Budgeting
What UAE company formation actually costs you
The short answer
A UAE setup budget has four layers: the one-off formation costs, the per-person residency costs, the workspace commitment, and the recurring annual costs. Headline package prices usually cover only the first layer. We do not publish fee figures, because authority fees and packages change and quoting a stale number is worse than quoting none — we confirm current figures for your exact activity, visa count, and workspace before you commit.
The question behind 'how much does it cost' is almost always 'what will I be paying in year two'. That is the number that decides whether a setup was sensible.
This page sets out every line item you should expect to see quoted, so you can compare two providers honestly and spot what one of them has left out.
Scope of this page
This is for you if
- You are comparing quotes and they are not like-for-like.
- You want the three-year cost, not the entry price.
- You need to budget visas, workspace, and accounting alongside the licence.
- You have been quoted a very low number and want to know what it excludes.
This may not be the right route if
- You want a fixed published price without describing your activity.
- You are choosing purely on the cheapest available licence.
- You need an audited cost model for a financing round rather than a setup quote.
Decision factors
What actually decides your route
An adviser works through these factors with you before any structure is recommended. Each one can change the licence, the emirate or free zone, the visa allocation, and the banking conversation.
The cost lines to expect in any complete quote.
Name reservation and initial approval
- When it applies
- One-off, at application
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Licence and registration fees
- When it applies
- One-off, then annually at renewal
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Establishment card / immigration file
- When it applies
- One-off if you need visas
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Residency visa per person
- When it applies
- Per visa, renewable
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Medical test and Emirates ID
- When it applies
- Per person, per visa cycle
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Workspace (desk, office, warehouse)
- When it applies
- Annual, drives visa allocation
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Document attestation and legalisation
- When it applies
- Where foreign or corporate documents are used
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Corporate tax registration and filing
- When it applies
- Ongoing, from registration onwards
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Accounting, bookkeeping and audit
- When it applies
- Annual, where required by the zone
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
Our professional fees
- When it applies
- Agreed in writing before work begins
- Indicative figure
- [APPROVED FEE]
| Cost line | When it applies | Indicative figure |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation and initial approval | One-off, at application | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Licence and registration fees | One-off, then annually at renewal | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Establishment card / immigration file | One-off if you need visas | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Residency visa per person | Per visa, renewable | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Medical test and Emirates ID | Per person, per visa cycle | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Workspace (desk, office, warehouse) | Annual, drives visa allocation | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Document attestation and legalisation | Where foreign or corporate documents are used | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Corporate tax registration and filing | Ongoing, from registration onwards | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Accounting, bookkeeping and audit | Annual, where required by the zone | [APPROVED FEE] |
| Our professional fees | Agreed in writing before work begins | [APPROVED FEE] |
Possible directions
Structure categories an adviser will assess
Every figure on this page is shown as a placeholder. We quote real numbers in writing, for your specific activity, visa count, and workspace, after they have been confirmed with the authority.
One-off formation costs
Name reservation, initial approval, licence issuance, registration, and document legalisation.
Per-person residency costs
Establishment card, entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID, and visa stamping, per person.
Workspace commitment
Desk, office, or warehouse — the line that most often drives both cost and visa allocation.
Recurring annual costs
Licence renewal, workspace renewal, visa renewals, accounting, and audit where required.
Compliance costs
Corporate tax registration and filing, VAT where registered, and any zone-specific reporting.
Contingency
Activity amendments, extra approvals, translations, and courier or authority sundries.
What this service includes
- A written, itemised quote covering all four cost layers.
- Authority fees confirmed at the time of quoting.
- A year-two and year-three cost projection, not just the entry price.
- A like-for-like comparison where you have another quote.
- Clear separation of authority fees from our professional fees.
- Notice of any cost that cannot be fixed in advance, and why.
What it does not include
- A published price list or an online instant quote.
- Any guarantee that authority fees will not change.
- Bank charges, minimum balance requirements, or deposits.
- Third-party legal, tax, or audit fees outside our scope.
Every route is planned against how the business will actually operate in the UAE.
Process
Stages, not promised calendar days
Timelines depend on activity approvals, document legalisation, authority processing, and bank review. We report progress by stage.
- 01
Scope
Activity, visa count, workspace, and shareholders confirmed.
- 02
Verification
Current authority fees checked for the chosen route.
- 03
Quote
Itemised written quote issued, with recurring costs shown separately.
- 04
Comparison
Alternative zones or routes costed where they are viable.
- 05
Engagement
Scope and fees agreed in writing before work begins.
- 06
Renewal planning
The annual cost calendar handed over at completion.
Questions
Frequently asked
- Why is there no price list on this page?
- Because authority fees, packages, and visa allocations change, and a stale number on a website is misleading. We confirm current figures for your exact requirement and put them in writing.
- Why are some quotes so much cheaper?
- Usually because they exclude visas, workspace at the level you need, attestation, or the renewal year. Ask for the year-two total and the gap normally closes.
- Is there a minimum share capital?
- Requirements differ by authority and activity. Some require capital to be stated rather than deposited; others require evidence. It is confirmed per route.
- What is the biggest hidden cost?
- Workspace, followed by visas. Both are the lines most often quoted at the minimum level and then upgraded once headcount is real.
- Do I pay authority fees to you?
- Authority fees are shown separately from our professional fees so you can see exactly what goes where.
Sources
- UAE Government portal — free zones in the UAEArabic original
- Federal Tax Authority — corporate taxArabic original
- ICP — residency and entry permitsArabic original
Regulations, fees, and eligibility can change. Every regulatory statement is re-checked before publication and dated above.
Next decision
Related reading
Request an itemised written quote
Tell us your activity, how many visas you need, and your workspace preference. We reply with an itemised quote and the year-two cost.
No obligation · No cost estimate produced · Your details are not shared with third parties.
Start with a structure assessment, not a package
In an initial consultation you receive a plain-language decision summary, a document-preparation list, and the next actions for your situation. It is not an approval, a fixed price, or a tax opinion.
This page is general information about UAE business setup, not legal, tax, immigration, or banking advice. Rules, fees, permitted activities, and bank policies can change. Final eligibility depends on your facts and the applicable rules at the time of application.
We prepare and coordinate corporate bank-account applications. We do not open accounts and cannot guarantee approval, a particular bank, or a timeline. Each bank applies its own KYC, AML, and risk assessment.