Registering a company in the UAE is faster than almost anywhere in the world — but only when the application is prepared correctly. Here is exactly what registration involves in 2026: the documents, the real costs and a realistic timeline.
The documents you actually need
For most mainland and free zone registrations:
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- Passport-size photographs (white background)
- Proposed trade names — prepare 2–3 options in case your first choice is taken
- Business activity selection — the licensed activities you will operate under
- UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
That is genuinely it for most activities. You do not need a business plan, attested degrees or upfront share capital deposits for standard commercial and professional licences. Regulated activities (healthcare, education, financial services) carry extra approvals.
The registration steps
- Trade name reservation — your name is checked and reserved with the authority
- Initial approval — the green light to proceed with your activity
- MOA signing — for mainland companies, the Memorandum of Association is drafted and notarised
- Office/address — an Ejari tenancy (mainland) or flexi-desk package (free zone)
- Licence issuance — pay the fees, receive your trade licence
- Post-licence — establishment card, visa processing and the corporate bank account
What it costs in 2026
| Setup type | Realistic starting cost |
|---|---|
| Free zone (1 visa) | From AED 5,750 |
| Premium free zone (multi-activity) | From AED 12,900 |
| Mainland (DET) | From AED 18,900 |
Watch for quotes that quietly exclude government fees, establishment cards or visa costs — the cheap headline number grows quickly. Always ask for an all-inclusive, itemised quote.
How long does it take?
- Trade name + initial approval: 1–2 working days
- Free zone licence: 3–5 working days total
- Mainland licence: about a week once the tenancy is ready
- Residence visa after licence: 5–10 working days
- Corporate bank account: 1–4 weeks depending on the bank
So a founder starting from zero can realistically be licensed, visa'd and banked inside a month.
Common registration mistakes
- Choosing an activity code that doesn't match what you actually do (banks notice)
- Picking a jurisdiction before comparing visa quotas and market access
- Signing a flexi-desk deal that can't scale when you need more visas
- Leaving the bank account until last minute without a KYC-ready file
Register with a licensed partner
Smartgic Visa (DET licence No. 1394564) registers companies on the Dubai mainland and in 40+ free zones — name to licence to visa to bank account, end to end. See our company registration service or get a free consultation.