Hi Margot,

I'm Sagar, and Fujairah can be an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking for a mainland setup with relatively manageable costs. However, the final investment depends on your business activity, office requirements and visa needs.

For 2026, the total initial cost of setting up a Fujairah mainland company typically falls between AED 18,000 and AED 50,000+. The standalone mainland licence generally starts at around AED 8,000–AED 18,000, depending on whether you're establishing a professional, commercial or industrial business.

Fujairah Mainland Licence Cost Breakdown

The business activity makes a significant difference. A professional services company may have a simpler and more economical setup, while commercial trading or industrial businesses can require additional approvals, premises or facilities.

What Should You Budget For?

The licence fee shouldn't be viewed as the complete company formation cost. Margot would also need to consider the MOA, registered office, immigration file, establishment card and visas when calculating her first-year budget.

The office requirement is particularly important for a mainland company because an appropriate physical or approved commercial premises with registered tenancy documentation may be required depending on the activity.

If you're setting up a small professional business with limited visa requirements, you may remain toward the lower end of the range. A trading or industrial operation with employees and larger premises could move well beyond AED 50,000.

My recommendation is to first finalise your business activity and legal structure, then calculate the licence, office, approval and visa costs together. This gives you a much more realistic estimate than looking at the licence fee alone.