Most Dubai company formation pages quote one headline figure and leave the rest to a phone call. Below are the package prices First Idea Consultant works to, line by line, plus an honest account of what is not fixed: government fees that can change, promotions that will not run forever, and the parts of a setup no consultant can promise. We have been in business since 2015, work from Business Bay in Dubai, and handle all emirates, free zones and offshore jurisdictions.
Dubai free zone business setup cost at a glance
There are four packages. What separates them is visas, banking and ongoing support, not the quality of the license.
| Package | What it covers | IFZA | Meydan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Company only, no visa | AED 12,900 | AED 12,500 |
| Standard | Company plus 1 residence visa | AED 23,436 | AED 23,136 |
| Premium | Standard plus banking assistance | From AED 28,436 | From AED 28,136 |
| Gold | Standard plus premium banking plus 1 year corporate services | AED 48,436 | AED 48,136 |
IFZA and Meydan are separate free zones with separate packages. The two columns are alternatives, not figures to add together.
Basic package: the low cost business setup in Dubai option
For entrepreneurs who need a Dubai free zone company but not UAE residency.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| IFZA Free Zone License | AED 12,900 |
| Meydan Free Zone License | AED 12,500 |
| Professional Service Fee | AED 0 (promotion, regular AED 1,000) |
It covers the trade license, Memorandum of Association, flexi-office address, Certificate of Registration, share registry where applicable, and formation assistance. Banking, accounting and tax services cost extra.
Read the professional service fee carefully. The AED 0 is a promotion; the regular fee is AED 1,000. While it runs, the license fee is the whole cost. When it ends, the total changes.
Standard package: company plus one residence visa
The package that produces a license and a residence visa in one process.
IFZA, 1 visa
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Trade License | AED 12,900 |
| Visa Allocation | AED 2,000 |
| Establishment Card | AED 2,000 |
| Manager / Employee Visa | AED 3,750 |
| Normal Medical | AED 400 |
| Normal Biometrics / Emirates ID | AED 386 |
| Professional Service Fee | AED 2,000 (promotion, regular AED 3,500) |
| Total | AED 23,436 |
Meydan, 1 visa
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Trade License | AED 12,500 |
| Visa Allocation | AED 1,850 |
| Establishment Card | AED 2,000 |
| Residence Visa | AED 4,000 |
| Normal Medical | AED 400 |
| Normal Biometrics / Emirates ID | AED 386 |
| Professional Service Fee | AED 2,000 (promotion, regular AED 3,500) |
| Total | AED 23,136 |
Both totals include everything in Basic plus one UAE residence visa, medical, biometrics and Emirates ID processing, Corporate Tax Registration free of charge (regular service value AED 1,000), end-to-end company and visa process guidance, and express WhatsApp and email support during the process. The AED 2,000 professional service fee is also a promotion, against a regular AED 3,500.
Optional government and express services
These are the additions that most often move a quoted total.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Inside-country status change | AED 1,600 additional, if applicable |
| VIP Medical | AED 750 instead of normal medical |
| Earlier biometrics appointment assistance | AED 600 additional |
Normal biometrics appointment timing is generally 5 to 7 days, subject to appointment availability. The status change is charged only where it applies, so we check it case by case.
Premium package: setup with banking assistance
Premium is Standard plus a digital company stamp, priority WhatsApp and email support, free Corporate Tax Registration and one personal bank account opening assistance valued at AED 2,000. Two versions, depending on the business account.
| Component | IFZA | Meydan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Visa Company Package | AED 23,436 | AED 23,136 |
| Digital / Fintech Business Bank Account | AED 3,000 | AED 3,000 |
| 1 Personal Bank Account | AED 2,000 | AED 2,000 |
| Total with digital account | AED 28,436 | AED 28,136 |
| Component | IFZA | Meydan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Visa Company Package | AED 23,436 | AED 23,136 |
| Standard business bank account, local bank (physical presence required) | AED 8,000 | AED 8,000 |
| 1 Personal Bank Account | AED 2,000 | AED 2,000 |
| Total with local bank account | AED 33,436 | AED 33,136 |
Those banking figures are the rates as priced inside these formation packages. Account opening is subject to the selected bank’s KYC, compliance review and final approval. We do not advertise guaranteed approval, because that decision is the bank’s.
Gold package: setup, premium banking and a year of corporate services
| Description | IFZA | Meydan |
|---|---|---|
| License, visa and government package before Gold service upgrade | AED 21,436 | AED 21,136 |
| Gold Professional Service Fee | AED 5,000 | AED 5,000 |
| Premier local business bank account (physical presence and Relationship Manager) | AED 12,000 | AED 12,000 |
| Digital business bank account assistance | AED 3,000 | AED 3,000 |
| 2 personal bank account openings (AED 3,500 each) | AED 7,000 | AED 7,000 |
| Total | AED 48,436 | AED 48,136 |
The base figure sits below the Standard total because the AED 5,000 Gold professional service fee replaces the AED 2,000 standard fee rather than adding to it. The Gold fee is stated at AED 5,000 instead of AED 10,000.
Gold adds one year of corporate services support and limited bank compliance support during initial account opening and onboarding: KYC, source of funds and wealth, expected business activity, customer and supplier information, supporting documents. Ongoing compliance support after account opening is a separate annual Banking Compliance Package, quoted after reviewing expected turnover, transaction volume, business activity, countries of operation and the support level required. Relationship Manager availability depends on the selected bank and bank approval.
What drives the business setup in Dubai cost
- Visa count. The gap between Basic and Standard is almost entirely the visa: allocation, establishment card, visa, medical and Emirates ID.
- Which free zone. Starting license costs differ by authority.
- Workspace. Free zone companies face no compulsory physical office requirement and can use virtual and flexible desk solutions, though a leased office must sit inside their own free zone. Most Dubai free zone authorities cap the number of visas issued to each company, and raising that quota means moving to larger offices or applying to the authority, which is at its discretion.
- Banking. Digital and standard local bank accounts are priced differently, and the local bank route requires physical presence.
- Activity. Warehouses, industrial and regulated activities carry additional premises and approval requirements, and strategic sectors on the restricted list are not open to full foreign ownership.
Starting costs by Dubai free zone
Dubai freezone business setup costs differ from one authority to the next. The starting figures below come from our published free zone comparison, not from a quote for your business.
| Free Zone | Best for | Setup cost |
|---|---|---|
| Meydan | Startups and consultants | From AED 12,500 |
| IFZA | SMEs and traders | From AED 12,900 |
| Dubai South | Aviation, logistics and e-commerce | From AED 14,000 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | Tech and innovation startups | From AED 14,000 |
| DAFZA | Aviation and import-export | From AED 15,000 |
| JAFZA | Manufacturing and logistics | From AED 15,500 |
| DMCC | Trading and enterprises | From AED 20,000 |
| DIFC | Financial and legal firms | From AED 50,000 |
Full package pricing above is quoted for IFZA and Meydan; for the other zones we quote on request. See the Dubai free zone license page or the cost calculator.
Dubai mainland business setup cost
We are not publishing a mainland figure, because there is no single honest one to publish. Our approved package sheet covers free zone formation only. Mainland cost turns on three things that must be settled before anyone can quote you.
- The activity. Fees and approvals differ by activity, and regulated ones carry additional premises and approval requirements. Most business activities allow 100 per cent foreign ownership; certain strategic sectors and activities on the restricted list do not, and there you need an Emirati partner.
- The premises. A Dubai mainland business must have a physical workspace with a minimum size of 100 sq ft, and the premises and location must comply with the requirements of the emirate’s economic department and the land planning regulations of the local municipality. The lease must be registered with Ejari, and a lease contract attested by RERA is listed among the documents required to collect the license. The rent itself is set by the market.
- The visa count. Dubai does not restrict the number of visas a mainland company can obtain, as long as they are in line with the size of the premises and the business activity.
Send us the activity, the space you have in mind and the visa count, and we will price it properly. Background on the UAE mainland license page, the Dubai mainland license page and the LLC formation page.
Working inside the mainland market on a free zone license is a separate permission with its own cost. Dubai’s Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit, launched in October 2025 by Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation with the Dubai Free Zone Council, is valid for six months at a cost of AED 5,000, renewable for the same fee every six months. The initial phase covers non-regulated activities including technology, consultancy, design, professional services and trading. Free zone companies engaging in mainland activities are subject to 9 per cent corporate tax on the related revenues and must maintain separate financial records.
Offshore company cost
We handle all offshore jurisdictions, but there is no fixed price to publish: cost depends on the jurisdiction. An offshore company cannot trade inside the UAE, rent an office in Dubai or hire employees. Read Dubai offshore company benefits and common offshore setup mistakes, then contact us for a quote.
Caveats to read before you budget
- Government fees and requirements may change without prior notice, and every total on this page moves with them.
- The AED 0 fee on Basic and the AED 2,000 fee on Standard are promotions, not permanent prices. The regular fees are AED 1,000 and AED 3,500.
- Visa, license and immigration approvals are subject to the relevant UAE authorities.
- Bank account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance requirements and final approval. Tier 1 and Tier 2 wording refers to intended banking service category, not acceptance by any specific bank.
- Corporate Tax Registration is included free, but registration is not exemption: juridical persons established in a UAE free zone are within the scope of UAE Corporate Tax and must register.
- Accounting and bookkeeping, VAT registration and returns, Corporate Tax compliance and filing, audit assistance and PRO services are quoted separately.
- Confirm current promotional pricing with us before you budget on it.
Why business owners use First Idea Consultant
First Idea Consultant LLC has been in business since 2015 and holds 67 Google reviews. Amir Aslam is our named expert. Our office is Park Regis, ParkLane Tower - Office 812 - Business Bay - Dubai - United Arab Emirates.
Very professional company. Amir is a friendly and approachable professional who provided excellent guidance throughout the entire process of setting up our company and bank accounts. Everything was handled efficiently and clearly, which made the experience smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended.
Ronald Bakker
Best consulting company in Dubai to get license and banking services.
VERMA #
Get a written cost breakdown
Send us the activity, the visa count and whether you need a bank account, and we will come back with an itemised figure rather than a headline one. Call or WhatsApp +971 56 500 6694. Message us on WhatsApp, compare the full package list, read our client reviews, or see how setting up remotely works.
Frequently asked questions
How much does business setup in Dubai cost?
With no visa: AED 12,900 with IFZA or AED 12,500 with Meydan, the professional service fee currently AED 0 under a promotion. With one residence visa: AED 23,436 or AED 23,136. With banking: AED 28,436 or AED 33,436 with IFZA, AED 28,136 or AED 33,136 with Meydan.
What is the lowest cost business setup in Dubai?
The Basic package, at AED 12,500 with Meydan or AED 12,900 with IFZA while the AED 0 professional service fee promotion runs. You get a trade license, MOA, flexi-office address and Certificate of Registration, but no residence visa.
How much does a Dubai mainland business setup cost?
There is no single figure, and we would rather say so than guess. Mainland cost is driven by the activity, the premises (a minimum of 100 sq ft, with the lease registered through Ejari) and the visa count, which must be in line with the size of the premises and the activity. Send us those three and we will quote it.
Does the free zone package include a residence visa?
Basic does not. Standard, Premium and Gold each include one UAE residence visa with medical, biometrics and Emirates ID processing. An inside-country status change costs AED 1,600 more where it applies.
Are these prices fixed?
No. Government fees and requirements may change without prior notice, and two of the professional service fees here are promotions rather than standing prices. Confirm current figures before committing a budget.
Do you guarantee the bank account will be approved?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. Account opening is subject to each bank’s KYC, compliance requirements and final approval. Premium and Gold include assistance with the application, and Gold adds limited compliance support during onboarding. That is not a guaranteed outcome.
