Cost of Company Formation and Residence Permit in Dubai for 2026

Establishing a company and obtaining a residence permit in Dubai, when planned correctly, means both tax advantages and access to global markets. However, taking steps without knowing the costs for 2026 can create unexpected burdens on the budget.

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Below, you will find detailed information about the costs of company formation and residence visa in Dubai along with the 2026 projections; including a comparison of free zone vs mainland, DMCC and other free zone packages, visa fees, and additional expenses. You will also see how Corpenza adds value for entrepreneurs managing this process from Turkey or another country.

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Basic Cost Framework for Company Formation in Dubai in 2026

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The projected figures for 2026 are based on 2024–2025 data and the current tariffs of free zone / mainland authorities. Official institutions may update fees every year, so it is advisable to leave a margin of 5–10% when planning.

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In general:

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• Free zone company formation: Approximately AED 10,000 – AED 30,000

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• Lower-cost free zone packages (e.g., UAQ, RAKEZ, visa/non-visa options): Starting from AED 5,500 – AED 6,500

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• Mainland company formation: Approximately AED 25,000 – AED 40,000 and above

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Additional obligations such as mandatory physical office and Ejari registration on the mainland increase costs compared to free zones. In free zones, more flexible office solutions and packages make the initial budget more predictable.

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Key Cost Components of Company Formation in Dubai

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The healthiest way to understand the total investment for company formation in Dubai is to break down the costs into components. The following items will continue to be the main cost elements in 2026.

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1. Company Registration Fees

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The company registration fee is a one-time payment made to the relevant free zone authority or authorized institution during the initial phase of establishment.

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• General company registration cost: Approximately AED 8,000 – AED 12,000 range

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• Specific to DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre):n
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  • Company registration fee starts from AED 9,000

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  • Standard pricing components:n
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    • Application: AED 1,035 per application

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    • Registration: AED 9,020 per application

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    • Articles of Association (AoA): AED 2,020 per application

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    • License: Annual AED 20,285

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    • Corporate Card: Annual AED 1,825

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In 2026, limited increases in these figures can be expected due to inflation or authority updates; it is important to leave a 5–10% margin in planning.

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2. Trade / Business License Fees

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The cost of the business license varies according to the type of license and business activity codes. Free zones, in particular, offer license packages specific to different sectors.

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• General license cost range (example DMCC): Annual AED 10,000 – AED 50,000

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• 2026 projections by license type:n
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  • Commercial License: Approximately AED 10,000 – AED 30,000

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  • Professional License: Approximately AED 7,000 – AED 15,000

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  • Industrial License: Approximately AED 20,000 – AED 40,000

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  • Freelancer Permit: Approximately AED 7,500 – AED 15,000

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Your company’s area of activity (e-commerce, consultancy, trade, manufacturing, etc.) directly affects the license cost. Particularly in multi-activity licenses and regulated sectors, license fees can be flexible upwards.

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3. Office Space and Workspace Costs

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There is a requirement to show an address/office to obtain a license in both free zones and the mainland. However, the type of office creates significant differences in costs.

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• Free zone office solutions:n
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  • Flexi-desk (hot desk): Annual approximately AED 10,000 – AED 20,000

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  • Shared office space: Annual approximately AED 15,000 – AED 30,000

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  • Generally, office space costs in free zones start around AED 15,000 – AED 20,000

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• Mainland office solutions:n
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  • Private office: Annual approximately AED 25,000 – AED 100,000 depending on location, square meters, and building

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  • Ejari registration and lease contract are generally mandatory for mainland licenses

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In the initial phase, especially for companies with a remote management structure and low staff numbers, flexi-desk or shared office solutions are advantageous for cost optimization.

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Company Formation Packages in DMCC and Other Free Zones

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As one of Dubai’s most well-known and respected free zones, DMCC offers packages for different scales of business models. These packages generally include company registration, license, office space/table rights in a specified square meter, and a certain number of visa quotas together.

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Example Packages for DMCC in 2026

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The fees for packages offered in DMCC for 2024–2025 are as follows; it is expected that they will remain in similar bands with small increases in 2026:

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• Basic Biz Package: AED 35,484 (1 year)

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• Jump Start Package – Standard Flexi Desk: AED 43,780 (1 year)

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• Jump Start Package (2 years): AED 81,881 (2 years)

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• Jump Start Package (3 years): Approximately AED 120,000 (3 years)

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• Jump Start Package (Co-working Space): AED 49,941 (1 year)

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• Prime Plus Package: AED 40,145 (1 year)

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For those looking to establish a freelancer structure, low-budget packages starting from AED 4,000 are also offered in DMCC and similar free zones. In such packages, typically:

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• License suitable for small-scale or one-person activities

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• Flexi-desk / co-working rights

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• 1 visa or visa quota

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The choice of free zone becomes decisive in terms of establishment costs based on the project, number of staff, and target market structure. Working with consultants like Corpenza makes it easier to conduct a healthy cost-benefit analysis not only in DMCC but also in alternative free zones like UAQ, RAKEZ, and IFZA.

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Residence Visa and Visa Costs in Dubai – 2026

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Establishing a company in Dubai and obtaining a residence permit are almost intertwined processes. Commercial visas for company owners, partners, and employees provide both residence rights and legal work opportunities.

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Types of Visas and Cost Ranges

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For 2026, the prominent visa costs (per person) based on current data are as follows:

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• Investor / Partner Visa: Approximately AED 4,000 – AED 7,000

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• Employee Visa: Approximately AED 5,000 – AED 7,500

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• Family Sponsorship Visa (spouse, child, etc.): Approximately AED 4,000 – AED 6,000

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• Emirates ID and Mandatory Medical Tests: Approximately AED 1,000 – AED 2,500 per person

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In general, the total burden of commercial visas settles in the range of AED 3,500 – AED 7,000 per person. This range includes items such as application fees, entry permit, status change, Emirates ID, and medical tests.

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Visa Process and Timing

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After the company is established and the license is obtained, the visa process begins:

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• Company documents for visa application (license, incorporation documents)

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• Passport, biometric information, health screenings

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• Sponsorship/guarantee documents if necessary (for family visas)

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Depending on immigration processes in the free zone or mainland, the time from application to residence visa stamp generally varies between 5 – 30 days. In 2026, with federal digitalization policies, it is expected that these durations will shorten further.

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Additional Administrative and Establishment Costs

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When preparing the budget for company formation in Dubai, there are some additional items that are often overlooked but increase the total cost.

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• Company name registration: Approximately AED 500 – AED 2,000

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• Notary and initial approval fees: Approximately AED 1,500 – AED 3,000

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• Preparation and certification of the articles of association: Approximately AED 1,000 – AED 3,000

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• Government service fees: Approximately AED 3,000 – AED 5,000

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Additionally, depending on the business model, the following types of expenses may also arise:

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• Minimum balance and transaction fees for opening a bank account

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• Bookkeeping, accounting, tax declarations (especially for companies falling under the 9% corporate tax)

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• Mandatory and optional health insurance premiums

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• Especially in high-risk or regulated sectors (finance, medical, etc.), additional licenses and permits

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Free Zone vs Mainland: Strategic and Cost-Focused Comparison for 2026

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In terms of both cost and operational flexibility, the answer to the question of free zone or mainland? varies depending on the company model. However, in general terms:

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• Free zones:n
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  • Initial costs are generally lower (especially with flexi-desk and visa/non-visa packages)

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  • Offers advantages such as 100% foreign ownership and free transfer of profits abroad

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  • However, direct B2C sales in the domestic market may require a mainland distributor or commercial intermediary

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• Mainland:n
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  • Direct trade within Dubai and all UAE, full access to the local market

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  • Higher entry costs due to mandatory physical office and additional permits in some sectors

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  • Depending on the type of company, there may still be areas of activity that require a local partner or local service agent

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Therefore, in models such as SaaS, consultancy, e-commerce export, holding, and asset management, free zones are often more suitable; while in businesses like retail, logistics, and local service delivery, the mainland becomes more strategic.

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Example Total Cost Scenarios for 2026

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Scenario 1: Consultancy Company in Free Zone + 1 Investor Visa

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• Company registration and license: Approximately AED 12,000 – AED 18,000

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• Flexi-desk / shared office: Approximately AED 10,000 – AED 15,000

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• Investor visa + Emirates ID + medical test: Approximately AED 5,000 – AED 7,000

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• Name reservation, notary, government service fees: Approximately AED 5,000 – AED 8,000

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Total first-year cost range: Approximately AED 32,000 – AED 48,000

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Scenario 2: Trading Company on Mainland + 1 Investor and 2 Employee Visas

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• License and establishment fees: Approximately AED 25,000 – AED 35,000

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• Office rent (annual) + Ejari: Approximately AED 30,000 – AED 60,000

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• 1 investor + 2 employee visas (total): Approximately AED 15,000 – AED 21,000

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• Additional administration, notary, government fees: Approximately AED 6,000 – AED 10,000

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Total first-year cost range: Approximately AED 76,000 – AED 126,000

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These scenarios can flex up or down based on the actual company activity code, selected free zone, office standard, and the scope of PRO/consulting services.

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Optimizing the Company Formation and Residence Permit Process with Corpenza

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When opening to an international market, especially a country with different legal and immigration regimes, knowing only the costs is not sufficient. An incorrect company type, wrong free zone selection, incomplete contracts, or overlooked tax obligations can create risks and additional costs far exceeding the amounts you initially saved.

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As Corpenza, in Dubai and the UAE in general:

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• We help you determine the most suitable company structure and location by comparing free zone and mainland.

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• We coordinate the processes of company formation, residence visas, investor and employee visas end-to-end, minimizing document and timing errors.

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• We provide continuous operational support in areas such as international accounting, payroll (payroll/EOR), personnel leasing, and tax optimization.

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• We design the intra-group financial and legal structure between your company in the UAE and your structures in Turkey or other countries to optimize for tax purposes.

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In this way, you can use Dubai not just as an “address” but as a strategic growth hub. A well-structured Dubai setup provides a significant competitive advantage, especially for technology, trade, and service companies that want to access the European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets simultaneously.

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Conclusion: Accurately Reading Dubai Costs While Preparing for 2026

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In summary, for the year 2026:

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• Basic company formation in free zones: Approximately AED 10,000 – AED 30,000

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• Lowest cost free zone packages: Can start from AED 5,500 – AED 6,500 (depending on visa/non-visa structure, activity code, and region)

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• Mainland company formation: Generally in the range of AED 25,000 – AED 40,000+ and higher with office costs

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• Residence (commercial) visas: Total approximately AED 3,500 – AED 7,000 per person

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These figures, with the right company structure, activities suitable for free zone/mainland, and professional setup, become a strong investment in terms of both tax and operational efficiency in the medium to long term.

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If you are planning to establish a company and residence permit in Dubai for 2026, getting support from an experienced team that evaluates all legal, financial, and immigration aspects together, rather than managing the process alone, makes a significant difference in both time and total cost. Corpenza is a partner where you can not only establish your company but also design your internationalization strategy together.

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Disclaimer

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The information here is prepared as a general information based on publicly available tariffs and market data for the 2024–2025 period for 2026. This text does not replace legal, financial, or tax consultancy in any way.

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Company formation, licensing, visa, and tax legislation in Dubai can be updated frequently. Always check current official sources and relevant country legislation before making decisions; seek direct support from licensed consultants and professionals in the field.