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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.

Budget: Sharjah/Ajman/RAKEZ-style freelance permits. Standard: Dubai zones like IFZA or Meydan.
AED 0 estimated year-one cost (range)
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.

Not tax or legal advice. Free zone packages, government fees and what's bundled change frequently and vary by zone, activity and promotion. This is a starting estimate only — always get a written quote from the specific free zone or a licensed formation consultant before budgeting.
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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.

Source: free zone published packages, as summarised by UAE company-formation consultancies. bcl.ae.

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

Standard tier, 2 visas, office included in package

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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