Get your Dubai business setup cost in 60 seconds
Free zone or mainland — from license fees to visa and office costs, get a full breakdown laid out like a clean receipt, in your own currency, ready to share on WhatsApp or download as a PDF.
Dubai business setup cost calculator tools help entrepreneurs answer the one question every founder asks before starting a UAE company: how much will this actually cost? Whether you're comparing a free zone license against a mainland setup, planning visa allocations for your team, or deciding between a virtual office and a physical space, the numbers can be confusing to piece together from scattered sources. This calculator breaks down every major cost category — trade license fees, visa and immigration charges, office and tenancy costs, and government approvals — into one clear, itemized estimate that updates instantly as you adjust your inputs.
Built for Pakistani, Indian, UK, and US entrepreneurs exploring Dubai as their next business destination, this tool converts your estimate into AED, USD, EUR, PKR, or INR, so you can plan in whichever currency makes sense for you. Once you have your breakdown, share it directly on WhatsApp with a partner or co-founder, or download it as a PDF to keep for your records. No sign-up, no email required — just answer a few quick questions and get a realistic starting point for your UAE business setup budget.
Calculate Your Setup Cost
Fill in a few details below — your cost breakdown updates instantly on the right.
Four Steps to Your Cost Estimate
No sign-up, no spreadsheets — just answer a few questions and get a clear, shareable breakdown.
Pick Your Activity
Choose your business activity and whether you want a free zone or mainland setup.
Add Visas & Office
Tell us how many visas you need and pick an office type — virtual, flexi-desk, or physical.
See It Instantly
Your full cost breakdown updates live — license, visas, office, and approvals, all itemized.
Share or Save
Send the estimate on WhatsApp or download it as a PDF to keep for planning and comparison.
What Each Cost Actually Covers
Every business setup quote is made up of the same core building blocks. Here's what you're really paying for.
Trade License Fee
This is the core government fee that legally permits your business activity, issued either by a free zone authority or the Department of Economic Development (DED) for mainland companies. It usually covers registration, the initial approval, and the license certificate itself, and it's renewed annually.
Visa & Immigration Costs
Each visa involves an establishment card, entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID, and stamping. Costs scale directly with headcount, so the more visas your license allocates, the higher this line item — plan around only what you'll actually need in year one.
Office & Tenancy
Most licenses require a registered address — this can be a shared "flexi-desk," a virtual office package, or a dedicated physical space. Free zones often bundle this into the license, while mainland companies typically need a separate Ejari-registered tenancy contract, which affects cost significantly.
Approvals & Miscellaneous
This covers the smaller charges that rarely make it into headline quotes — knowledge and innovation fees, name reservation, initial approval certificates, external activity approvals (for regulated sectors), and courier or attestation charges. Individually small, but they add up.
Good to know: Quotes from agents sometimes exclude visa and office costs to look more attractive upfront. Always ask for an all-in breakdown — license, visas, office, and approvals — before comparing offers between free zones or setup consultants.
Which Setup Type Fits You?
Cost isn't the only factor — ownership, market access, and visa flexibility all differ between the two setup types.
Free Zone
Lower setup cost |
Mainland
Full market access | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership (most activities) |
| Typical Setup Cost | Lower — bundled license + desk packages | Higher — separate tenancy & approvals |
| Trade Within UAE Mainland | Limited (needs distributor/branch) | ✓ Direct, no restriction |
| Office Requirement | Flexi-desk allowed | Physical Ejari tenancy usually required |
| Visa Allocation | Tied to office package size | Tied to office space, generally more flexible |
| Govt. & Bank Contract Eligibility | Not eligible | ✓ Eligible |
| Best For | E-commerce, consulting, media, remote-first teams | Retail, trading, government-facing, local services |
Choose Free Zone if...
You're serving international or online clients, want the lowest upfront cost, and don't need to trade directly inside the UAE mainland market.
Choose Mainland if...
You plan to sell directly to UAE-based customers, bid on government contracts, or open multiple branches across the Emirates.
Common Questions
Answers to what people usually ask before starting their Dubai setup.
References & Sources
Fee benchmarks used in this calculator are cross-checked against the following official and industry sources, current as of 2026.
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1
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)
Mainland trade license categories, activity classifications, and DED fee schedules.
dubaided.gov.ae -
2
UAE Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Establishment card, labor contract, and work permit fee references used for visa cost estimates.
mohre.gov.ae -
3
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai
Entry permit, status change, medical test, and Emirates ID processing costs for visa line items.
gdrfad.gov.ae -
4
Free Zone Authority Fee Schedules
Published license and flexi-desk package pricing referenced across major UAE free zones (e.g. IFZA, Meydan, SHAMS, DMCC) for free zone benchmarks.
Individual free zone portals -
5
UAE Central Bank — Indicative Exchange Rates
AED conversion benchmarks for USD, EUR, PKR, and INR used in the currency switcher.
centralbank.ae
This calculator is provided for general planning purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or immigration advice. Fees are illustrative estimates and may change without notice. Ibraida is not affiliated with any government entity or free zone authority listed above — always verify final costs directly with the relevant authority before making a business decision.