Estimated Setup & Support Costs

Thanks for sharing. Here’s an indicative cost estimate for setting up and supporting your UAE Mainland business. Final pricing will depend on your chosen structure, activity, and jurisdiction

 

Mainland Trade License

Estimated Cost Range: AED 16,000 – AED 20,000 per year

What this includes:

  • A Department of Economy & Tourism issued license
  • Business activity registration
  • Initial approvals & establishment card

What affects cost:

  • Business activity – commercial, professional, or industrial
  • Legal structure – sole establishment, LLC, or civil company
  • Office requirements – Ejari (physical office lease) mandatory
  • Number of visas linked to office size
  • External approvals – required for regulated activities

In practice:
Mainland licenses allow you to trade directly in the UAE. Costs reflect office requirements, approvals, and operating flexibility.

Visa Processing

Estimated Cost Range: AED 3,500 – AED 7,000 per visa

What this includes:

  • Entry permit, medical testing, Emirates ID
  • Residency visa stamping
  • Government processing & PRO support

What affects cost:

  • Visa type – investor, employee, partner
  • Medical & processing speed options

In practice:
Standard processing meets most needs. Expedited options reduce lead time but increase cost.

Bank Account Opening (Optional)

Estimated Cost Range: AED 1,500 – AED 10,000

What this includes:

  • Bank selection guidance based on your business model
  • Documentation preparation & submission support
  • Coordination with banking partners

What affects cost:

  • Business activity & risk profile
  • Number of shareholders/structure complexity
  • Bank requirements & compliance checks

In practice:
Structured preparation significantly improves success rates. However, approval is subject to the bank’s criteria.

Corporate Tax Registration (Optional)

Estimated Cost Range: AED 1,500 – AED 2,000

What this includes:

  • Registration with the Federal Tax Authority
  • Entity classification and compliance setup

What affects cost:

  • Entity structure & ownership model
  • Financial readiness and documentation

In practice:
All UAE businesses must register, regardless of profitability. Early compliance avoids penalties and operational disruption.

VAT Registration (Optional)

Estimated Cost Range: AED 1,500 – AED 2,000

What this includes:

  • VAT eligibility assessment
  • Registration with the Federal Tax Authority
  • Documentation preparation & submission

What affects cost:

  • Business turnover & structure complexity
  • Availability and quality of financial records

In practice:
Registration is mandatory if annual taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000. Early registration can support input VAT recovery where applicable.

Outsourced HR Services (Optional)

Estimated Cost Range:  Requirement-dependent

What this includes:

  • Employment contracts aligned with UAE Labor Law
  • HR documentation, policies, and compliance support
  • Ongoing advisory and employee lifecycle management

What affects cost:

  • Number of employees (headcount)
  • Level of support required (eg, compliance vs advisory)
  • Inclusion of HR systems and automation tools

In practice:
HR management is critical, even for small businesses. Expert advice, on demand, ensures compliance, strengthens operations, and enables sustainable growth.

AML Compliance Services (Optional)

Estimated Cost Range: AED 1,500 – AED 2,500

What this includes:

  • AML applicability assessment (DNFBP &/or regulated activities)
  • Policy & procedure setup
  • GoAML registration & reporting support

What affects cost:

  • Business activity (regulated vs non-regulated)
  • Complexity of transactions & risk exposure
  • Level of ongoing monitoring required

In practice:
AML reporting is mandatory for specific business types from day one. Structured setup reduces risk and protects bank relationships.

Next Step

One of our business setup advisors will be in touch shortly to provide expert guidance and answer any questions you may have.

Your free consultation will help you:

  • Confirm the right license and visa structure
  • Refine your cost model
  • Avoid common setup and compliance risks
  • Accelerate your time to launch