A licence price alone does not describe the cost of opening and running a company. Separate the setup budget from ownership, immigration and tax requirements. Start with company formation options and the Dubai setup cost guide.
Planning checks, not a package quote or confirmation of eligibility.
Confirm the licence covers the work you will carry out.
Mainland, free-zone and offshore registrations have different purposes and rules.
Check the activity and legal form before assuming full foreign ownership applies.
Standard tax bands and qualifying free-zone rules are different assessments.
Registration depends on taxable supplies and imports, not simply having a licence.
Confirm the facility required for your activity and visa allocation.
Licensing, immigration and banking proceed through separate reviews.
A visa allocation does not mean every processing charge is included.
Compare recurring obligations as well as the first-year proposal.
Compare the same activity, shareholders, facility and visa requirements. Authority packages can change.
| Item | Licence without visas | Licence with visa allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Confirm activity, legal form and authority charges | Compare the same licence scope |
| Workspace | Check facility type and permitted use | Check the facility supports the requested allocation |
| Immigration | Ask whether registration is needed or included | Separate establishment-card and processing charges |
| Residence processing | Do not assume a residence visa is included | Check entry/status change, medical, Emirates ID and insurance where applicable |
| Renewal | Request licence and facility renewal items | Request immigration renewal items and their cycles too |
We do not publish unverified package prices here. Request a dated authority quote and separate professional fees. See the free-zone setup guide.
| Route | Initial checks | Recurring checks |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland | Name, approvals, legal form, licence, premises and relevant immigration steps | Licence, tenancy and applicable immigration or compliance obligations |
| Free zone | Registration, activity, facility, visas and external approvals if needed | Authority licence, facility and immigration items |
| Offshore | Registry, registered agent, documents and permitted purpose | Registry and agent charges; this is not an onshore operating licence |
| Banking and compliance | Bank-specific evidence, account conditions and tax-registration assessment | Account conditions, bookkeeping, tax filings and audit where required |
| Topic | Planning summary |
|---|---|
| Standard corporate tax | 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. This is not a turnover threshold. Exemptions, reliefs and special regimes need separate assessment. |
| Qualifying Free Zone Persons | 0% on qualifying income subject to conditions; other income has different treatment. A free-zone licence alone does not establish eligibility. |
| VAT rate | The standard rate is 5%; zero-rated or exempt treatment depends on the supply. |
| Resident-business VAT registration | Mandatory when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in the preceding 12 months or are expected to exceed it in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration can apply above AED 187,500, including eligible taxable expenses. Non-resident rules differ. |
| Foreign ownership | Many mainland activities permit 100% foreign ownership, with restrictions for certain activities and legal forms. Check free-zone and offshore ownership with the selected registry. |
Sources: FTA corporate tax guide, FTA VAT registration requirements and Dubai foreign-ownership restrictions. Seek case-specific advice before relying on a tax outcome.
The Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit launched on 8 October 2025 under Dubai Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2025. It is not a new 2026 rule. The official DET announcement explains this route for eligible companies.
Confirm eligibility, approved activities and the required permission with DET and your free-zone authority before conducting mainland activity. Do not assume every company, activity or emirate is covered, or that the permit determines tax treatment. Compare mainland, free-zone and offshore structures.
Source check: 2 October 2026. Linked official sources support the regulatory summaries. This is a planning guide, not an original pricing dataset, legal opinion, tax determination or authority quotation. Earlier indicative prices and processing-time ranges have been removed because this page does not establish current, like-for-like packages.
Obtain written authority confirmation and a current quote for your activity, legal form, ownership, premises and visas. A licence does not guarantee immigration approval or a bank account. Rules and fees can change after the source-check date.
Preparing your enquiry? Use our document checklist, or read about starting while employed and ownership without UAE residency. Contact info@kinzaad.com for an itemised proposal.