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Real numbers, itemised. What a mainland or free zone licence actually costs this year, including the fees other consultants leave out of the headline.
Every Dubai setup quote is built from the same blocks: the licence fee, registration and name reservation, your office solution (flexi desk, virtual office or physical Ejari), the establishment card and e-channel, then per-person visa costs (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping). Headline prices usually show only the first block.
As a working 2026 guide: northern-emirates free zone licences start near AED 5,999 with no visa; Dubai free zones such as IFZA and Meydan start around AED 12,900 with one visa; Dubai mainland packages start around AED 18,500 including MOA and virtual office. Each residence visa adds roughly AED 4,500 to 6,500 all-in. Pro24 quotes are always itemised and fixed in writing before you pay.
Six factors decide where you land within the ranges above.
Regulated activities (health, education, food, finance) add external approval fees; general trading costs more than consultancy.
Dubai-issued licences carry a premium over northern emirates; mainland carries DET and notarisation fees.
Each visa adds government medical, Emirates ID and stamping costs, and larger quotas need bigger offices.
Flexi desk is bundled in most free zone packages; physical offices add rent and, on mainland, Ejari fees.
Multiple or corporate shareholders add attestation, translation and documentation costs.
Some zones discount year one and raise renewals; we quote year two alongside year one so you see the true cost.
Activity, number of shareholders, visas needed and whether you will serve the UAE market.
A side-by-side comparison of the best-fit jurisdictions with itemised year-one and renewal costs.
Your chosen option is confirmed in a written fixed quote, so nothing changes at approval stage.
Fees follow the process: licence first, visas as they are processed, nothing upfront for banking help.
When comparing quotes, ask about: name reservation and initial approval fees, MOA notarisation (mainland), immigration establishment card and e-channel deposits, per-visa medical and Emirates ID charges, mandatory insurance, attestation for corporate shareholders, and the renewal price after any first-year discount. A quote missing these lines is not cheaper, it is incomplete. Every Pro24 quote lists all of them.
*Indicative market starting prices for 2026, subject to authority fee changes; request a written quote for exact figures.
If your clients are outside the UAE, a zero-visa northern emirates free zone licence from about AED 5,999 is the lowest entry point, upgradeable later. For a Dubai-issued licence, IFZA and Meydan packages from about AED 12,900 are the usual value picks.
Budget from roughly AED 18,500 for licence, MOA and a virtual office, plus visa costs. Physical-office businesses should add annual rent and 5% Ejari-linked market fees.
Several free zones and Pro24 partner facilities offer instalment plans on packages. Ask in your consultation and we will include instalment options in your comparison.
Plan AED 4,500 to 6,500 per person all-in for a standard 2-year investor or employee visa, covering entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. Golden Visas are priced separately.
Send us your activity and visa needs; we reply with an itemised, fixed written quote, no obligation.
