Soufiane
Licensed, banked and ready to trade, with one advisor from start to finish.
Mainland, free zone or offshore?
See how the three company types compare before you speak to an advisor.
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Mainland and free zone, side by side, with the exact structure you'd actually be quoted.
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Estimate, mid-tier zone
| Licence | AED 13,000 |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000 |
| Flexi-desk / office | AED 0 |
| Visas (0) | AED 0 |
Based on your quoted 2026 schedule
| Name + initial approval + MOA | AED 2,800 |
| Licence fee | AED 13,700 |
| Ejari (virtual) | AED 5,500 |
| Establishment card | AED 750 |
| Service fee | AED 4,000 |
| Investor visas (0) | AED 0 |
| Employment visas (0) | AED 0 |
Your mainland licence includes a visa quota of 3–6 based on office size, at no extra cost beyond the per-visa fees above. Free zone figures are a market estimate, not a quote. Mainland figures follow IncHub's quoted 2026 fee schedule.
Not sure which is right for your activity? Talk it through with an advisor, no obligation.
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DIFC
ICAEW
Federal Tax Authority
goAML
ADGM
ISO Certified
CAMSMost business setup consultants in the UAE stop at company formation. IncHub takes you from strategy to a fully compliant, bank-ready company across mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions.
Authorised in DIFC, ADGM and DMCC. Fewer than 60 firms in the UAE hold all three.
Corporate advisory and financial services work as one firm, so your licence, bank account and tax registration sit with one team.
CAMS certified, FTA registered, ISO 9001 accredited and ICAEW chartered accountants on the team.
Clients from India, Singapore, the UK, Europe and East Africa. We understand cross-border structuring, not just UAE paperwork.
Most firms stop at formation. We take you through to a compliant company that is ready to open its bank account and trade.
We track your licence and visa renewal dates and remind you well in advance, so nothing expires by surprise.
Founders relocating to the UAE are usually solving more than one problem at once, and most of them are structural, not personal.
Founders from high-tax countries often relocate to protect margins that tax was eroding before profit even left the business.
The absence of personal income tax and capital gains tax on personal investments is one of the main reasons founders set up in the UAE.
Full foreign ownership in free zones and for most mainland activities removes the need for a local partner.
The UAE sits between Europe, Asia and Africa, a practical reason founders give for relocating operations, not just a lifestyle choice.
Assumes annual revenue within AED 3,000,000, the Small Business Relief threshold. Eligible UAE businesses that elect for the relief pay 0% corporate tax on tax periods ending on or before 31 Dec 2029.
Assumes revenue within the AED 3,000,000 Small Business Relief threshold.
Corporate tax
Home country (30%)
AED 300,000
UAE (SBR) 0%
AED 0
Saves AED 300,000/yr
Personal income tax
Home country (40%)
AED 400,000
UAE 0%
AED 0
Saves AED 400,000/yr
This is a planning estimate, not tax advice. Rates use the standard rates current as of 2026.
Want the exact numbers for your situation?
An advisor can walk through your actual profit and structure before you decide.
Most problems with UAE company setup come from a handful of avoidable mistakes, often made by agents who disappear once the licence is issued.
Your licence activity doesn't match your business, and the bank notices.
We assess your real activity and target market first, then recommend mainland or free zone, so your licence fits from day one.
You've paid for the licence but still have no bank account.
We prepare your compliance file and match you with the right bank before you apply, so your account doesn't hold up your first invoice.
An “AED 5,000 setup” becomes AED 18,000 by renewal time.
You see the full first-year cost, including licence, visas, renewal and banking, before you sign.
Your agent stops answering once the licence is issued.
One team handles your licence, visas, bank account and tax registration on one client file, so there's never a second agent to chase.
No tax to pay, but a late-registration penalty anyway.
Corporate tax registration, and VAT registration where required, are part of your setup, so your company starts compliant.
Your licence can't sponsor the team you plan to hire.
We confirm your visa quota, office type and full cost before you choose a jurisdiction, so the setup fits your hiring plan.
Most agents hand you a trade licence and step back. We handle company registration, visas, banking and tax registration until your company can actually trade.
We match your activity, target market and visa needs to the right structure: mainland, free zone or offshore.
Day 1Trade name, initial approval, MOA and office or Ejari, managed through to licence issuance.
Free zone: 5–10 daysImmigration file, investor and employee visas, medical test and Emirates ID, all coordinated for you.
After licenceWe prepare your compliance file and introduce you to banks suited to your business model.
Usually 2–4 weeksCorporate tax registration, and VAT where your turnover requires it, so you start compliant.
Before you tradeLicensed, banked and compliant, with one team still on call for renewals.
Compare the three ways to start a business in the UAE at a glance.
| ✓Yes ~Partly ✕No | MainlandUAE mainland licenceBest for: Shops, restaurants, contracting, local services | Free ZoneDMCC and UAE free zonesBest for: Consultants, e-commerce, tech, international trade | OffshoreRAK ICC, JAFZA OffshoreBest for: Holding companies, assets, investments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell directly to UAE customers | ✓ | ~Via a distributor or extra permit | ✕ |
| Trade internationally | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 100% foreign ownership | ✓Most activities | ✓ | ✓ |
| UAE residence visas | ✓Quota based on office size | ✓Based on package | ✕ |
| Government contracts | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Physical office required | ✓Office or Ejari workspace | ✕Flexi-desk options | ✕No UAE office |
| Corporate tax | 9%On profit above AED 375,000 | 0%On qualifying income (QFZP); 9% otherwise | CT rules applyWe confirm your position |
Summary for planning only. Rules vary by activity and jurisdiction, and we confirm what applies to you before you commit.
Typical first-year ranges for a free zone, mainland and offshore company. Your exact cost depends on your activity, jurisdiction, number of visas and office.
| Cost element | Free Zone Company | Mainland Company | Offshore Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade licence | AED 10k – 20k | AED 12k – 18k | AED 12k – 15kOffshore registration |
| Office requirement | Flexi-desks available | Physical office required | No UAE officeRegistered agent instead |
| Visa costs | AED 3.5k – 7k per visa | AED 3.5k – 7k per visa | Not applicableNo residence visas |
| Registration fees | AED 5k – 10k | AED 8k – 15k | AED 3k – 5kRegistered agent + documents |
| Total setup cost | AED 15k – 45k | AED 40k – 70k | AED 15k – 20k |
Indicative 2026 ranges, not a quote. Government fees and office costs vary by jurisdiction and licence category. Read the full cost guide
Clients on choosing the right free zone, getting licensed and starting to trade.
Soufiane
Momen Omar
Mohammed Yahfoufi
"Mahesh and the Team at Inchub provide valuable knowledge and insights which allows us to navigate managing a company in Dubai."
"What we value most is their attention to both small and big details. They are always available, they answer quickly."
"The team is very knowledgeable and the communication and customer service was excellent."
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. An advisor will recommend mainland, free zone or offshore, give you the full first-year cost and map out the steps, with no obligation.
The cost of business setup in the UAE depends on the jurisdiction, your business activity, the number of visas and your office type. Typical 2026 ranges are AED 15k – 45k for a free zone company, AED 40k – 70k for a mainland company and AED 15k – 20k for an offshore company. We give you the exact first-year cost, including licence, visas and office, before you commit.
Company formation in the UAE involves choosing the right activity, jurisdiction, office type and visa quota before any fee is paid. A business setup consultant gets those decisions right first, prepares your documents, deals with the authority and the bank, and saves you from paying for a licence that doesn't fit your business.
Usually a passport copy and photo for each shareholder and manager, proof of address, and for UAE residents an Emirates ID and visa copy. Some activities and free zones also ask for a business plan, CV or other supporting documents. We send you the exact checklist for your activity after the free assessment.
It depends on where your clients are, whether you need to trade directly in the UAE and whether you need residence visas. We assess your activity and target market first, then recommend a structure, never the other way round.
We prepare your compliance file and choose banking partners suited to your activity before you apply, because most rejections start with a weak file or the wrong bank. If an issue arises, we work through it with the bank directly.