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How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Dubai or the UAE?

That depends — are you registering a company in a Dubai Free Zone, or opting for a Mainland license? Will you need investor or employee visas? Are you looking for an ecommerce license in Dubai, or a more traditional setup?

The cost of starting a business in Dubai or the UAE can vary significantly based on the type of business activity you choose. Different activities have different licensing requirements, fees, and regulations. For example, a trading license may have different costs compared to a professional services license or an industrial license. To get an accurate estimate of your business setup costs, please select your business activity from the list below.

This will help us determine the potential type of company structure you will need for your company.

The number of owners/shareholders your company will have can help in identifying the most suitable legal structure for your company, as well as the number of residence visas you will require.

In addition to residence visas for your shareholders, you can apply for residence visas for your employees and family members.

Dependants include your family members, nanny or other household staff you may personally employ.

Depending on the nature of your business, will you need a flexi-desk, a co-working space or an entire office space? This is an important factor in calculating your total setup cost.

This will have the biggest impact on your final proposal, but is also required based on your choice of activity and whether you need to be based in the mainland or not.

Not sure what type of business license you need?

Use this quick comparison to understand the types of business licenses in the UAE, and how each impacts your setup cost, scope of work, and operations.

License Type Best For Ownership Tax Benefits Setup Speed
Free Zone License Online businesses, exporters 100% 0% corporate tax on qualifying income Fast
Mainland License Businesses targeting UAE market 100% (new laws) Access to UAE-wide contracts Medium
E-commerce License Online trading or service platforms 100% Eligible for tax exemptions Fast
Professional License Consultants, freelancers, creatives 100% Depends on structure Fast