How we compare to the firms you're already considering.
Same Dubai DED licence, same MOHRE-attested contracts, same 5–7 working day timeline as the bigger firms. Different operating model: published pricing on every page, 4-step online application without sales-call gating, free customer portal, written 14-day delivery guarantee.
- Cheapest LLC
- AED 16k
- Competitor floor
- AED 18.5k+
- Customer rating
- 4.9/5
- Late-fee incidents
- 0
What YABS is not.
YABS is not the largest UAE setup firm — Shuraa and Virtuzone are larger by volume. YABS is not the most consultative — Virtuzone and Adam Global have more advisor-led service models. YABS is not the right answer if you want a salesperson walking you through the decision in person. YABS is the right answer if you've already decided you want mainland UAE, want to see the numbers before talking to anyone, and want a customer portal that tracks every renewal date for the next decade. We're an operator-grade specialist, not a volume shop. The 500+ companies we've formed since 2015 stay with us — 0 late-fee incidents on record across the active client base says more about the model than any pitch.
YABS vs the firms you're already considering.
Same Dubai DED licence, same MOHRE-attested contracts, same 5–7 working day timeline. Different operating model — published pricing, online application, free portal, written guarantee.
| Dimension | YABS | Shuraa | Virtuzone | Creative Zone | Adam Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itemised AED pricing on every page | Yes | Quote-only | Quote-only | Partial | Quote-only |
| Online application without sales call | Yes (4 steps) | Form → call | Form → call | Form → call | Form → call |
| Standard mainland LLC start price | AED 16,000 | AED 18,500+ | AED 22,000+ | AED 19,000+ | AED 25,000+ |
| Activity-code-to-ministry mapping published | Yes (every package page) | No | No | Partial | No |
| Written delivery guarantee | 14 working days | None | None | None | None |
| Customer portal — renewal + visa tracking | Yes (free) | No | Paid tier only | Limited | No |
| WhatsApp deadline alerts (60/30/7 days) | Yes | Email only | Email only | Email only | None |
| Free-zone routing if you don't need mainland | Honest — refer to Formenzo | Sells you both | Sells you both | Sells you both | Sells you both |
| Compliance retainer — corp tax + VAT + UBO + ESR | All bundled, AED 12k/yr | À la carte (AED 18k+) | À la carte (AED 22k+) | Bundled (AED 15k+) | À la carte (AED 25k+) |
Step-by-step: what happens when you engage.
The customer journey looks the same on the surface — DED licence delivered in a week. The difference is in the operating model behind each step.
| Step | YABS | Competitors (Shuraa / Virtuzone / Adam Global / Creative Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial enquiry | Online application — 4 steps, no email gate, instant itemised quote at step 4 | Form submission → callback within 24h → qualifying call → custom quote in 2–3 days |
| Pricing transparency | Published AED on every package page; quote at apply-stage matches published numbers | Quote-only; pricing varies by salesperson, time of year, urgency, and negotiation |
| Document collection | Upload to portal; pre-clearance against DED + ministry criteria before any government filing | Email exchange; documents reviewed at filing stage, often re-requested mid-process |
| Government filing | Same Tasheel / DED filing as competitors — no PRO firm has special access | Same Tasheel / DED filing as YABS |
| Mid-process status | Portal shows live status with timestamps + WhatsApp updates at each step | Email updates from account manager when asked |
| Handover | Trade licence + Establishment Card + Immigration File delivered together; portal access live | Trade licence delivered; ancillary docs trickle later; portal access often paid tier |
| Year 2+ retainer | Compliance retainer covers tax + VAT + UBO + ESR + renewal in one bundle | À la carte renewals; surprise charges at filing season; per-document fees |
When another firm fits better.
You want face-to-face consulting
Try Virtuzone or Adam Global. Both have advisor-led models with offices you can walk into. Higher cost but human-led from start to finish. YABS is digital-first by design.
You need free zone, not mainland
Try our sister brand Formenzo (formenzo.com) for free zones, or Creative Zone if you want a free-zone-focused independent provider. YABS is mainland-only by scope.
Niche regulated activity
Try a regulatory specialist. Financial services (DFSA / SCA), specialised healthcare, defence, mining — niche specialists may serve you better than any general PRO firm including YABS.
Frequently asked questions
Why is YABS cheaper than the competitors?
Two structural reasons. First, no sales-call gating — competitor pricing has the cost of a salesperson and qualifying call built in. Second, YABS's business model is retainer-driven: we accept lower margin on initial setup in exchange for the long compliance relationship that follows. The break-even shift means the customer-facing price is 15–30% lower than firms that monetise the initial setup heavily.
Is YABS a smaller firm than Shuraa or Virtuzone?
Yes — by company-formed count, YABS is smaller. Shuraa and Virtuzone have 10,000+ company formations behind them; YABS has 500+ since 2015. We're an operator-grade specialist, not a volume shop. The trade-off: less brand-name recognition, but published pricing, online application, and the 14-day delivery guarantee aren't available at any of the larger firms.
What if I've already started with another firm?
We can absorb in-progress applications at any stage. If you've paid government fees but the licence hasn't issued, we take over the file at the YABS service fee minus the relative work-in-progress with the previous firm. If you've already received a quote from a competitor, we'll match the relevant scope at our published price.
Why publish competitor pricing on your own site?
Because if you're shopping multiple firms (which is the right move for any meaningful business decision), you'll find the prices anyway. Publishing them on our site means you can evaluate the trade-off directly: pay AED 18,500+ at Shuraa for full-service-with-sales-call, or pay AED 16,000 at YABS for online-application-with-published-pricing. Same DED licence, same MOHRE-attested contracts, same 5–7 working day timeline either way.
What if YABS isn't the right fit for me?
Three honest scenarios where another firm might fit better. (1) You want a face-to-face advisor walking you through everything — Virtuzone or Adam Global have the most consultative service models. (2) You need free zone setup specifically — our sister brand Formenzo (formenzo.com) is the right fit; Creative Zone also has strong free-zone focus. (3) You need niche regulated activities (financial services, specialised healthcare, defence) where deep regulatory specialisation matters more than price — niche specialists may serve you better than any of the big general firms.
See it for yourself
Apply online for an itemised quote in under 5 minutes. Compare it side-by-side with any other firm's offer. Pick the one that fits.
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.