The short answer
To set up a business in Dubai you choose a jurisdiction (a Free Zone or mainland), pick your business activities, send passport copies and a photo, and pay the licence fees. In most Free Zones your licence is ready in about 5 working days. With a residence visa and Emirates ID the full process takes around 15 working days. Costs depend on the zone, your activities and how many visas you need, so we send them in writing after a free call.
Company formation in Dubai is open to foreigners with 100% ownership, and you can do most of it from abroad. Below you'll find every step, document and cost, written by a team that has handled more than 500 company setups in Dubai and the rest of the UAE.
Who can open a company in Dubai?
Almost anyone over 18 can create a company in Dubai. You don't need a local partner for a Free Zone company or for most mainland activities, and you don't need to live here first.
- Entrepreneurs living abroad can set up the company remotely and fly in only for the visa medical test and fingerprints.
- UAE residents can open their own company alongside their job, if their contract allows it. Some Free Zones ask for a no-objection letter from the employer.
- Existing companies can open a Dubai branch or a new company owned by the parent company (a corporate shareholder).
- Partners can own one company together. Most Free Zone packages include several shareholders, and each one sends the same simple documents.
Free Zone or mainland?
This is the first decision, and it decides your cost, your office and who you can sell to. Most consultants, online businesses and traders choose a Free Zone. Shops, restaurants and companies that need a walk-in office choose mainland.
| Free Zone company | Mainland company | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign | 100% foreign for most activities |
| Office | Flexi-desk or coworking included | Physical office lease (Ejari) required |
| Residence visas | Yes, by package | Yes, linked to office size |
| Clients in the UAE | Services to mainland companies; some activities need a permit | Anywhere in the UAE, including government |
| Shops and restaurants | Not possible | Required |
| Typical time to licence | About 5 working days | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Best for | Consulting, online, tech, trading | Retail, food, local services |
Go deeper: Free Zone company setup · mainland company formation
Which Free Zone should you choose?
The UAE has more than 40 Free Zones. They differ in price, location, visa rules and which activities they allow. These three cover most of our clients.
IFZA
- Dubai address, flexi-desk included up to 3 visas
- 3 activities and 3 shareholders included
- 827 approved activities, professional and commercial
Meydan
- Central Dubai, near Downtown
- Up to 3 visas on a flexi-desk
- Strong for trading and services
RAKEZ
- Lowest starting cost
- Up to 10 activities on one licence
- Visa fees included in visa packages
Not sure? On a free call we match your activity, visas and budget to the right zone. Compare all zones: UAE Free Zones list.
Licence types and business activities
Your licence lists the activities your company is allowed to do. Banks, clients and immigration all read it, so choosing the right ones matters more than choosing the cheapest zone.
| Licence type | For | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Professional / service | Selling your skills or services | Consulting, marketing, IT services, design, coaching |
| Commercial / trading | Buying and selling goods | General trading, import and export, e-commerce |
| Industrial | Making or processing goods | Light manufacturing, packaging, assembly |
Most Free Zone packages include up to 3 activities, and you can usually combine service and trading activities on one licence. IFZA alone lists 827 approved activities. We pick them with you from the official list before you apply, so your licence matches what you really do.
Business setup in the UAE, not only Dubai
You don't have to set up in Dubai itself to live and work here. Free Zones in other emirates, such as RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah or SPC and Shams in Sharjah, are often cheaper, and the company can still work with clients all over the UAE and abroad. Your residence visa lets you live in Dubai either way. If your clients need to see a Dubai address on your licence, a Dubai Free Zone like IFZA or Meydan is the better choice. We set up companies across the UAE, so we recommend the zone that fits you, not the one that pays us the most.
How to start a company in Dubai: 6 steps
Here is exactly what happens, in order, from the first call to company incorporation and your visa, and how long each step usually takes. You can do steps 1 to 4 from your home country.
Free 30-minute call
We hear what your business does and recommend the zone, licence type and number of visas for your company setup in Dubai. Day 1
Written quote and payment
You get every cost line in writing, government fees and our fee on its own line. You approve and pay. Same day
Documents online
You upload passports, a photo and proof of address in our guided form. We check every page before anything is submitted. 1 to 2 days
Name approval and licence
We reserve your company name, get initial approval and send the company documents for e-signature. Your licence is issued. Usually 5 working days
Establishment card, visa and Emirates ID
We apply for your establishment card and entry permit, then book your medical test and Emirates ID fingerprints. About 10 working days
Bank account and corporate tax
We prepare your bank-ready pack, help you open the business account and register your company for corporate tax. From week 3
Documents you need
Free Zone setup needs very little paperwork, and all of it can be sent online.
Every shareholder
- Passport copy (all pages with data, valid 6+ months)
- Passport-format photo from a professional studio (digital)
- Proof of home address, less than 3 months old
- Phone number and email
If you already live in the UAE
- Current residence visa
- Emirates ID, front and back
- No-objection letter from your employer, if your Free Zone asks for one
If a company is a shareholder
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Board resolution and register of shareholders
- All attested and translated if needed
Ready to start? Send your documents through our online registration form.
What business setup in Dubai costs
Every company is priced differently, because the total depends on your choices. Here is what you pay for, so no quote ever surprises you. On a free call we put a figure on every line, in writing.
| Cost item | What it is |
|---|---|
| Licence package | Your yearly business licence, office address and company documents |
| Establishment card | Registers your company with immigration, needed for any visa |
| Residence visa | 2-year visa for you or an employee |
| Medical test and Emirates ID | Paid to the authorities for each visa |
| Status change | Only if you are already inside the UAE |
| Extra activities or shareholders | Above what your package includes |
| Our service fee | Our work, from your first call to your Emirates ID |
What our business setup service includes
When you open a Free Zone company through us, the Free Zone pays us a commission. That is why our basic package has no service fee at all: you pay only the official government and Free Zone costs. If you want us to do more for you, you choose a fuller package.
Every client, AED 0 service fee
- Zone, licence and activity advice
- Written quote, every line itemised
- Company documents prepared and checked
- Medical test and fingerprints booked for you
- Emirates ID delivered to your address
- Updates at every step and WhatsApp support
Fuller packages add
- Help opening your business bank account
- Corporate tax registration included
- A driver to your medical test and fingerprints
- Your Emirates ID collected and delivered
Our promise in writing
- Dubai-Ready or full refund of our setup fee if we can't deliver what we promised
- Every cost written in your quote before you pay anything
Most owners moving from abroad choose a fuller package so they don't have to organise anything on arrival. See the options for your case in the cost calculator.
Residence visa and Emirates ID
As the owner you get an investor visa through your own company, valid for 2 years. Once your licence and establishment card are ready, we apply for your entry permit (or a status change if you are already in the UAE), book a medical test and your Emirates ID fingerprints, and track everything until your Emirates ID arrives. With your visa you can sponsor your family, open personal bank accounts and get a UAE driving licence.
Long-term options: UAE golden visa.
Opening your business bank account
Banks want to see a clear business, a real owner and a clean paper trail. We prepare a bank-ready pack with your licence, company documents, passport, Emirates ID, proof of address and a short description of your business and expected transactions. Digital banks such as WIO are usually the fastest for new companies. For more complex cases we introduce you to the right bank.
5 mistakes that make business setup slower or more expensive
Setting up a business in Dubai is simple when you know these in advance. We fix them for new clients every month.
- Choosing the zone on price alone. The cheapest licence can block the activity you need, limit your visas or make banking harder. Pick the zone that fits your activity first, then compare prices.
- The wrong business activity on the licence. Banks and clients check it. Changing it later costs an amendment fee and time, so we pick it with you from the official activity list before you apply.
- A photo taken at home. Immigration rejects selfies and home photos, which delays your visa. Use a professional studio photo in digital format.
- "Package" prices that leave things out. Some offers skip the establishment card, medical test, Emirates ID or status change. Ask for every line in writing, as we give it.
- Forgetting tax after the licence. Every company must register for corporate tax within 3 months, and late registration costs AED 10,000. We can register you as soon as your licence is issued.
Costs to plan for every year
A Dubai company is not a one-off cost. Plan for these every year so your second year holds no surprises:
- Licence renewal: usually the same amount as your first licence.
- Establishment card renewal: every year, together with the licence.
- Visa renewal: every 2 years for each visa holder.
- Accounting and tax: every company must keep books and file a corporate tax return each year. We keep your books and prepare both for one fixed monthly price.
After setup: stay compliant from day one
Opening the company is the start. Every UAE company must register for corporate tax, keep proper books, and register for VAT once its sales pass AED 375,000 in 12 months. Late registration costs AED 10,000. Because we set up your company, we already know it, so we can keep it compliant every month.