# UAE company setup cost calculator

> A UAE company's first-year cost is the licence fee plus one-off setup costs, residence visas, office space, and accounting and tax compliance. A small free zone company without visas often starts around AED 15,000–25,000; with two visas, AED 30,000–45,000; a mainland company with an office costs more. Enter your own quotes for an accurate budget.

Interactive calculator: https://www.countify.ae/tools/company-setup-cost-calculator · Updated 2026-10-14 · Countify UAE

## First-year budgets

Illustrative figures; replace them with your own quotes.

| Setup | First-year cost | Typical yearly cost after that |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free zone, no visas | AED 27,000.00 | AED 24,000.00 |
| Free zone, 2 visas | AED 39,000.00 | AED 31,500.00 |
| Mainland, 4 visas, office | AED 106,000.00 | AED 94,000.00 |

Read our cost guide for typical ranges by authority.

## Costs founders underestimate

The licence package is only part of the cost. Budget for the items that come later in the first year:

- Visa medicals, Emirates ID and dependants
- Bank account minimum balances
- Corporate tax registration within 3 months, and VAT once you pass AED 375,000
- Bookkeeping from month one, and an audit if your free zone requires it
- Licence renewal on the anniversary, which needs your compliance to be up to date

## Free zone or mainland?

Take the [free zone vs mainland quiz](https://www.countify.ae/tools/free-zone-vs-mainland-quiz), then read our [company formation costs guide](https://www.countify.ae/blog/uae-company-formation-costs-2026) for typical ranges by authority.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?

It depends on the authority, activity and visas. Small free zone setups often start around AED 15,000–25,000 for the first year before visas; mainland setups with an office cost more.

### Is a free zone cheaper than mainland?

Usually for the licence and office, because packages include a flexi-desk. Mainland can be better value if you need to trade widely in the UAE or need many visas.