BUSINESS SETUP · COST
What setting up actually costs, including the parts nobody quotes
You will see "from AED 4,888" and "from AED 5,750" advertised everywhere. Those are real licence fees. They are also roughly a third of what you will pay in year one once a single visa is attached.
WHAT THE HEADLINE EXCLUDES
Itemised, and it is always the visa.
| Line | Indicative amount | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| The visa itself, per person | AED 3,500 to 5,000 all-in | IndicativeIndicative | Entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID and stamping |
| Establishment or immigration card | AED 2,000 to 2,500 | IndicativeIndicative | Required before any visa can be issued |
| Mandatory medical insurance | AED 800 to 2,500 per person per year | IndicativeIndicative | Premium varies by age and cover |
| Flexi-desk or office | Bundled to substantial | IndicativeIndicative | Drives both cost and visa quota |
| Renewal | Close to the first-year figure | IndicativeIndicative | In most zones renewal is not a discount |
Free zones change pricing frequently and run promotions. Confirm the current schedule before committing. Figures marked Indicative come from registered agents and consultancies and must be verified against the zone's current schedule.
THE HONEST NUMBER
One visa, almost any zone.
AED 13k to 22k
Year one, one visa
Anyone quoting materially less has left something out
AED 5,520
Lowest genuine licence
Fujairah Creative City, licence only, no visa
~1/3
What the headline covers
Of a realistic one-visa year one
AED 1,850
Meydan, per visa
Indicative, confirm the current schedule
Last updated 13 August 2026 Next review Q4 2026
LIKE FOR LIKE
One shareholder, one activity, so the zones are comparable.
| Zone | Licence only, 0 visas | All-in year one, 2 visas | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHAMS (Sharjah) | AED 5,750 | AED 18,000 to 24,000 | Cheapest entry, media and e-commerce focus |
| Fujairah Creative City | AED 5,520 | AED 15,000 to 21,000 | Freelance and media permit |
| RAKEZ | AED 6,000 | AED 16,000 to 22,000 | Audit often waived |
| Ajman Free Zone | ~AED 8,200 bundled with 1 visa | AED 16,000 to 22,000 | Often the cheapest genuine one-visa bundle |
| Meydan (Dubai) | AED 12,500 | AED 19,000 to 25,000 | Central Dubai address, visas at AED 1,850 each |
| IFZA (Dubai) | AED 12,900 | AED 20,000 to 26,000 | Dubai address, sold through agents only |
| Dubai South | AED 12,500 | AED 22,000 to 28,000 | Near Al Maktoum airport |
| DMCC (Dubai) | ~AED 15,000 | AED 40,000 to 55,000 | Premium, strongest banking credibility |
| DAFZA (Dubai) | AED 12,000 to 50,000 | AED 45,000 to 65,000 | Airport premium, audit required |
| DIFC (Dubai) | Innovation licence ~USD 1,500 | AED 65,000 to 100,000+ | Common law, finance and family offices |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi) | Tech startup from ~USD 700 | AED 40,000 to 55,000 | Common law, SPV at USD 1,900Confirmed |
All figures Indicative unless labelled Confirmed. Free zones change pricing frequently and run promotions. Confirm the current schedule before committing. Figures marked Indicative come from registered agents and consultancies and must be verified against the zone's current schedule.
THE DISTINCTION
Genuinely cheap against headline cheap.
Genuinely low cost
SHAMS, Ajman, RAKEZ, UAQ and Fujairah Creative City. Low licence, low renewal, and no hidden recovery line. The trade is address perception at the bank.
Headline cheap
IFZA and Meydan are the cheapest Dubai addresses but recover through establishment cards, per-visa fees and, in IFZA's case, mandatory financial statements at renewal since 30 September 2025.
Openly premium
DMCC, DAFZA, DIFC and ADGM are premium and do not pretend otherwise. You are buying banking credibility, jurisdiction and, in two cases, English common law.
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ESTIMATOR
Build an indicative year one and year three.
Indicative estimate
AED 19,450 to AED 23,940
Year one, all-in
AED 49,850 to AED 62,320
Three-year total, including renewals
This is an estimate built from indicative agent pricing, not an official quotation. Current schedules must be confirmed with the zone before you commit. It excludes corporate tax, VAT registration, bank minimum balances and any activity-specific approval.
Send this to us on WhatsAppDisclosure
Aethoras holds partner relationships with certain free zones, including IFZA. We disclose this rather than let you discover it. It does not change what we recommend: we advise the zone that fits the structure, and we say plainly when a cheaper zone would serve you better.
QUESTIONS
What people ask about the price.
Is the AED 5,750 licence real?
Yes. SHAMS and similar zones genuinely licence at that level. It is the licence only, with no visa, no establishment card and no insurance. Attach one visa and year one lands between AED 13,000 and 22,000 in almost any zone.
Does the second year get cheaper?
In most zones renewal is close to the first-year figure rather than a discount. Model three years, not one.
Why do agent quotes differ so much for the same zone?
Because they bundle. A bundled agency quote is not an official fee. Every figure on this page that comes from agents or consultancies is labelled Indicative and must be verified against the zone's current schedule.
Which zone is genuinely cheapest?
SHAMS, Ajman, RAKEZ, UAQ and Fujairah Creative City are genuinely low cost. IFZA and Meydan are the cheapest Dubai addresses but recover through establishment cards and per-visa fees.
Get the number for your structure
Tell us the activity, the visa count and where your clients are. We will price it against current schedules, not a bundle.
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Send both quotes. We will strip them back to like-for-like and tell you which line is doing the hiding.
WhatsAppSources
- Free zone published fee schedules, where the authority publishes one
- ADGM Registration Authority Schedule of Fees 2025, Confirmed figures only
- Registered agent and consultancy quotations, used only where labelled Indicative
GO DEEPER
The pages behind this one.
The free zone directory
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The four questions that decide the structure, and the three routes described honestly.
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