The complete, honest process — what to do, what it costs, the documents you need, and how long each step takes. No local sponsor, no sales calls.
Pick a free zone (100% ownership; ideal for services, consulting, online and trading-out) or mainland (for direct UAE local-market trade and retail). Dubai free-zone licences start at AED 12,500 (Meydan) and AED 12,900 (IFZA); the cheapest UAE licence overall is AED 4,888 (Ajman) if you don't need a Dubai address.
Choose 2–3 trade-name options and your business activity, then reserve the name with the free-zone authority.
A standard licence needs only a passport copy and photo per shareholder plus the application — done online. No local sponsor, no office lease, no attested personal papers.
The free zone issues your trade licence in about 3–8 working days.
For residency, apply for the establishment card, entry permit, medical and Emirates ID. Each visa takes roughly 5–7 working days and a first visa adds about AED 7,900 to the total.
Open a UAE business account with your trade licence, incorporation documents and a resident signatory; approval usually takes 1–4 weeks.
Register for UAE corporate tax (0% on profit up to AED 375,000, 9% above) and renew the licence annually. Personal income tax is 0%.
All-in 2026 prices (licence + service + the residence-visa block where added). Dubai's free zones sit at the top of the mainstream range; the Northern Emirates are far cheaper for the same 100%-owned company.
| Free zone | Location | All-in (0 visas) |
|---|---|---|
| Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | AED 12,500 |
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 |
| DMCC | Dubai (premium) | AED 35,484 |
| Ajman NuVentures | Ajman (cheapest UAE) | AED 4,888 |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 |
Adding a first residence visa raises the total by about AED 7,900. The cheapest all-in one-visa company in Dubai is around AED 17,615 (IFZA); across the UAE it's about AED 10,800 (Ajman). Build your exact all-in price →
Pick your free zone and visas, get the true total in seconds, and start online — no sales call.
Open the cost calculator →Dubai free-zone licences start at AED 12,500 all-in (Meydan) and AED 12,900 (IFZA); DMCC is AED 35,484. If you don't need a Dubai address, the same 100%-owned company costs from AED 4,888 (Ajman). A first residence visa adds about AED 7,900.
Yes — UAE free zones allow 100% foreign ownership, and since 2021 most mainland activities do too. No local sponsor or Emirati partner is required.
The trade licence is usually issued in 3–8 working days. Residence visas take about 5–7 working days each, and a corporate bank account typically takes 1–4 weeks.
No. Free-zone companies are 100% foreign-owned, and most mainland activities no longer require a local sponsor since the 2021 ownership reforms.
No — most free-zone packages include a flexi-desk or virtual-office allocation that meets the licensing requirement, so you don't need to rent separate premises.
Not for the licence — most of the process is remote. You only visit the UAE for the visa medical and Emirates ID if you take a residence visa.
