What a DMCC setup adds up to
| Item | AED | When |
|---|---|---|
| Application | 1,035 | Once |
| Registration | 9,020 | Once |
| Articles of Association | 2,020 | Once |
| Licence | 20,285 | Every year |
| Establishment card | 1,825 | Every year |
DMCC puts the total initial setup cost at between AED 10,345 and AED 84,515, depending on the licence period and whether an office is included.12
Visa costs on top: the SPC example
| Item, SPC Free Zone | AED |
|---|---|
| Visa allocation | 1,600 |
| Establishment card, once per company | 640 |
| E-channel registration, once per company | 2,280 |
| Investor visa with Emirates ID | 2,530 |
| Change of status, if already in the UAE | 700 |
| Medical test | 365 |
The establishment card and e-channel registration are paid once per company, not per visa, so the first visa costs the most.3
What is not in these prices
- VAT at 5% where the zone charges it.
- Health insurance, which employers must provide for staff in every emirate.4
- A larger office if you need more visas than the desk allows.
- The service fee of the firm that handles the setup for you.
Sources, checked October and November 2026
- DMCC: Schedule of charges
- DMCC: Set up a new business
- SPC Free Zone: Pay-as-you-go business setup
- MOHRE: The basic health insurance scheme
- Ajman Free Zone: All-inclusive packages
- SPC Free Zone: Pay-as-you-go business setup
- Shams: Cost calculator
- RAKEZ: All-inclusive business set-up
- Masdar City Free Zone: Licence and registration
- UAQ Free Trade Zone: Start a business as a non-resident
- Meydan Free Zone: Company setup cost breakdown
- DMCC: Schedule of charges