VERIFIED 2026 · FORMENZO
How much does it cost to set up a UAE company from Canada?
Setting up a UAE company costs the same for Canadian founders as for anyone else: from AED 4,888 all-in for a free-zone licence, or AED 10,800 all-in with one UAE residence visa (Ajman NuVentures, the cheapest). You get 100% foreign ownership — no local partner or sponsor — 0% personal income tax in the UAE, and the licence issues in 3-8 working days. The process is remote-friendly, so most Canadian founders start without relocating first. Note: income may still be taxable in your home country depending on your tax residency, so check the Canada-specific rules.
Formenzo publishes real, all-in 2026 figures, confirmed in writing, with no sales call. See the full Cost Index or the open price dataset (CC-BY).
Build your exact price →By the Formenzo Research Team · compare all 9 zones
What the AED 10,800 starting price includes
The one-visa figure quoted on this page is Ajman NuVentures Centre, the lowest-priced of the nine zones Formenzo tracks. It wraps together the trade licence, government charges, Formenzo's setup service and a complete residence-visa process for one person — entry permit through to stamping. Licence-only, the same zone is AED 4,888, the lowest all-in figure in the 2026 dataset for a 100%-foreign-owned UAE company.
Who picks this route
Most commonly: Canadian consultants and freelancers invoicing US or Gulf clients through a UAE entity, e-commerce operators expanding into Middle East marketplaces, and remote software contractors testing the water before any move from Canada.
Two things founders ask
Do I have to fly to the UAE at some point? Only if you take a residence visa — the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics happen inside the UAE. A licence-only company at AED 4,888 can be completed without leaving Canada.
What if I want Dubai on the licence rather than Ajman? Dubai zones cost more: IFZA starts at AED 12,900 licence-only or AED 17,615 with one visa. The trade-offs are ranked in the cheapest-zone comparison, and the guide for Canadian founders covers the rest of the process.