Tools · Cost Calculator

Dubai mainland setup cost — live estimate, itemised.

Pick activity, office type, partners, visas, add-ons. Government fees, YABS service fee, 5% VAT — broken out as you go. No email gate, no sales call. Final apply-stage quote within ±AED 1,500.

Apply online See full pricing

Activities covered: 17
Office types: 5
VAT: 5% on service
Quote variance: ±AED 1,500

Configure

Build your scenario.

The calculator below uses the same Dubai DED, MOHRE, GDRFA, Dubai Municipality, DHA, KHDA, RERA, FTA, and Civil Defence fees that the apply-stage quote uses. Government fees are pass-through (billed at cost). The YABS service fee is a single line. 5% VAT applies only to the service fee. The number quoted at apply stage will land within ±AED 1,500 of this estimate for the same configuration.

Step 1 of 4

What activity?

Step 2 of 4

Which office type?

Flexi-desk (shared business centre)AED 8,000/yr

Best for solo + early team; not for trading or food service · 2-visa quota

Small physical office (200 sqft)AED 22,000/yr

Standard SME starting point · 3-visa quota

Medium physical office (500 sqft)AED 45,000/yr

Growing teams + service businesses · 8-visa quota

Large physical office (1,000+ sqft)AED 85,000/yr

Mid-cap businesses with significant headcount · 18-visa quota

Virtual office (address only)AED 6,500/yr

Holding companies + reps only — limited DED acceptance · 0-visa quota

Step 3 of 4

Team setup

Number of partners (shareholders)

Each partner gets an investor visa. MoA notarisation scales slightly with count.

Extra employment visas (beyond partners)

Office quota: 2 visas. Hiring beyond this needs office upgrade.

Step 4 of 4

Optional add-ons

Banking assistance

YABS pre-clears KYC with the right bank. AED 2,500 (refundable if rejected for cause we should have caught).

Annual compliance retainer

Corporate tax + VAT + UBO + ESR + annual renewal — all bundled. AED 12,000/yr saves AED 6k+ vs à la carte.

Frequently asked questions

Are these numbers accurate?

Within ±AED 1,500 for most cases. The calculator uses 2026 Q2 published Dubai DED + ministry fees and YABS's rate card. Variance comes from activity-specific add-ons that depend on exact DED activity code and ministry approvals required. The final apply-stage quote locks in exact numbers.

Why is real estate so expensive?

Two reasons. (1) RERA mandates AED 300,000 paid-up capital for brokerage licence — that's working capital you commit, not a fee. (2) RERA brokerage licence + Trakheesi platform fees + per-broker cards stack on top of the standard DED licence. Real-estate brokerage is the most regulated package after medical clinic.

What's not in this estimate?

Premises fit-out (kitchen equipment, gym equipment, clinic fit-out, furniture), payment-gateway processor fees (per-transaction), salaries, marketing, insurance beyond mandatory, paid-up capital deposits where required (real estate, financial services), and rental deposits (typically 5% of annual rent). The number we show is the regulatory + setup cost — operating cost is separate.

Will YABS match this number?

Yes. The apply-stage quote will land within ±AED 1,500 of this calculator's number for the same configuration. If the apply-stage quote comes in higher, we explain exactly why (activity-specific ministry approval triggered, paid-up capital required, etc.). No bait-and-switch.

Ready to lock in pricing?

Apply online for an itemised quote. Final number confirmed within ±AED 1,500 of the calculator estimate.

Apply online Full transparent pricing

This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.