Dubai Free Zone Business Setup Cost Calculator 2026
Free online calculator for UAE company formation costs: free zone licence, visas, establishment card, office and first-year total — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah free zones compared.
| Free zone licence | — |
|---|---|
| Visa costs (entry, medical, Emirates ID) | — |
| Health insurance | — |
| Establishment / immigration card | — |
| Office / flexi-desk | — |
| Estimated total (low – high) | — |
In short
A UAE free zone company typically costs AED 5,500–6,500 for a budget freelance permit (Sharjah, Ajman, RAKEZ) or AED 12,500–13,000 for a Dubai trading/consulting licence (IFZA, Meydan), plus about AED 4,000–5,000 per visa, AED 1,500 health insurance per person and AED 1,500 for the establishment card.
Who this is for: Founders costing a UAE free zone company before requesting quotes.
What's actually in a UAE free zone setup cost
Free zone marketing pages often headline just the licence fee — the real first-year cost usually includes several more line items:
- Licence fee: varies hugely by zone — budget freelance permits (Sharjah, Ajman, RAKEZ) start around AED 5,500-6,500; standard Dubai trading/consulting zones (IFZA, Meydan) start around AED 12,500-13,000.
- Visa costs: roughly AED 4,000-5,000 per person, covering entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID.
- Health insurance: mandatory per visa holder, commonly around AED 1,500/year.
- Establishment / immigration card: a one-off cost of roughly AED 1,500, needed once you sponsor any visas.
- Office or flexi-desk: many "licence-only" headline prices exclude this — budget roughly AED 5,000/year if your package doesn't bundle it.
This does not include optional extras like a corporate bank account (free but can take weeks), PRO service fees, or a physical trade licence attestation if your business needs one.
See also: UAE Corporate Tax Calculator (9%), UAE VAT Calculator.
Assumptions
- Licence cost is a published range for the tier you pick, not a quote.
- Each visa adds AED 4,000–5,000 plus AED 1,500 health insurance; the establishment card (AED 1,500) is added once if any visa is needed.
- The flexi-desk (AED 5,000) is added only if you say the package does not include an office.
- Bank account, PRO fees and attestation are excluded.
Worked example
Licence: AED 12,500-13,000
Visas (2 × AED 4,000-5,000): AED 8,000-10,000
Health insurance (2 × AED 1,500): AED 3,000
Establishment card: AED 1,500
Office: included
Estimated total: AED 25,000-27,500 for year one.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include mainland (DED) licences?
No — this covers free zone setups only. Mainland Dubai Economic Department licences have a different fee structure, often with higher costs but the ability to trade directly in the local market without a distributor.
Are these prices guaranteed?
No — free zone pricing changes frequently and varies by promotion, activity type and package inclusions. Treat this as a starting budget range and get a current quote before committing.
What's the cheapest way to start?
A freelance permit with zero visas (if you don't need to sponsor staff or dependents) is usually the lowest-cost option — some zones offer these from around AED 5,500-6,000 all-in.
Free zone or mainland — which is cheaper?
Free zone packages usually start lower and bundle visas, but restrict direct trading in the UAE mainland without a distributor; mainland licences cost more but have no such restriction.
Can I get a UAE residence visa through a free zone company?
Yes. Most packages include visa quotas; each visa is a separate cost covering entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping, plus mandatory health insurance.
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