Setting up a company in Dubai, with the real bill
Which free zone, what it actually costs over three years, and where the bank says no.
The licence fee you see advertised is the smallest part of the bill. Add visa allocation, establishment card, medical, Emirates ID, office or flexi-desk, and the renewal a year later - and the cheap zone is often not the cheap one. We track what each route costs once everything is counted, and which zones banks currently open accounts for without a fight.
- Three-year total cost, not the first-year headline
- Which zones banks actually accept right now
- Visa allocation per licence and what extra ones cost
- When mainland beats a free zone, and when it does not
What people are asking right now
Ranges from the market, not live listings. We move them when the market moves.
| Zone | Includes | From | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan Free Zone | 1 visa | AED 12,500 + | fast, popular with consultants |
| IFZA Dubai | 1 visa | AED 12,900 + | cheapest mainstream route |
| SHAMS (Sharjah) | 1 visa | AED 9,000 + | cheapest overall, Sharjah address |
| DMCC | 1 visa | AED 34,000 + | prestige, commodities, strong banking |
| DIFC | 1 visa | AED 30,000 + | common law, finance and legal |
| Mainland (DET) | per visa | AED 15,000 + | sell to the local market directly |
Latest from the desk
Newest first. Each one links to the full write-up.
Visa
Golden Visa property threshold stays at AED 2,000,000
Off-plan counts when the developer is registered with the Dubai Land Department. Unchanged as of August 2026.
AED 2,000,000Read the full piece WORTH A LOOK
Visa
Free zone licences start around AED 9,000 a year
SHAMS in Sharjah is the floor; inside Dubai, Meydan and IFZA begin near AED 12,500. As of August 2026.
from AED 9,000Read the full piece WORTH A LOOK
Visa
Essential health plan runs AED 700 to 1,200 a year
The legal minimum for residency. Narrow network, low annual cap, maternity in name only.
AED 700 - 1,200Read the full piece
Fair questions
Which free zone is cheapest?
SHAMS in Sharjah undercuts everyone at around AED 9,000, but you get a Sharjah address. Inside Dubai, Meydan and IFZA start near AED 12,500.
Can I open a bank account with any licence?
In practice no. Banks are selective by zone and by activity. DMCC and DIFC open most easily; the cheapest zones are where people get stuck for months.
Do I need an office?
A flexi-desk is enough for most free zone licences and is usually bundled. Mainland needs a real tenancy with Ejari.
The good ones, as they appear.
Free, no sign-up, leave whenever.
@dxbradar