Business setup in Dubai

Business setup in Dubai comes down to four choices: free zone or mainland, which zone, what office, and how many visas. Free zone licences start at AED 12,500 a year.

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Dubai free zones, lowest starting price first

Starting prices are the free zone's own published package or fees, with what they include. Where a free zone publishes none, the row says so and shows what setup agents publish instead. Checked . Packages change often: confirm before you pay.

Free zoneEmiratePublished starting priceVisasOffice options
Dubai SouthDubai South Free ZoneDubaiAED 12,500 a year: Business Hub Starter licence, 0 visas (offer AED 11,375)Business Hub Essential tier includes 1 visa from AED 16,500; Dubai South estimates AED 4,000 to 6,000 per visaFlexi desk, Serviced office, Warehouse, Land plot
Expo CityExpo City Dubai Free ZoneDubaiAED 12,500 a year: licence, registration, shared desk, 0 visasAllocation depends on leased space; Business Hub Package 2 allows 1 to 4 visasShared desk, Coworking, Private office, Retail
Meydan FZMeydan Free ZoneDubaiAED 12,500 a year: licence, 3 activity groups, flexi desk, 0 visasVisas are add-ons: investor visa AED 4,000, employee visa AED 3,500, plus AED 2,250 medical and Emirates IDFlexi desk, Office
IFZAIFZA (International Free Zone Authority)DubaiAED 12,900 a year: zero visa licence (published by 6 setup agents)Agents sell 1 visa from AED 14,900 to AED 15,000 (processing extra) or AED 21,450 to AED 22,200 all inFlexi desk (agent sources), Office
DHCCDubai Healthcare City (DHCC)DubaiAED 16,550: Zawel licence, 2 visa quota, no office in year 1 (limited-time offer)Zawel includes a 2 visa quota; a 2-year employment visa costs AED 3,226.73 to AED 4,947.63Desk space, Office, Clinical facility, Land
DWTCDWTC Free Zone (Dubai World Trade Centre)DubaiAED 16,845 to AED 17,800 with flexi desk and 1 visa (published by setup agents)Official visa fee AED 2,000 from outside the UAE, AED 3,200 inside (older DWTC visa PDF)On-demand licensing, Flexi desk, Business centre, Executive office, Commercial office, Home business (Expo Village)
d3Dubai Design District (d3)DubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 licence a year; studio or office lease extrad3 does not publish a visa quota per workspace; ask before you leaseCo-working (shared desks, micro studios), Office (from 700 sq ft), in5 Design
DIACDubai International Academic City (DIAC)DubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 licence a year; lease and KHDA approval extra1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space (DIAC FAQ)Commercial space, Campus (sale or rent)
DICDubai Internet CityDubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 a year per tech segment, lease extra1 visa per 60 sq ft of leased space (DIC FAQ)Co-working, in5 Tech, Office, Light industrial unit, Warehouse, Retail
DKPDubai Knowledge ParkDubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 a year per segment, lease extra1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space; 1 visa per freelancer on a hot deskHot desk (freelancers), Office, Built-to-suit
DMCDubai Media CityDubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 a year per media segment, desk extra1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space; Open Quarters desk gives 1 work permitCo-working (D/Quarters), Office, Studios, Retail
DOCDubai Outsource City (DOC)DubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 licence a year; lease extra1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space (DOC FAQ)Commercial space, Retail
DPCDubai Production CityDubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 a year by segment1 visa per 80 to 100 sq ft of leased space (DPC FAQ)Office, Warehouse, in5 Media
DSCDubai Studio CityDubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 to AED 40,000 a year by segment1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space (DSC FAQ)Office (700 to 1,300 sq ft), Sound stages, Studios, Backlot
DSPDubai Science Park (DSP)DubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 licence a year; desk or lab lease extra1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space (DSP FAQ); D/Quarters Open Quarters desk carries 1 work permitCo-working (D/Quarters), in5 Science, Office, Light industrial unit, Warehouse
IHCInternational Humanitarian City (Dubai Humanitarian)DubaiAED 11,250 a year: NPO desk; commercial desk AED 20,800 (2 visa quota)Every package includes a 2 visa quota and the establishment card; visa costs are charged on topBusiness centre hot desk, Standard office, Warehouse
Dubai CommerCityDubaiAED 27,545 to AED 28,000 a year: smart desk, 2 visa quota (published by setup agents)The zone publishes no visa quota or visa fees; agent smart desk packages come with visa allocationsSmart desk, Co-working, Office, Retail, Warehouse, Fulfilment centre
DMCCDMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre)DubaiAED 35,484 a year: Basic Biz licence, flexi desk options, 1 visa eligibilityFlexi desk up to 3 visas; a new 2 year visa from outside the UAE is AED 2,972.50 (DMCC schedule)Flexi desk, Co-working, Serviced office, Office
DAFZDAFZ (Dubai Airport Freezone)DubaiAED 40,770 to AED 85,000 first year with an office (published by setup agents)Visa quota tied to office size; agents say the smart office carries a 2 visa quotaSmart office, Office, Warehouse, Retail
DIFCDIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)DubaiUSD 1,500 a year: Innovation licence, tech firms only, plus USD 100 registrationInnovation licence: up to 4 visas on the first desk; new employment visa AED 3,950 plus AED 2,500 refundable deposit (DIFC handbook, may be out of date)Coworking (Innovation Hub), Shared office, Leased office
DMCDubai Maritime CityDubaiLicensed through Jafza (Jafza licences from AED 5,000 a year); DMC lease extraNot publishedOffice, Warehouse, Workshop, Showroom, Ship repair plot
DSODubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)DubaiLicence AED 12,000 to AED 15,000 a year, office extra (published by setup agents)DSO publishes no visa quota or fee; agents quote AED 3,000 to AED 5,100 per visaFlexi desk, Fixed desk, Office, Warehouse, Light industrial unit, Retail, Land
DUCAMZDubai Cars and Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ)DubaiAED 5,500 to AED 14,000 trading licence (published by setup agents, who disagree)Not publishedShowroom
Gold and Diamond ParkDubai Gold and Diamond ParkDubaiJafza licence from AED 5,000 a year; unit lease extraVisas are processed by Jafza under Jafza Free Zone RulesRetail showroom, Workshop, Office
JAFZAJAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone)DubaiLicence from AED 5,000 a year (one activity group); facility lease extraVisa quota not published; employment entry permit from AED 2,378 (Normal, 1 year)Co-working and workstations, Office, Warehouse, Showroom, Retail, Land plot

Last updated

Business setup in Dubai is four decisions taken in order. Free zone or mainland. Which of Dubai's 27 free zones. What office. How many visas. Each one changes the price. For a new business setup in Dubai, the lowest official free zone price is AED 12,500 a year at Meydan Free Zone or Expo City for a licence with no visa. Office space and visas add from there.

First company? Read the guide for first-time founders for capital rules and a first-year budget. Looking ahead: see Trade license cost Dubai 2027.

Should I choose a free zone or the mainland?

A free zone company sits outside the mainland jurisdiction. It trades freely inside its zone and abroad. To sell into the UAE market it needs a licensed mainland distributor, a mainland branch or company, or in Dubai, a DET permit. A mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE.

Ownership is no longer the deciding point. Free zone companies can be 100% foreign owned, and so can most mainland companies since early .

Dubai has also narrowed the gap. Since Executive Council Resolution No. 11, a free zone company approved by its zone can work on the mainland with a DET permit at AED 5,000 for up to 6 months, or a branch licence at AED 10,000 a year. It must keep separate accounts for that work. DIFC financial firms are excluded.

As a rule of thumb from these facts: if your customers are abroad, online, or other free zone companies, start in a free zone. If they are mostly UAE shops, government or the public, look at the mainland. Our free zone vs mainland page goes further.

Which Dubai free zone should I choose?

The Dubai Free Zones Council counts 27 free zones under 11 authorities, and most are built around a sector. For business setup in a Dubai free zone, match your sector first, then compare price.

Your business Zones built for it
Consultancy, services, small online business Meydan, IFZA, Expo City
Commodities, crypto, gaming, AI DMCC
Logistics, warehousing, import and export Jafza, DAFZ, Dubai South
Software, IT, telecom Dubai Internet City, Dubai Silicon Oasis
Media, film, publishing Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City
E-commerce Dubai CommerCity
Events, family offices, virtual assets DWTC Free Zone
Banking, funds, insurance DIFC
Clinics and health businesses Dubai Healthcare City
Training and education Dubai Knowledge Park, Academic City

The zone table under the hero shows each zone's published starting price. For a full side-by-side, see Dubai free zones.

If your new business setup in the UAE does not need a Dubai address, other emirates start lower. SRTIP in Sharjah lists a no-visa licence from AED 3,999 for a limited time. See the cheapest free zones in the UAE.

What office do I need for a Dubai licence?

Your office decides how many visas you can hold.

  • No office or a flexi desk. Fine for a founder who needs few visas. A DMCC flexi desk allows up to 3 visas.
  • Space-based quotas. In Dubai Internet City you can sponsor 1 employee per 60 sq ft of leased space. In Dubai Media City it is 1 per 80 sq ft.
  • Warehouse or land. Jafza lists warehouses from AED 400 per sq m. Needed only if you hold stock.

How much does business setup in Dubai cost with visas?

Count the residence visas you need now and in year two. Each one brings its own fee plus the establishment card, medical and Emirates ID. Meydan lists AED 4,000 for an investor visa and AED 3,500 for an employee. RAKEZ, outside Dubai, lists AED 3,800 for an employee visa with medical and Emirates ID included.

For prices, see trade license cost in Dubai, which works through five typical businesses, and hidden free zone costs for what packages leave out.

How long does business setup in Dubai take?

Zone Licence timing on official pages
Meydan Free Zone Within 24 hours; under 60 minutes with Fawri
TECOM parks 7 working days per zone FAQs (the DDA service page says 10 plus 2)
Jafza 3 to 14 business days after documents
DIFC Initial approval typically 3 to 5 working days
Dubai Healthcare City Initial approval 3 to 10 working days
DMCC 2 to 3 weeks

Source: each zone's FAQ or setup page, checked .

The licence is not the end. The establishment card, visas and the bank account usually take longer than the licence itself. Our setup steps guide walks through each stage.

Can I set up a Dubai company from abroad?

Meydan says its setup is 100% online with no visit. DWTC runs a Business Setup Portal you can use from anywhere. DMCC describes a fully digital process. Every zone still needs you in the UAE for the visa medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.

What do I need to do after the licence?

  1. Establishment card, so the company can sponsor visas.
  2. Residence visas for you and staff.
  3. Corporate bank account. Bank rules vary: RAKBANK's business account asks for an average AED 25,000 balance, Mashreq NEO BIZ Pro has no minimum.
  4. Corporate tax registration within 3 months of incorporation. It is free, and late registration costs AED 10,000.
  5. VAT registration once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000.

Do I need a business setup consultant?

Many people use a business setup consultant in Dubai. Agency packages mix government fees with the agent's own fee, and pages often show "from" prices that exclude visas or office rent. Ask for every fee line in writing.

UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is not a consultant or a free zone. It is an independent directory. Fill in the form on this page with your activity, visas and timing. We pass it to the Dubai zones that fit or to a licensed setup partner, who quotes one total before work starts.

Sources

Get free quotes from several free zones

Tell us about setting up a business in Dubai: your activity, the visas and the office you need. We pass it to the free zones that fit or to a licensed setup partner, and reply with options you can compare side by side.

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We use your details only to answer this enquiry and share them only with the free zone or setup partner that replies. See the privacy policy.

Good to know

Questions people ask

How do I start a business in Dubai as a foreigner?

Pick your activity, then choose a free zone or the mainland. Both allow full foreign ownership for most activities. Apply to the zone with passport copies and your shareholder details, receive the licence, then the establishment card, visas and a bank account.

How long does business setup in Dubai take?

The licence step ranges from under 60 minutes for Meydan's Fawri licence to 2 to 3 weeks at DMCC. The TECOM parks say 7 working days and Jafza 3 to 14 business days. Visas and the bank account come after the licence.

Should I choose a Dubai free zone or the mainland?

Choose a free zone if you trade abroad, inside the zone or online and want a low fixed start price. Choose mainland if most customers are UAE businesses or the public. A Dubai free zone company can also get a DET permit to work on the mainland.

Do I need to be in Dubai to set up a company?

Not for the licence in many zones. Meydan says its setup is 100% online, DWTC runs its portal for applicants anywhere, and DMCC describes a fully digital process. You come to the UAE for the residence visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics.

What do business setup consultants in Dubai charge?

Agencies publish package prices that bundle government fees with their own fee, so compare the government part. For Meydan with one visa, two agencies publish AED 16,350 to AED 20,670. Ask any consultant to list each fee line.

What comes after the trade licence?

The establishment card, then residence visas, then a corporate bank account. You must also register for corporate tax within 3 months of incorporation, and for VAT once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000.

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