UAE Free Zone Government Fees Guide 2026 — Official Charges by Authority

UAE Free Zone Government Fees 2026 — Official Charges by Authority

Understanding the difference between free zone fees (paid to the free zone authority) and government fees (paid to federal UAE agencies) is critical for budgeting your UAE company setup. This guide covers official government fees charged by UAE immigration, Ministry of Human Resources, and Ministry of Finance in 2026.

UAE Immigration and Residency Fees 2026

• Entry permit: AED 600–800 (varies by type and entry channel)
• Change of status (inside UAE): AED 500–700
• Medical fitness test: AED 250–500 (varies by emirate)
• Emirates ID (first-time issuance): AED 300–370
• Emirates ID renewal (5-year): AED 300–370
• Residence visa stamping: AED 200–400
• Insurance (mandatory): AED 600–1,200 per person per year
• Establishment card (company): AED 200–400 (one-time)

Ministry of Human Resources (MOHRE) Fees 2026

• Labour contract: AED 120 per employee
• Work permit: AED 300–1,200 (varies by profession tier)
• Skilled worker permit (Tier 1): AED 300
• Semi-skilled (Tier 2): AED 600
• Unskilled (Tier 3): AED 1,200
• MOHRE guarantee (Wage Protection System): AED 3,000 deposit per worker (returnable)

UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) Fees 2026

• VAT registration: free
• Corporate Tax registration (EmaraTax): free
• Customs registration (FIRS): AED 200–500
• Excise Tax registration: free
• Tax agent registration: AED 3,000 (for tax agents)

DED (Dubai Economy) Fees (for Mainland)

• Initial approval: AED 200–600
• Trade name registration: AED 600–900
• Commercial licence: AED 1,000–5,000 (activity-dependent)
• External approval: AED 200–2,000 (for regulated activities)

Free Zone Registration Fees (Typical Range)

Free zone registration fees are charged by the specific free zone authority (not a federal fee). Typical ranges:

• Registration/incorporation fee: AED 1,000–5,000 (one-time)
• Annual licence renewal: AED 7,500–30,000+
• Trade name reservation: AED 200–500
• Document attestation/notarisation: AED 100–500 per document

Total Government Fees for a Typical Free Zone Setup

For a sole investor with 1 investor visa, government fees (immigration + MOHRE + FTA) typically total AED 3,000–5,500 in year 1, on top of the free zone’s own fees. Year 2+ government fees for visa renewal: AED 2,000–4,000 depending on visa type and emirate.