An itemized reference guide summarizing official UAE government portal fees, DED trade licensing costs, and MOHRE labor visa clearing charges across Dubai.
Budgeting for company formation or ongoing administrative renewals in Dubai requires a clear understanding of the fees charged by various government departments. Many start-ups struggle with unexpected costs from immigration approvals, labor card typing, and Ejari certifications.
Below is an itemized breakdown of standard government fees for mainland and free-zone structures in Dubai, along with a structured checklist for trade license renewals.
Employment visa costs vary based on whether the applicant is currently inside or outside the UAE:
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) categorizes companies (Class A, B, or C) and charges fees based on their rating:
The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) mainland licensing fees depend on your business activity and location:
Failing to renew your Trade License before its expiration date results in a monthly administrative fine of **AED 250** and can lead to the suspension of your corporate bank accounts and employee visas. Follow this 4-step process for renewals:
Ensure your commercial office lease contract is renewed and successfully registered in the Ejari system. The contract must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of DED submission.
Log in to the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) portal, submit your renewed Ejari number, and upload copies of your active trade license and partners' passports.
Once the DED reviews your files, they will issue a payment voucher. Pay the government fees, municipal taxes, and Chamber of Commerce registration costs within 30 days to avoid late penalties.
Once payment is confirmed, download and print your new corporate Trade License. Be sure to share the renewed file with your corporate banks, suppliers, and tax consultants.
Our executive setup and PRO services team is available to coordinate visa applications, trade license renewals, and immigration portal updates under the leadership of Managing Partner Safvan.
There is no single price for setting up a company in the UAE because the cost is built from moving parts, and a change in any one of them moves the total. The trade licence itself varies by activity and by authority — a mainland DED licence, a free-zone package and a professional versus commercial activity all price differently. On top of the licence sit the immigration establishment card, the visa quota you need, and the per-visa cost of medical tests, Emirates ID and stamping.
The paperwork layer adds more: memorandum of association and notarisation, initial approvals, name reservation, and any activity that needs external approval from a regulator. PRO service — the government-liaison work of submitting, collecting and renewing all of this — is usually a separate retainer or per-transaction fee. That is why a realistic quote depends on your specific activity, ownership structure and headcount rather than a flat number, and why comparing providers on the licence line alone is misleading.
The practical way to read any fee schedule is to separate one-off setup costs from the annual renewals you will carry every year — licence renewal, establishment-card renewal and visa renewals — so the running cost of the structure is clear before you commit to it.
No. The bulk of the setup fee is a one-off, but you carry annual renewals — trade licence renewal, the immigration establishment card and each employment visa — so budget for a recurring yearly cost as well as the initial outlay.
It depends on your activity and visa needs rather than a fixed rule. Free zones often bundle office space and a set number of visas into one package, while mainland pricing is more modular; the cheaper option is the one that matches how you actually intend to operate.
Beyond the annual renewals, plan for accounting and VAT compliance, corporate tax filing, any office or flexi-desk rent, and PRO charges for amendments such as adding an activity, a shareholder or a visa during the year.
Setup cost depends on the jurisdiction, activity, office type and number of visas. Free zone packages and mainland licences are priced differently, so a scope-based quote is the accurate way to budget.
Typical fees include trade licence, registration, approvals, visa and PRO processing charges, plus any activity-specific approvals. Government fees are separate from professional service fees.
Government fees and professional service fees are usually separate. A transparent quote should clearly distinguish authority charges from the service fee.
Because activity, jurisdiction, office and visa requirements vary widely between businesses. A genuine quote reflects your specific plan rather than a generic figure.
Yes. Share your intended activity, jurisdiction and visa needs and Exiloz will prepare a clear, scope-based fee breakdown.
