Search "UAE business licence cost" and you'll find numbers from AED 5,000 to AED 50,000 — all technically true, none telling the full story. Here is the honest breakdown of what you will actually pay in 2026.
The headline numbers
| Setup | Realistic all-in first year |
|---|---|
| Free zone, 0–1 visa | AED 5,750 – 12,000 |
| Free zone, multi-activity / more visas | AED 12,900 – 25,000 |
| Mainland (DET) commercial | AED 18,900 – 35,000 |
| Mainland professional | AED 12,000 – 20,000 |
The ranges are wide because your activity, visa count and office choice drive the total more than the licence itself.
What makes up the cost
- Licence & registration fees — the authority's charges for the licence, name and registration
- Office / address — flexi-desk (from ~AED 5–8k in free zones) or Ejari tenancy (mainland; your biggest variable)
- Establishment card — required to sponsor visas
- Visas — entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping per person (~AED 3,500–6,000 each all-in)
- MOA notarisation — mainland companies
- Third-party approvals — only for regulated activities
The fees cheap quotes hide
That AED 5,500 ad usually excludes:
- The establishment/immigration card (needed before any visa)
- Visa costs — "1 visa allocation" means eligibility, not a processed visa
- Medical + Emirates ID fees
- Security deposits some zones charge
- Year-2 renewal at a much higher "standard" rate than the promo year
Rule of thumb: if a quote isn't itemised with government fees shown separately, it isn't a quote — it's bait.
Annual running costs to budget
- Licence renewal (roughly the original licence fee)
- Office/desk package renewal
- Visa renewals every 2 years
- Corporate Tax registration is free, but bookkeeping/filing has a cost — budget from AED 3–8k/year for a small company
A lean free zone consultancy realistically runs on AED 12–18k per year all-in after setup; a mainland trading company more.
Ways to genuinely reduce cost
- Choose a zone whose package matches your visa needs — don't pay for 6 visa slots to use one
- Start with a flexi-desk, upgrade when you hire
- Bundle licence + visa + bank into one engagement to avoid re-work fees
- Renew on time — fines are the most avoidable cost in the UAE
Get an exact all-inclusive quote
Smartgic Visa quotes are itemised and all-inclusive — you see the authority's fees and ours, line by line. Compare packages on our pricing page or get your exact number in one free call.