I'm planning to launch my first business in Abu Dhabi. I've seen very different prices online for mainland licences. What should I realistically budget for the licence and other setup costs?
Hi Zendaya,
I'm Nurain, and the cost of setting up an Abu Dhabi mainland business depends largely on your business activity, licence type, office requirement and whether your activity needs additional approvals.
For a standard Abu Dhabi mainland business, the annual trade licence generally falls in the AED 10,000–AED 25,000 range. However, there are leaner options for certain businesses. For example, the Tajer Abu Dhabi licence can start from around AED 790 and may allow eligible businesses to operate without taking an office immediately.
Abu Dhabi Mainland Licence Cost Breakdown:
|
Cost Component |
Typical Cost |
|
Trade Name & Initial Approval |
AED 600 – AED 1,200 |
|
Licence / Activity Fees |
AED 5,000 – AED 15,000 annually |
|
Chamber of Commerce Membership |
AED 450 – AED 2,000/year |
|
Office Lease / Tawtheeq |
AED 10,000+ annually |
|
Establishment Card |
Around AED 315 – AED 515 |
|
Residency Visa |
AED 3,000 – AED 7,000/person |
|
Additional Approvals |
AED 1,000 – AED 5,000, where applicable |
The office cost is an important distinction. A traditional mainland licence may require a registered commercial premises and tenancy documentation, while eligible Tajer licence holders may initially be exempt from the standard office requirement.
If you are starting a straightforward professional consultancy, her setup could be relatively lean. However, businesses operating in sectors such as healthcare, food, education or other regulated activities may need additional government approvals, increasing the overall cost.
So, when budgeting for an Abu Dhabi mainland company, I would not look at the licence fee alone. Consider the licence, office, visas, establishment card, Chamber fees and activity-specific approvals together to calculate your actual first-year investment.
