The honest 2026 cost map
UAE setup from AED 4,888 to 50,000+
Costs depend on emirate, free zone and visas. This page maps all five cost components — then shows where ANCFZ sits.
The five cost components
What you pay for
- License — AED 4,888 (ANCFZ) to 23,000+ (premium Dubai zones)
- Visas — typically AED 3,000–6,000/person elsewhere; bundled at ANCFZ
- Office — flexi-desk* included vs AED 8,000–30,000/yr dedicated
The ones people forget
- Health insurance — mandatory with visas, AED 1,500–6,000/person
- Renewals — the classic trap: cheap year one, expensive year two. ANCFZ renews on the published price list
Cheapest legitimate options compared (2026)
| Zone | License from | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| ANCFZ (Ajman) | AED 4,888 | All-inclusive: license + docs + bank letter + flexi structure* |
| SHAMS (Sharjah) | AED 5,750 | License; visas extra |
| RAKEZ (RAK) | AED 6,000 | License; visas extra |
| Meydan (Dubai) | AED 12,500 | License; visas extra |
ANCFZ package pricing
| Visas | 1-Year All-inclusive Package* |
|---|---|
| 0 visas | AED 4,888 / year |
| 1 visa | AED 10,800 / year |
| 2 visas | AED 16,200 / year |
| 3 visas | AED 20,700 / year |
| 5 visas | AED 29,700 / year |
| 10 visas | AED 52,200 / year |
Frequently asked questions
What’s the cheapest way to get a UAE company?
A zero-visa ANCFZ package at AED 4,888 per year — the lowest published all-inclusive price in the UAE in 2026.
What hidden costs should I watch for?
Renewal jumps, per-service ICP fees, mandatory office upgrades and insurance. ANCFZ publishes its renewal prices and bundles ICP services, so the number you see is the number you pay.
Mainland or free zone?
For most international founders a free zone wins on cost and ownership; mainland wins for UAE-government contracts.
See the full ANCFZ price list
Every tier from 0 to 10 visas, 1 to 5 years — published.
Full ANCFZ license cost breakdown →
* 1-year prices are full advance payment with the 10% upfront discount included. “License in 2 hours” and fully-remote setup are subject to all documents being in order. Flexi-desk availability per package terms. Corporate tax treatment follows UAE free-zone provisions and depends on activity and structure — professional advice recommended. Health insurance is mandatory during any visa process and is excluded from package prices.