---|
| Consulting, agency, software, coaching, content, e-commerce without UAE warehousing | Regulated business models (DHA, VARA, RERA) without preparation |
| Income from clients outside the UAE | Anyone looking for a letterbox company without moving |
| Moving to the UAE and giving up the German residence | Anyone keeping a German residence |
Common questions
Is the estimate a quote?
No. It runs on our current price list and shows the range. The quote follows the first call, in writing, at a fixed price.
Are there hidden costs?
No. Government fees are passed on 1:1. What the quote says holds, even if a step takes longer.
Do I need a local partner?
No. 100 % ownership in free zones and in almost all mainland activities.
Can I set up the company without moving?
Setting up, yes. Visas and bank accounts require presence. Without moving your residence, tax liability stays in Germany. We settle that beforehand.
Which free zone is the best?
The one that fits the activity, the visa need and the budget. We set up in all 7 emirates and recommend by case, not by commission.
You have the range. Now the plan.
15 minutes, free of charge, by video or in person. Afterwards you know which free zone fits, what it costs and when the Emirates ID arrives.
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; see the date for the version it reflects.
As of 10/2026