Business Setup in Dubai, Done Right the First Time
Business setup in Dubai starts from AED 15,100 all-in for a free zone company, and the trade licence is issued in 3–5 working days. BizStart Dubai is a DED-licensed consultancy and registered IFZA agent that forms mainland, free zone and offshore companies — and the price we quote is the price you pay.
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Dubai’s business setup & consultancy partner
BizStart Dubai is a DED-licensed business setup consultancy and registered IFZA agent. BizStart advises on the structure, jurisdiction and activity that fit the business, then runs the setup, visas, banking and compliance end to end.
One dedicated advisor owns each file from the first call to licence in hand, and stays on for renewals, amendments and growth — for a solo founder’s first free zone licence and for a multi-shareholder mainland company alike.
What BizStart handles for you
- Company formation — mainland, free zone & offshore
- Business consultancy — structure, activity & market entry
- Visas, PRO & government liaison
- Banking, accounting, VAT & corporate tax
- Legal, trademark & ongoing compliance
Why founders set up in Dubai
Dubai pairs 100% foreign ownership with 0% personal income tax and a location inside an 8-hour flight of Europe, Asia and Africa. There are 6 headline reasons founders choose it.
Which is right: mainland, free zone or offshore?
Choose a free zone for 100% ownership and the lowest-cost, fastest setup, a mainland licence to trade directly across the UAE and take government contracts, and an offshore company to hold assets and trade internationally without a UAE residence visa. Every UAE company sits in 1 of these 3 jurisdictions, and the deciding factor is where the customers are, not the price.
The table below compares the 3 UAE jurisdictions across ownership, market access, typical first-year cost and best-fit business.
| Jurisdiction | Ownership | Market access | Typical year-1 cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free zone | 100% foreign | Within the zone & international; mainland sales via a distributor or branch | From AED 15,100 | Consultants, e-commerce, trading, holding |
| Mainland | 100% on most activities | Directly across the UAE & government contracts | AED 30,000–40,000 | Retail, restaurants, local services, contracting |
| Offshore | 100% foreign | International only; no UAE trade, no residence visa | From AED [DATA NEEDED] | Asset holding, IP, international trading |
Free zone wins on cost and ownership; mainland wins on local market access; offshore suits holding structures with no UAE presence. BizStart Dubai compares all 3 against the activity and customers at no charge.
Can a free zone company trade on the UAE mainland?
No. A free zone company does not sell goods or services directly to UAE mainland customers without appointing a local distribution agent or opening a mainland branch. From 2023, certain free zone companies supply services to mainland entities under specific Ministry of Finance conditions. Compare the routes on the Free Zone Setup hub, or read UAE Corporate Tax for Free Zone Companies for the tax side.
Three routes to a UAE company
BizStart sets up all 3 UAE jurisdictions and advises which fits the activity, customers and budget, at no charge.
Free Zone Setup
100% foreign ownership, fast licensing and a Dubai address. The most popular route for consultants, e-commerce and trading businesses.
Compare all free zones →Mainland Setup
A DED licence to trade directly across the UAE mainland, take government contracts and open unlimited locations.
Explore mainland setup →Offshore Setup
An offshore company to hold assets, own shares and trade internationally, without UAE residence visas or a physical office.
Explore offshore setup →Choose the right UAE free zone
BizStart is a registered agent for the UAE’s most-used free zones. Each card links to a full cost, process and comparison guide.
IFZA
Most PopularDubai Silicon Oasis. The widest activity list and strongest banking reputation of the budget zones.
IFZA Free Zone Company Setup →SHAMS
Sharjah Media City. A low-cost route for media, creative and freelance businesses.
SHAMS setup guide →SPC
Sharjah Publishing City. Flexible activities and fast issuance at a budget price point.
SPC setup guide →Meydan
A prestige Dubai free zone near Downtown, popular with consultancies and holding companies.
Meydan setup guide →DMCC
The flagship Dubai free zone for trading and commodities, with the best bank acceptance.
DMCC setup guide →Compare all zones
Not sure which fits? Compare cost, visa quota, address and banking across every free zone.
Free Zone Setup hub →Full business consultancy, under one roof
BizStart is a full-service consultancy, not only a formation agent. Beyond the licence, the advisors handle the 8 services a UAE company uses to launch, operate and stay compliant.
Business Consultancy
Advisory on the right structure, jurisdiction, activity and market-entry plan for the business.
Residence Visas
Investor, employee and family visas — medical, Emirates ID and stamping handled end to end.
PRO & Government
Document clearing, attestation, government liaison and licence amendments, without the queues.
Bank Account Opening
Pre-qualification and introductions to UAE banks and digital banks to lift approval odds.
Accounting, VAT & Tax
Bookkeeping, VAT filing and corporate tax registration to keep the company compliant from day one.
Legal & Documentation
MoA drafting, shareholder agreements, contracts, notarisation and document attestation.
Trademark & IP
Brand, logo and trademark registration to protect the business across the UAE and the GCC.
Golden Visa
Eligibility checks and applications for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa for investors and talent.
Set up for your sector
BizStart sets up companies across the 8 sectors that file most often in the UAE, including e-commerce, consulting and trading — each with its own activity codes and approvals.
All-in packages, no hidden fees
Every package is a single price covering the licence, government fees and our service fee. The figure approved is the figure paid. The full price list lives on the IFZA License Cost guide.
- IFZA free zone licence
- Up to 3 activities
- Dubai address, no visa
- Everything in Licence Only
- 1 residence visa (2 years)
- Medical, Emirates ID, stamping
- Everything in Licence Only
- 3 residence visas (2 years each)
- Medical, Emirates ID, stamping ×3
Mainland and other free zones are priced on quote. See the full breakdown on the IFZA License Cost guide.
Three promises every client gets
The UAE setup market runs on vague quotes and moving timelines. BizStart runs on the opposite, in 3 commitments.
Timelines committed in writing
Every engagement opens with a written timeline for the licence, visa and bank account, not a verbal “soon”. BizStart holds itself to the dates it gives.
The quoted price is the contracted price
One all-in figure covers the licence, government fees and our service fee. There are no add-ons after signature. The number approved is the number paid.
VIP document pickup & drop
The team collects and returns documents anywhere in Dubai. Most of the process runs remotely, so clients sign from the office, not a government counter.
How setup works in 4 steps
Consult
Share the activity, visa count and customers. BizStart recommends the jurisdiction and quotes an all-in price.
Submit
BizStart prepares the documents and submits to the authority as a registered agent, with no re-submissions.
Licence
The trade licence is issued, often within 3–5 working days for a free zone company.
Visa & bank
BizStart processes residence visas and introduces the company to UAE banking partners for the account.
What founders say about BizStart
“They quoted one all-in price and that is exactly what I paid. The licence was ready before I landed in Dubai.”
“First time setting up abroad. My advisor explained every step and the document pickup saved me days of running around.”
“I compared four consultants. BizStart was the only one who put the timeline and the price in writing. Easy decision.”
Plan your setup with our guides
Free, detailed guides on the cost, visas, process and tax of a UAE company, written by the BizStart Dubai advisory team.
Advisors who own your file end to end
One dedicated advisor handles the setup, visas and banking, from the first call to licence in hand.
[DATA NEEDED: Name]
Business Setup Consultant
[DATA NEEDED: Name]
Senior Corporate Advisor
[DATA NEEDED: Name]
Visa & PRO Specialist
[DATA NEEDED: Name]
Banking & Compliance
Business setup in Dubai: the basics
How much does it cost to set up a business in Dubai?
Business setup in Dubai starts from AED 15,100 all-in for a free zone company with zero visas, and rises with the visa count and jurisdiction. Mainland company formation typically runs AED 30,000 to 40,000 in year one. BizStart Dubai confirms one exact, all-in figure for the activity in a written quote.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a business in Dubai?
Yes. Free zone and offshore companies allow 100% foreign ownership, and most mainland commercial and industrial activities permit it too under the UAE Commercial Companies Law, without a UAE national partner. BizStart Dubai confirms the ownership rule for the specific activity.
How long does company formation take in the UAE?
A free zone trade licence is issued in 3 to 5 working days with complete documents. Mainland licences take longer where external approvals apply. Residence visa stamping adds 7 to 14 working days per applicant, for a full process of 3 to 4 weeks.
Do you need to be in the UAE to start a company?
No. A UAE company is registered while the owner resides abroad, and the process runs remotely up to the licence. A visit to the UAE is required only to complete medical fitness and Emirates ID biometrics for a residence visa.
What documents are required to start a business in Dubai?
A standard application needs a passport copy, a passport photograph, and a chosen company name and activity. Corporate shareholders, branches and visas add further documents. BizStart Dubai supplies the exact checklist for the chosen structure — the full free zone list is on the Documents Required for IFZA Company Setup guide.
Does BizStart help with visas and a corporate bank account?
Yes. BizStart Dubai processes investor, employee and family residence visas end to end, and pre-qualifies the company with UAE banks and digital banks, then prepares the application and introduction letter. Bank approval timelines depend on each bank’s own compliance checks.
What does a business setup consultant in Dubai do?
A business setup consultant advises on the jurisdiction, structure and activity, then manages the licence, visas, banking and compliance on the client’s behalf. BizStart Dubai handles the government portals, paperwork and follow-up, which removes the queues, rejections and hidden fees of filing alone.
Start your business setup in Dubai this week
Send the activity and visa count on WhatsApp. Get an exact, all-in quote and a written timeline, with no obligation.