BUSINESS SETUP · THREE-YEAR COST
The three-year model almost nobody publishes
Year one is a marketing number. This is what a single-owner, one-visa company actually costs to own for three years, in a mid-cost free zone against mainland Dubai and mainland Abu Dhabi.
THE MODEL
One owner, one visa, three full years.
| Line | Mid-cost free zone | Mainland Dubai | Mainland Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 licence and registration | AED 12,500 to 15,000 | AED 15,000 to 20,000 | AED 13,000 to 18,000 |
| Establishment or immigration card | AED 2,000 to 2,500 | AED 2,000 to 2,500 | AED 2,000 to 2,500 |
| Office | Flexi-desk, bundled | Ejari office, AED 20,000 to 30,000 | Tawtheeq office, AED 18,000 to 26,000 |
| One visa, all-in | AED 3,500 to 5,000 | AED 4,000 to 6,000 | AED 4,000 to 6,000 |
| Medical insurance | AED 800 to 2,500 | AED 800 to 2,500 | AED 800 to 2,500 |
| Accounting and corporate tax filing | AED 4,000 to 8,000 | AED 6,000 to 12,000 | AED 6,000 to 12,000 |
| Year 2 total | AED 18,000 to 24,000 | AED 32,000 to 42,000 | AED 30,000 to 38,000 |
| Year 3 total | AED 18,000 to 24,000 | AED 32,000 to 42,000 | AED 30,000 to 38,000 |
All figures Indicative. 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.
TOTALS
Three years, rounded honestly.
AED 55k to 70k
Mid-cost free zone
Flexi-desk, one visa, audited where required
AED 90k to 110k
Mainland Dubai
Driven by the office and Ejari
AED 85k to 100k
Mainland Abu Dhabi
Tawtheeq office, marginally cheaper space
~2x
Mainland premium
Against a mid-cost free zone on the same activity
Mainland runs higher mainly because of the mandatory physical office and Ejari, not because the licence itself is dramatically more expensive. If the domestic market is where your revenue is, that premium buys access. If it is not, you are paying for access you never use.
Last updated 13 August 2026 Next review Q4 2026
QUESTIONS
Asked once the model is on the table.
Why is mainland so much more expensive over three years?
Mainly the mandatory physical office and Ejari. A free zone flexi-desk is bundled into the licence. A mainland office is a lease, a deposit, a registration and a service charge.
Does renewal get cheaper in year two?
Rarely. In most zones renewal is close to the first-year licence figure. What falls away is the one-off registration, not the recurring cost.
Is accounting really necessary at this size?
Yes. Corporate tax registration and filing apply from the first period, and the QFZP 0 percent regime requires audited financial statements. A dormant company still files.
GO DEEPER
The pages behind this one.
What setup actually costs
The all-in year one number once a visa is attached, zone by zone, with an estimator.
OpenFree zone against mainland
Market access, banking perception, quota, office, tax and exit, compared line by line.
OpenCorporate tax and the 0 percent myth
The seven QFZP conditions in full, Small Business Relief and how companies actually fail.
OpenClosing a company
The process, the cost, and what happens if you simply stop renewing.
OpenBanking
The step where UAE plans actually fail. Timelines, scrutiny and rejection reality.
OpenSetting up a company in the UAE
The four questions that decide the structure, and the three routes described honestly.
Open