VERIFIED 2026 · ALL-IN · FORMENZO
How much does it cost to start a business in the UAE?
Starting a business in the UAE in 2026 costs from AED 4,888 all-in for a free-zone licence (Ajman NuVentures, zero visas), or from AED 10,800 all-in with one residence visa. Prices rise with the emirate and facilities — up to AED 35,484 at DMCC in Dubai — but every figure is all-in, with 100% foreign ownership and 0% personal income tax.
Every figure here is the real, all-in 2026 price — government/authority fee, our setup service and the residence-visa block — 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
How the AED 4,888 to AED 35,484 range breaks down
The spread is mostly geography and visa count. Licence-only companies in the northern emirates open the market: AED 4,888 at Ajman NuVentures, AED 4,900 at Fujairah Creative City, AED 5,500 at SRTIP in Sharjah. Dubai zones start higher — AED 12,500 at Meydan and AED 12,900 at IFZA before any visa — and DMCC's AED 35,484 tops the index because its packages are priced individually. Add one residence visa and the entry point moves to AED 10,800.
Who picks which end of the range
Non-resident consultants and online sellers who only need a legal entity take the sub-AED 6,000 licences; founders relocating themselves usually land on a one-visa package in Sharjah, Fujairah or Ajman; teams that want a Dubai-issued licence for clients or payment providers absorb the Meydan or IFZA premium.
Two things founders ask
Why do Dubai zones cost more for the same legal structure? Ownership, tax treatment and visa rights are identical — the premium buys the Dubai address and the perception that comes with it, not extra legal capability.
What sits outside the all-in figure? Only optional extras: dependant visas, physical office upgrades and bank-account support are priced separately, when and if you need them.