Costs

How much does it cost to open a company in Dubai in 2026?

The most common question we get at timewise: "how much does this all cost, end to end?" The honest answer depends on three variables — Free Zone vs. Mainland, number of visas, and type of office. But we can give you concrete ranges. This guide shows every real cost, with no omissions, updated for 2026.

Year one costs: getting set up

1. Trade licence

• Free Zone: AED 12,000–25,000/year depending on the Free Zone and activity count
• Mainland: AED 22,000–40,000/year including DED fees and initial approval

2. Office (mandatory)

• Virtual office (Free Zone): AED 3,000–8,000/year — sufficient for remote operators
• Flexi-desk (Free Zone): AED 8,000–15,000/year — includes shared physical space
• Physical office (Mainland): AED 15,000–50,000+/year — mandatory with Ejari contract

3. Investor visa

• Visa issuance: AED 3,000–5,000 (government fees + processing)
• Emirates ID: AED 370 (fixed fee)
• Medical exam: AED 500–800 (standard) or AED 1,500–2,500 (VIP, no queues)
• Health insurance: AED 2,000–5,000/year (mandatory for residents)

4. Bank account

• Opening: AED 0 at most banks (minimum deposit of AED 5,000–25,000 required at some)
• Monthly maintenance: AED 50–200/month

Annual renewal costs

From year two onward, recurring costs are lower: licence renewal AED 12,000–25,000, office AED 3,000–8,000, health insurance AED 2,000–5,000, accounting AED 3,000–8,000. Typical annual recurring cost (Free Zone): AED 20,000–38,000 (≈ USD 5,400–10,300).

Costs most people miss

• Accounting & audit: AED 3,000–8,000/year
• Corporate Tax registration (FTA): AED 0–1,000
• Sworn document translation: AED 500–2,000 (one-time)
• Power of Attorney: AED 1,000–2,000 (for remote representation)
• Apostille: varies by country (EUR 50–200 per document)

Free Zone comparison

Indicative 2026 prices (licence + virtual office + 1 visa):

• IFZA (Fujairah): from AED 12,750 — best value for digital businesses
• Ajman Free Zone: from AED 12,000 — popular among Portuguese-speaking entrepreneurs
• Meydan Free Zone: from AED 15,500 — Dubai prestige, excellent banking acceptance
• RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah): from AED 14,000 — good for international trade
• DMCC (Dubai): from AED 25,000 — top-tier for commodities and trading
• JAFZA (Jebel Ali): from AED 28,000 — ideal for logistics and warehousing

Three real scenarios

Scenario 1: Digital consultant (remote work)

IFZA licence + virtual office + 1 visa + insurance + bank = ≈ AED 25,000 (≈ USD 6,800). Annual renewal: ≈ AED 18,000.

Scenario 2: E-commerce with small team (2 visas)

Meydan licence + flexi-desk + 2 visas + insurance + bank = ≈ AED 38,000 (≈ USD 10,300). Renewal: ≈ AED 28,000.

Scenario 3: B2B company with local operations (Mainland)

DED licence + Ejari office + 3 visas + insurance + bank = ≈ AED 55,000 (≈ USD 15,000). Renewal: ≈ AED 42,000.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Free Zone company cost in Dubai in 2026?

Total initial cost: AED 18,000–35,000 (≈ USD 5,000–9,500) including licence, virtual office, visa and Emirates ID. Annual renewal: AED 12,000–25,000.

What are the hidden costs?

Health insurance (AED 2,000–5,000/year), CT registration (AED 0–1,000), annual accounting (AED 3,000–8,000), and visa renewal every 2–3 years (AED 3,000–5,000).

What is the cheapest Free Zone?

IFZA (AED 12,750), Ajman Free Zone (AED 12,000), Sharjah Publishing City (AED 13,500). But cheapest isn't always best — consider activities, banking reputation and visa quotas.