What it actually costs
Company Formation Fees & Cost Calculator in UAE
Starting prices are the easy part. What decides your number is the activity, the jurisdiction and how many visas you need — so you get it in writing before anything is filed.
GCC business setup specialists
A quote you can actually compare
Headline prices rarely include visas, premises or the approvals a regulated activity triggers. Ours separates what goes to the authority from what comes to us, so you can hold it next to anyone else's and see the difference.
- Government fees and our fees always separated
- Written quote before anything is filed
- Fixed service fee, agreed up front
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services
What moves the number
Six things that decide your price
Two companies on the same licence type can differ several-fold. These are the reasons.
Free zone
IFZA Free Zone
AED 21,490
Starting from
- 100% foreign ownership
- Licence and establishment card
- Visa quota by package
- No local office required
Mainland
Dubai Mainland
AED 15,000
Starting from
- Trade anywhere in the UAE
- Eligible for government tenders
- Visa quota tied to premises
- Ejari / office required
Offshore
Offshore Company
AED 10,000
Starting from
- Holding and structuring only
- No UAE trading permitted
- No visa entitlement
- Registered agent included
| Driver | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Each free zone and each emirate sets its own schedule. The cheapest licence is not the cheapest company once premises and visas are counted. |
| Business activity | Some activities sit in a higher fee band, and regulated ones carry an external approval with its own cost and timetable. |
| Number of visas | Usually the largest variable after the licence. Each person carries entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping, and the quota is tied to your premises. |
| Premises | A flexi-desk and a warehouse are both “premises”. Mainland requires a registered tenancy; most free zones bundle a desk into the package. |
| Shareholder structure | A corporate shareholder means parent documents, attestation and legalisation — cost incurred in the country of origin, not here. |
| Approvals and translation | External regulator sign-off, legal translation into Arabic and document attestation are charged at cost and vary by activity and country. |
Government fees are set by the licensing authority and can change without notice. We quote the current figures for your activity in writing before anything is filed.
How we quote
From enquiry to a written quote
No number is given before the activity is understood, because a number given earlier than that is a guess.
01
What you are setting up
Activity, shareholders, visas needed and budget. Fifteen minutes is usually enough to rule out the jurisdictions that do not fit.
02
Priced against the current schedule
We price your activity against the authority's current fee schedule, add the approvals it triggers, and set our service fee. Government charges and our fee are listed separately.
03
Quote in writing, then filing
You get the quote in writing and nothing is filed until you accept it. If the authority changes a fee between quote and filing, you are told before we proceed.
Before you compare quotes
Questions worth asking anyone quoting you
Most “cheaper” quotes are cheaper because something is missing from them.
- Are government fees listed separately from the service fee?
- How many visas are included, and what does each extra one cost?
- Does the price include premises, or is that billed on top?
- Which external approvals does my activity trigger?
- Is corporate tax registration included?
- Is the establishment card and immigration file included?
- What does attestation and translation cost for my country?
- What happens to the price if the authority raises a fee?
- Is bank account introduction included or extra?
- What does renewal cost next year?
- Are there charges for amendments during setup?
- What exactly is refundable if the application is refused?
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Jurisdiction and activity recommendation
- Written quote separating government and service fees
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- Memorandum drafting and notarisation
- Licence application end to end
- Establishment card and immigration file opening
- Corporate bank account introduction
- Corporate tax registration
Not included, quoted separately
- Government and authority fees, paid at cost
- Office space, Ejari or flexi-desk rental
- Document attestation and legalisation abroad
- Legal translation into Arabic
- Medical tests and Emirates ID charges
- Sector-specific regulatory approvals
- Annual renewal, quoted separately
- Ongoing bookkeeping, audit and tax filing
Verify independently
Official UAE authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Federal Tax AuthorityMinistry of Human Resources & EmiratisationIdentity, Citizenship, Customs & Port SecurityAbu Dhabi Department of Economic DevelopmentIFZA — International Free Zone AuthorityUAE Government Portal
Questions
Company Formation Fees & Cost Calculator in UAE — FAQs
Why will nobody give me a price on the phone?
Because the honest answer depends on your activity, your jurisdiction and your visa count, and a number given before those are known is one you will be argued out of later. We give you a written quote instead, usually the same day.
What is the cheapest way to set up in the UAE?
For a company with no UAE customers and no visas, an offshore or low-cost free zone package is usually cheapest. For a business selling inside the UAE, the cheapest licence is often the most expensive route overall, because mainland sales then need a distributor or branch.
Are government fees refundable if I change my mind?
Generally not once they have been paid to the authority. That is precisely why nothing is filed until you have accepted the written quote.
Do the starting prices include visas?
No. Visa costs are per person and are quoted separately, because the number of people is the single biggest variable in most setups.
What will it cost to renew next year?
Renewal is normally lower than formation, but it is a real annual cost and it is quoted before you commit, not mentioned eleven months later.
Can the price change after I accept the quote?
Our service fee is fixed once agreed. Government fees are set by the authority and can change; if that happens between quote and filing, we tell you before anything is submitted.
Careers
Apply for a role
Tell us which role you are applying for and what you have done that is relevant. If you have UAE or GCC experience, say which jurisdictions and authorities you have worked with.
Connect with us
Request a setup assessment
For founders and business decision-makers considering paid business services. Not for job applications, employment searches or personal visa-only requests.
Talk to a consultant
At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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