UAE company formation · Mainland & Free Zone

Your UAE company, without the desert of paperwork.

One partner for your entire UAE company: licence, visas, banking and compliance across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and RAK. Fixed prices. Real timelines. No runaround.

See the 12‑day flow
  • Trade licence
  • Residency visa & Emirates ID
  • Corporate bank account
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140+ companies formed for founders from 31 countries ★★★★★ 4.9 on Google
12 daysLicence to bank, typical
7Emirates covered
0Hidden fees. Ever.

Live estimate

Estimated costAED 18,500all‑in, incl. government fees
Time to licence5 daysthen visas + bank

Indicative. Your final quote is fixed before you pay anything.

Trade licenceFree ZoneMainlandInvestor visaEmirates IDCorporate bank accountVAT & corporate taxGolden VisaRenewalsCompliance Trade licenceFree ZoneMainlandInvestor visaEmirates IDCorporate bank accountVAT & corporate taxGolden VisaRenewalsCompliance
How it flows

From first call to first invoice in about 12 working days.

This is a real sequence, not a brochure. The left column is the calendar; the right column is the only thing we'll ever ask of you at each step.

Day0

Consultation & route map

A 30‑minute call. We map activity, jurisdiction, visas and banking in one plan with a fixed price attached.

What we need from youYour passport and a description of what you actually do.
Day1–2

Name reservation & initial approval

We file with the authority, clear the trade name, and get initial approval while you carry on with your week.

What we need from youThree name preferences. That's it.
Day3–5

Licence issued

MOA drafted, signed digitally, licence and establishment card issued. You are now a UAE company.

What we need from youOne e‑signature.
Day6–10

Visa, medical & Emirates ID

Entry permit, status change, medical and biometrics. We book every appointment and someone from DubaiSetup walks in with you.

What we need from youTwo hours in Dubai, or we handle it on your next visit.
Day8–12

Corporate bank account

We pre‑qualify your file with the right bank for your profile and sit in the onboarding meeting so it doesn't stall.

What we need from youProof of address and six months of statements.
Year1+

Tax, VAT & renewals, on autopilot

Corporate tax registration, VAT filings, licence and visa renewals, all tracked in your DubaiSetup dashboard with 60‑day reminders.

What we need from youNothing. We'll message you before anything is due.

Want this timeline with your dates on it?

Answer five quick questions and we will map your route, your price and your start date.

Seven emirates. One channel.

Pick where your company lives.

Every emirate has its own free zones, costs and rules. Tap one to see the real range, we'll tell you honestly where it shines and where it doesn't.

AED 5,000
AED 30,000

Not sure which emirate is right for you?

Tell us what you do and we will name the one that fits, even when it earns us less.

What lands in your hands

Three cards. One working business.

  • Trade licence. Issued by the authority, with your activities, share structure and establishment card.
  • Emirates ID and residency visa. Two‑year residency stamped, ID delivered to your door, family sponsorship unlocked.
  • Corporate bank account. A real IBAN with online banking, cards and international transfers. This is the step most agents leave you to fight alone.
Everything, under one roof

One partner. Every desk.

We're the client‑facing partner working through established UAE authorities, PROs, banks and accountants, so you only ever talk to us.

After the licence

Nothing lapses. You'll see it coming.

Every client gets a DubaiSetup dashboard: licence, visas, lease, VAT and corporate tax deadlines on one timeline, with a human reminder 60 days out and the renewal handled before it's due.

Why DubaiSetup

Most setup agents sell packages. We sell outcomes: a licence, a visa in your passport, a bank account that works, for a price you saw before you paid.

Fixed price

Your quote includes every government fee. If a fee rises after you've paid, that's on us.

Real timelines

We quote in working days and report weekly. If we slip, you'll hear from us before you have to ask.

Honest routing

We'll say when a free zone won't let you do what you need, even when the cheaper option would earn us more.

One human

A named account manager from day zero to renewal. No ticket queues, no "let me check with the team".

Who we're built for

Built for people who'd rather be building.

01
Founders & startups

Free zone or mainland, investor visa, bank account, first hire.

02
Freelancers & creators

Freelance permits and one‑person companies with residency attached.

03
Agencies & online businesses

E‑commerce and service licences that keep Stripe, Shopify and banks happy.

04
Investors & holding structures

Holding companies, SPVs in ADGM/DIFC, family offices, Golden Visa.

05
Companies expanding to the UAE

Branches, subsidiaries, employee visas and payroll from day one.

Before you book

The questions that usually stall people.

Straight answers. If yours isn't here, ask us on WhatsApp and a human replies within four hours, seven days a week.

What will you mostly do?
Route A

Free Zone

Best fit for this
  • 100% foreign ownership
  • Cheapest and fastest, from 2 days
  • Ideal for online, services, holding
  • Visas included in packages
  • Limited direct trade inside the UAE
VS
Route B

Mainland

Best fit for this
  • Trade anywhere in the UAE
  • Government tenders and retail
  • 100% ownership for most activities
  • Unlimited visas with office space
  • Higher setup and office cost
Do I need to be in the UAE to open the company?

No. Licence, name reservation and MOA are done remotely with e‑signature. You only need to be physically here for the visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics, which take about two hours and can be done on any visit.

Can I get a corporate bank account as a new company?

Yes, but it is the step where most setups stall. We pre‑screen your file against each bank's appetite by nationality, activity and expected turnover, then attend the onboarding meeting with you. Typical opening time is 5 to 15 working days after the licence.

Free Zone or Mainland, which one do I need?

Free Zone if your customers are outside the UAE or you sell online: cheaper, 100% ownership, fast. Mainland if you need to trade directly with UAE customers, government contracts or a physical shop. We tell you which in the first call, and we'll say when the cheaper option would hurt you later.

What does it really cost each year after setup?

Licence renewal, visa renewal every two years, and accounting for corporate tax. For a typical one‑person free zone company that is roughly AED 9,000 to 14,000 a year, all‑in. Your quote lists year‑two costs next to year‑one so there are no surprises.

How long does the residency visa take?

Five to ten working days after the licence: entry permit, status change, medical, biometrics, then Emirates ID delivered to your door. We book every appointment and someone from DubaiSetup walks in with you.

Let's open the channel.

Start with a free 30‑minute consultation. You'll leave with a jurisdiction, a fixed price and a dated plan, whether or not you go with us.

Five quick questions, then pick your time. Takes about 40 seconds.

Chat on WhatsAppHuman reply within 4 hours