UAE Business Setup Costs in 2026: The Complete Breakdown

The Real Cost of Starting a Business in the UAE

If you've been researching UAE business setup, you've probably seen wildly different numbers — from "start a business for AED 5,500" to "budget AED 50,000+." Both can be true, depending on your specific situation.

This guide breaks down every single cost you'll encounter, so there are no surprises.

The 7 Core Cost Components

1. Trade License Fee

This is the base cost to get your business legally registered.

2. Visa Costs

Every residence visa involves multiple fees:

• •Entry permit: AED 1,000 - 1,500
• •Emirates ID: AED 370+
• •Medical fitness test: AED 300 - 500
• •Visa stamping: AED 500 - 1,000
• •Health insurance (mandatory): AED 1,500 - 4,000/yr

Total per visa: AED 3,500 - 7,000 depending on the free zone and insurance level.

3. Office / Workspace

Note: Some free zones include a basic virtual office in the license package.

4. Establishment Card

Required for all UAE companies — it's your company's Emirates ID:

• •Free zones: AED 1,000 - 2,500
• •Mainland: AED 1,500 - 3,000

5. Government Fees & Approvals

• •Initial approval: AED 100 - 500
• •Memorandum of Association (MOA): AED 500 - 2,000
• •Notarization fees: AED 500 - 1,500
• •Chamber of Commerce: AED 500 - 1,200

Regulated activities add significant costs:

• •Food & safety permits: AED 2,000 - 10,000
• •Healthcare licensing (DHA/DOH): AED 5,000 - 30,000
• •Financial regulation (DFSA/SCA): AED 10,000 - 100,000+

6. PRO & Service Agent Fees

If you use a service agent (common for mainland):

• •PRO services: AED 2,000 - 8,000/yr
• •Local service agent (mainland): AED 5,000 - 15,000/yr

7. Bank Account Opening

Opening a corporate bank account is technically free, but:

• •Minimum balance requirements: AED 5,000 - 50,000 (varies by bank)
• •Transaction/account fees: AED 50 - 250/month
• •Account opening facilitation (some agents charge): AED 1,000 - 5,000

Sample Budgets by Business Type

Solo Freelancer / Consultant

Small E-Commerce Business

Restaurant / Food Business

Hidden Costs Most Guides Don't Mention

1. 1.License amendment fees — Changing your activity or company name later costs AED 1,000 - 5,000
2. 2.Late renewal penalties — Miss your renewal date? Expect 100-500% penalty fees
3. 3.Attestation costs — Getting documents attested (embassy, MOFA) can cost AED 500 - 2,000 per document
4. 4.Translation fees — Official document translation: AED 100 - 500 per page
5. 5.Accounting — Mandatory bookkeeping and VAT filing: AED 3,000 - 15,000/yr
6. 6.Corporate tax filing — From June 2023, 9% on profits above AED 375,000 + accounting costs

How to Save Money

1. 1.Start in a budget free zone and upgrade later if needed
2. 2.Use a virtual office instead of physical space if you don't need one
3. 3.Minimize visas — Only sponsor the visas you actually need
4. 4.Negotiate packages — Most free zones offer discounted year-1 packages
5. 5.Use our comparison tool — It finds the cheapest options matching your exact requirements

Get Your Exact Cost Estimate

Every business situation is different. Our AI comparison tool calculates exact costs for your specific activity, visa needs, and preferred setup type across all 54+ UAE jurisdictions.

It's free, takes 2 minutes, and gives you a detailed cost breakdown with no guesswork.