How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Company in Dubai? (2026 Breakdown)

The first question most Indian founders ask before moving forward is simple: what does business setup in Dubai cost? The range you see online varies from AED 8,000 to AED 100,000+ — which makes it genuinely hard to plan.

Business setup in Dubai cost depends on three decisions: free zone or mainland, which specific zone, and how many visas you need in year one. Once you fix those variables, the number becomes very predictable. Most Indian founders setting up a single-person free zone company spend between AED 26,000 and AED 47,000 in year one — roughly ₹6–11 lakh.

One thing business setup in Dubai cost does not include: personal income tax. There is none. Your licence and visa costs are the primary recurring expenses — not an ongoing tax burden on revenue.

What does business setup in Dubai cost? (2026 summary)

Here is the complete business setup in Dubai cost split by structure — free zone versus mainland:

Cost Component	Free Zone (AED)	Mainland (AED)
Trade licence	12,000–25,000	15,000–35,000
Registered address / flexi-desk	5,000–12,000	15,000–50,000+
Investor visa (1 person)	3,500–6,000	3,500–6,000
Medical + Emirates ID	1,500–2,000	1,500–2,000
Attestation / notarisation	2,000–5,000	2,000–5,000
PRO fees (optional)	2,000–5,000	3,000–7,000
Total Year 1	AED 26,000–55,000	AED 27,000–55,000+
In INR (approx.)	~₹6–13 lakh	~₹6.5–13 lakh+

The range is wide because the largest variable — your choice of free zone — swings business setup in Dubai cost significantly. IFZA or Meydan puts you at the lower end. DMCC or DIFC sits at the top.

Free zone company setup cost — full breakdown

For most Indian founders, a free zone company is the right starting point. Free zone business setup in Dubai cost has three main components: the trade licence, your office requirement, and visa fees.

Trade licence

The trade licence is the largest single cost item. Pricing varies by zone and by the number of business activities included. Most free zones offer packages that bundle the licence with a flexi-desk and one investor visa — these bundled packages are typically the best value when planning your first Dubai company.

Free Zone	Licence + Flexi-Desk (AED)	Visa Quota	Best For
IFZA	12,000–17,000	1–6	Consulting, SaaS, general services
Meydan	12,500–18,000	1–6	Startups, general trade
RAKEZ	8,000–14,000	1+	Manufacturing, logistics, budget-first
SHAMS	11,500–17,000	1–3	Media, freelancers, creators
DMCC	18,000–25,000	1–6	Trading, commodities
DIFC	30,000–50,000+	Varies	Financial services, regulated fintech

Office requirement

Every free zone requires at minimum a registered address. For most early-stage Indian founders, a flexi-desk satisfies this at the lowest cost:

• Registered address only: AED 1,500–5,000/year (available in select zones)
• Flexi-desk: AED 5,000–12,000/year (most common; often bundled with the licence)
• Dedicated desk: AED 12,000–25,000/year
• Private office: AED 25,000–80,000+/year depending on size and zone

Investor visa

As a founder, you need an investor visa tied to your company. This adds AED 3,500–6,000 per person to your business setup in Dubai cost. It covers the entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID registration, and visa stamping.

If you plan to bring a co-founder or hire in year one, each additional visa adds AED 3,500–5,500 to the total.

Mainland company setup cost

Mainland business setup in Dubai cost runs slightly higher than free zone for comparable structures. The DED (Department of Economic Development) licence allows your company to trade directly with UAE-based customers — a capability free zone companies do not have by default.

Mainland licences typically start at AED 15,000–20,000 for a service business. Unlike free zones, mainland companies must lease physical office space — this alone can add AED 15,000–50,000+ to year-one costs depending on the location and size.

For most Indian founders whose revenue comes from outside the UAE, the extra cost is not justified at the start. If you are weighing the two options, see the full freezone vs mainland Dubai comparison before deciding.

Year two — what annual renewal costs

Annual renewal is one aspect of business setup in Dubai cost that surprises most founders. Year two is cheaper — typically 60–70% of year one — because attestation fees, Emirates ID setup, and initial visa costs do not recur.

What you pay each year:

• Licence renewal: AED 10,000–22,000 (depending on zone and activities)
• Flexi-desk renewal: AED 5,000–12,000
• Visa renewal (every 2–3 years): AED 3,000–5,000 per person
• Establishment card renewal: AED 1,000–1,500

A typical year-two renewal for a single-person IFZA or Meydan company comes to AED 16,000–26,000 — roughly ₹3.8–6.2 lakh. Factor this into your financial model from day one.

What is not included in most quotes

Most business setup consultants quote a base business setup in Dubai cost that excludes several items. Confirm whether your quote covers:

• Document attestation: Getting Indian documents apostilled and attested costs AED 2,000–5,000 and is frequently excluded.
• Medical fitness test: Required for visa processing — AED 300–700 per person.
• Emirates ID fee: AED 370 (standard) or AED 1,000 (express).
• Bank minimum balance: Many UAE banks require AED 25,000–50,000 as a minimum balance — not a fee, but capital you need available from day one.
• VAT registration: Mandatory if your UAE revenue will exceed AED 375,000/year — budget AED 2,000–5,000 for an accountant to handle this.

For a complete list of what you need before submitting, see the Dubai company registration documents checklist.

How to keep business setup in Dubai cost down

The single biggest lever on business setup in Dubai cost is your choice of free zone. RAKEZ, IFZA, Meydan, and SHAMS are consistently the most cost-effective for Indian founders.

DMCC, DIFC, and Dubai Internet City are premium products — the right choice if the zone is strategically important to your business, not just because a consultant recommended them.

Other practical ways to reduce cost:

• Start with fewer business activities: Most zones charge per activity. Start with one or two and add more at renewal if needed.
• Choose flexi-desk over a private office: Unless you need physical space, flexi-desk meets the zone requirement at a fraction of the cost.
• Handle the paperwork yourself: PRO services cost AED 2,000–5,000. Most free zones have straightforward online portals for founders who have the time to navigate them.
• Compare 2–3 zones before committing: A 30-minute cost comparison across IFZA, Meydan, and RAKEZ can save AED 5,000–8,000 without changing your business structure.

Next steps

Once you have a clear picture of business setup in Dubai cost, the next step is confirming which free zone fits your business activity and growth plan.

1. Read the complete Dubai company setup guide for a full step-by-step walkthrough.
2. Download the company formation checklist to track every step from licence to bank account.
3. Get the full cost and structure comparison in the freezone vs mainland Dubai guide.
4. When you are ready to move forward, the myHQ team can walk you through every step: set up your Dubai company with myHQ.

Frequently asked questions

Setting up a Dubai company is more predictable than it appears. The business setup in Dubai cost is knowable upfront — the licence, visa, and office fees follow a clear structure, and the timeline is well-established. If you want help mapping the right free zone to your business, the myHQ team has walked hundreds of Indian founders through every step of the process.