Hi, I'm Nicolas from France. I'm budgeting for my business setup in Dubai Mainland. Approximately how much should I expect to spend in the first year, and what costs are included?
Hi Nicolas,
I'm Shreya Garg, Team Leader at DhanGuard, and this is one of the first questions every entrepreneur asks before deciding on a mainland company.
In most cases, the total first-year cost of setting up a Dubai Mainland company ranges between approximately AED 25,000* and AED 60,000*. The final amount depends on your business activity, office requirements, visa allocation, and any additional government approvals your business may need.
Here's where your investment typically goes:
|
Expense |
Approximate Cost |
|
Trade Licence |
AED 10,000 – AED 25,000+ |
|
Office Space & Ejari |
AED 5,000 – AED 50,000+ per year |
|
Trade Name Reservation & Initial Approvals |
AED 600 – AED 2,000 |
|
Investor/Employee Visa (per person) |
AED 3,000 – AED 6,000 |
|
Establishment Card |
AED 500 – AED 2,000 |
A few important points to keep in mind:
- Commercial, industrial, and professional licences have different government fee structures.
- Businesses operating in regulated sectors may incur additional approval charges from authorities such as the DHA, KHDA, RTA, or other government departments.
- Your office selection has a significant impact on the overall setup cost. A flexi-desk is generally more affordable than leasing a dedicated commercial office.
Please note that these figures are approximate and may vary depending on the latest government fees, your chosen business activity, office size, visa requirements, and the overall company structure.
If you're comparing different mainland setup options, it's always advisable to request a customised quotation based on your specific business requirements rather than relying on standard package prices.
