About these figures: Costs and timelines on this page are indicative planning figures compiled from public free zone fee information. They have not been individually verified for this page, may be out of date, and must be confirmed with the free zone before you pay. How we source prices · How we compile data.
UAE Business Setup Cost Breakdown by Emirate Guide 2026
Business setup costs vary significantly across UAE’s seven emirates. This guide provides a complete cost breakdown for setting up a business in each UAE emirate in 2026, covering licences, office space, visas, and ongoing costs.
In this guide:
Dubai Business Setup Cost Breakdown
- Free zone licence: AED 12,500 (Meydan FZ, cheapest Dubai free zone) to AED 35,000+ (DMCC, DIFC premium)
- Flexi desk (if not included): AED 8,000-15,000/year
- Visa cost (investor/owner): AED 4,000-6,000 per visa
- Health insurance (mandatory, Dubai DHA): AED 1,500-5,000/year per person
- First-year total (cheapest Dubai free zone, 1 owner): ~AED 25,000-35,000
- First-year total (DMCC, 1 owner): ~AED 35,000-50,000
- Mainland LLC (Dubai DED): AED 15,000-25,000 licence + AED 30,000-60,000 office lease + visa + health = AED 60,000-100,000 first year
Abu Dhabi Business Setup Cost Breakdown
- Free zone (ADGM): AED 15,000-50,000+ for financial services; AED 10,000-25,000 for non-regulated companies
- Free zone (KEZAD): AED 20,000-40,000 for industrial; AED 15,000-25,000 for logistics
- Mainland (DED Abu Dhabi): AED 12,000-25,000 licence; AED 25,000-60,000 office lease; visa costs similar to Dubai
- ADIO incentives: qualifying investments may receive fee waivers or subsidies through Abu Dhabi Investment Office
- First-year total (ADGM non-regulated, 1 owner): ~AED 25,000-40,000
Sharjah Business Setup Cost Breakdown
- SAIF Zone (Sharjah Airport International Free Zone): AED 8,000-15,000 licence; warehouse from AED 8,000/year
- Shams (Sharjah Media City): AED 5,750 (cheapest UAE free zone); almost no banking access
- Hamriyah Free Zone: AED 8,000-20,000 for industrial; port access
- Sharjah Mainland: DED Sharjah licence AED 10,000-18,000; office space AED 40-70/sqft (50% cheaper than Dubai)
- First-year total (Shams, 1 owner): ~AED 15,000-20,000 (cheapest UAE option)
Northern Emirates Business Setup Cost Breakdown
- Ras Al Khaimah (RAKEZ): AED 7,500-15,000 licence; office AED 8,000-15,000; visa AED 3,500-5,000; total ~AED 18,000-35,000 first year with visa
- Ajman Free Zone: AED 10,000-18,000 licence; low office costs; Ajman Port access; good for physical goods
- Fujairah Free Zone / IFZA: AED 14,900 (IFZA) for single activity; WIO Bank partnership; best value for banking accessibility in Northern Emirates
- UAQ (Umm Al Quwain): AED 8,000-14,000; cheapest Northern Emirates free zone after Shams; limited services but very low cost
- First-year total (RAKEZ, 1 owner, with visa): ~AED 20,000-25,000
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