UAE business setup, full startup cost
Uncover visa, medical, establishment card, and desk costs stacked on your license quote. Run the full number before you commit. This page uses a fast, three-line stack on top of whatever license fee you type. For Free Zone vs mainland, visa counts, sponsor options, and banker lines, the homepage business portal runs the fuller planning model. Compare both before you sign.
Business Setup Lite Estimate
This calculator is a quick planning estimate. Use the full Business Setup Wizard for decision flow, jurisdiction logic, and implementation steps.
Open full business setup wizard →Planning figures reviewed · Q2 2026
What each fee means
Medical and Emirates ID
Medical screening and Emirates ID beyond the headline license fee. Government components are modest — ICP charges AED 100 per year of residence plus AED 100 smart service — but free-zone packages usually bundle these with handling margins, which is what this line reflects.
Estimate · Free-zone bundled package pricing, not a government tariff. Government components alone are lower. · checked 2026-07-31
Establishment card
The establishment card line item most license quotes leave out. Pricing differs by free zone and authority.
Estimate · Varies by free zone and authority. No single published tariff. · checked 2026-07-31
Office flexi-desk (only if not already bundled)
Check your quote before you add this. Several major free zones bundle a flexi-desk into the licence price at no extra cost — Meydan Free Zone, for example, publishes packages from AED 12,500 with the flexi-desk included. If your licence quote already covers the desk, adding this line double-counts it. It applies when you need workspace the licence does not include, or when you upgrade: published Meydan rates run AED 3,500 per month for a dedicated desk, AED 15,000 a year for a shared office, and AED 30,000 a year for a dedicated office.
Estimate · Commercial workspace pricing, published per free zone. Often already inside the licence package — verify before adding. · checked 2026-07-31
Sponsored placement
Recommended services
Tools people usually need right after this step.
QuickSetup PRO
Handle trade license, visa processing, and desk requirement in one workflow, popular with first-time founders in JLT.
CloudBooks Accounting
Monthly bookkeeping and VAT filing from AED 499, built for UAE compliance deadlines.
FlexOffice Dubai
Flexi-desks and virtual offices from AED 350 per month across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Get a free business setup call
Tell us your plan and a specialist will reach out. Most calls run about 20 minutes.
Common questions
- Why is my total different from the homepage business tool?
- The homepage portal adds trade name, e-channel, labour/immigration, authority admin, visa multiples, optional sponsor, and other toggles. This calculator page deliberately layers only three common hidden-invoice buckets on your headline license number so you can sanity-check a quote quickly.
- What extra costs appear after the license fee?
- The common set is medical screening, Emirates ID, establishment card, office space, and visa processing. Together they can add thousands very quickly.
- How much does a flexi-desk cost in Dubai?
- Most providers price flexi-desks between AED 5,000 and AED 15,000 per year, depending on free zone and package terms.
- Do I need a medical test for company setup?
- If you are applying for a residency visa through the company, yes. Medical fitness is a required step.
- Why is an establishment card required?
- It is the company identity used in labor and immigration processes, including employee visa sponsorship.
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Costs overlap across rent, business, and family life. Check the rest before you commit.