Pick a zone, add visas — get a realistic first-year floor. The logic is printed below the result, so you can argue with it.
1
Licence—
Establishment cardAED 2,000
Visas × 1 (medical + Emirates ID)—
Estimated first year—
ESTIMATE PREVIEW. REAL QUOTES ITEMISED LINE BY LINE — NOTHING BUNDLED, NOTHING HIDDEN.
The logic, in the open
Licence — official entry-tier figure for the selected zone (see the Free Zone Index for what it includes).
Establishment card — the immigration file every visa-sponsoring company needs; we model AED 2,000 as a typical figure, zones vary ±500.
Each visa — entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping; AED 5,500 is a realistic all-in average, urgent processing costs more.
Not modelled: office rent (where required), activity add-ons, name reservation extras, bank minimum balances, attestation of foreign documents.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
Entry-tier free zone licences run from ~AED 5,750 (budget northern-emirate zones) to AED 12,500–21,000+ (Dubai zones like Meydan, IFZA, DMCC). Add ~AED 2,000 establishment card and ~AED 5,500 per residence visa. A one-founder services company usually lands AED 15,000–25,000 all-in in year one.
What is not in the headline licence price?
Office rent where required, activity add-ons, name-reservation extras, bank minimum balances and attestation of foreign documents. The "licence from" figure is a floor, not the final invoice.
Is the cheapest zone always the best?
No — a budget zone with a zero-visa entry tier or a narrow activity list can cost more once you add visas or need a specific activity. Match the zone to your activity and visa plan, not just the sticker.
Tell us what you're building.
We reply with numbers — a line-by-line setup estimate for your case. Not a call script, not a brochure.