Business Setup in Dubai: Cost and Options in 2026

Dubai is the headline choice for most people setting up in the UAE, the address everyone recognises, the banking, the connectivity. It also has the widest range of options, which makes "how much does it cost in Dubai" genuinely depend on what you choose. Here's the full picture.

Free zone vs mainland: the first decision

In Dubai, your first choice is between a free zone and a mainland licence, and it shapes everything else.

A **Dubai free zone** gives you 100% ownership, a strong tax position, and a Dubai address, primarily for international trade, services and online business. IFZA, for example, starts from around AED 10,857.

A **Dubai mainland** licence lets you trade directly across the UAE market and bid for government contracts. It starts from around AED 18,000 for the licence, with tenancy (Ejari), cards and visas typically quoted on top.

Free zone options and cost

Dubai's free zones range from cost-effective to premium. IFZA is a popular, competitively priced route from AED 10,857. Dubai South and Dubai Meydan sit around AED 12,500, each with their own character, Dubai South in the logistics district, Meydan as a premium business address. All give 100% ownership and are built for founders who trade internationally or serve clients from a Dubai base.

Mainland and the local market

If your customers are UAE businesses and consumers you deal with directly, retail, local services, government work, a mainland LLC earns its higher cost. And for many activities, 100% foreign ownership is now available on the mainland too, so the old "you need a 51% local partner" rule no longer applies across the board.

Which suits you

- **Trading internationally, online, or serving clients remotely?** A Dubai free zone gives you the address and the tax position at the lower cost. - **Selling directly into the UAE market or bidding for government contracts?** A mainland LLC is built for that. - **Watching cost above all?** Remember the northern emirates (Ajman from AED 4,888, RAK from AED 6,000) do the same legal job for less, a Dubai address is worth paying for only if it genuinely helps your business.

Getting your number

Because Dubai has the most options, the reliable way to know your cost is to price against your specifics, free zone or mainland, your activity, your visa count, and compare fairly before deciding.

*Prices are indicative standard package prices at publication. Ownership eligibility and any licence are subject to approval by the competent UAE authorities.*