Calculate the cost of opening a Dubai company in seconds.
Free online calculator to compare IFZA, DMCC and RAKEZ with visa options, status change and investor visa add-ons. Year 1 cost estimate in AED, USD or EUR for English-speaking founders setting up in the UAE. No signup.
Estimate your real cost in seconds.
Pick a free zone, number of visas and options. The calculator updates the year 1 total in real time and breaks it down by category.
Dubai company cost calculator
Total year 1 cost
0 AED
View detailed breakdown
Annual
0 AED
Every 2 years
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What's included in each zone?
Not all free zones cost the same nor cover the same. The calculator reflects the structural differences: all-inclusive package vs separate components, first visa free or not, mandatory flexi desk or not.
IFZA
Dubai · Silicon OasisLimited Liability Company with 100% foreign ownership. Modular model: pay only for the components you need.
- Up to 3 shareholders and 3 activities at no extra cost
- MOA, articles of association and Flexi Desk included
- First employee visa free for life
- Extra activity: +AED 1,460 · combine consultancy and trading: +AED 2,500
- Full list: activities.ifza.com
DMCC
DubaiPremium for trading, commodities and financial services. More demanding corporate structure with share capital and mandatory audit.
- Benchmark share capital: AED 50,000
- Mandatory annual audit, even with no operations
- Flexi Desk up to 3 visas · from AED 16,800/year
- Services office for 4 to 5 visas · from AED 40,000
- Physical office: 1 visa per 9 m²
RAKEZ
Ras Al KhaimahAll-inclusive Ras Al Khaimah package. Flexible structure for industry, consultancy and general trading.
- Up to 50 shareholders and 10 activities
- Mix of activities with no restriction
- Licence and lease included in package
- Visas included: e-channel, entry permit, stamping, medical, EID and status change
- 0 visas: no extra fees apply
Dubai company cost by number of visas
Official comparison of year 1 government costs and renewals for IFZA Dubai, DMCC Dubai and RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah, with 0 to 3 visas. Values in UAE dirhams (AED). Table designed for English-speaking founders evaluating where to incorporate in the UAE. Does not include LorcaBase professional fees.
Total year 1 cost (AED)
Includes one-time government setup, annual commercial licence, establishment card, commercial address (Flexi Desk in DMCC), new visa fees and medical + Emirates ID. Excludes optional status change and investor visa add-ons.
| Free zone | 0 visas | 1 visa | 2 visas | 3 visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZADubai · Silicon Oasis | 12,900 AED | 18,000 AED | 24,650 AED | 31,300 AED |
| DMCCDubai | 50,985 AED | 54,938 AED | 58,890 AED | 62,843 AED |
| RAKEZRas Al Khaimah | 6,000 AED | 14,000 AED | 18,000 AED | 22,000 AED |
Recurring annual renewal (AED)
Cost paid every year from year 2 onwards: commercial licence, establishment card and commercial address. Does not include visa renewals (see next block). In RAKEZ everything is bundled into one single fee.
| Free zone | 0 visas | 1 visa | 2 visas | 3 visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZADubai | 12,900 AED | 17,100 AED | 19,100 AED | 21,100 AED |
| DMCCDubai | 38,910 AED | 38,910 AED | 38,910 AED | 38,910 AED |
| RAKEZRas Al Khaimah | 6,000 AED | 14,000 AED | 18,000 AED | 22,000 AED |
Visa renewal every 2 years (AED)
Additional cost on top of the annual renewal every 2 years: visa fee renewal plus medical + EID. IFZA's first employee visa is free for life, so its renewal only pays the medical. RAKEZ includes everything in its annual package.
| Free zone | 0 visas | 1 visa | 2 visas | 3 visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZADubai | 0 AED | 900 AED | 5,550 AED | 10,200 AED |
| DMCCDubai | 0 AED | 3,770 AED | 7,540 AED | 11,310 AED |
| RAKEZRas Al Khaimah | 0 AED | included | included | included |
Notes: Official figures from each free zone authority valid in 2026, in UAE dirhams (AED). The official peg is 1 USD = 3.67 AED. "Year 1" includes a one-time government setup that is not repeated. "Annual renewal" is what you pay each year from year 2. "Visa renewal every 2 years" is added to the annual renewal when the biennial cycle hits. LorcaBase professional fees are excluded, as well as optional costs such as visa status change (AED 1,600 IFZA, AED 435 DMCC) or investor visa (AED 1,000 IFZA every 2 years). For an estimate with your specific options, use the interactive calculator above.
Key terms to understand the costs.
English dictionary of the concepts you will see in the calculator and the comparison table. Useful for English-speaking founders studying how to open a company in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah for the first time.
Free Zone▸
Special economic zone in the United Arab Emirates with tax benefits and 100% foreign ownership. Each Free Zone has its own authority and licence catalogue. There are more than 45 free zones operating in the UAE, spread across the seven emirates.
IFZAInternational Free Zone Authority▸
Free zone headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis, generalist, oriented to consultancy, services and holdings. Modular component-based model: pay only for what you need. Up to 3 shareholders and 3 activities at no extra cost. The first employee visa is free for the life of the licence.
DMCCDubai Multi Commodities Centre▸
Premium Dubai free zone for trading, commodities and financial services. Benchmark share capital AED 50,000, mandatory annual audit even with no operations, and Flexi Desk as the office minimum (up to 3 visas, from AED 16,800/year).
RAKEZRas Al Khaimah Economic Zone▸
All-inclusive free zone in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Flexible structure for industry, consultancy and general trading. Up to 50 shareholders and 10 activities with unrestricted mixing. Licence, lease and visas come in one single annual package.
AEDUAE Dirham▸
Official currency of the United Arab Emirates. Fixed exchange rate against the US dollar: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (peg since 1997). Against the euro it floats with the market, around 1 EUR ≈ 4.17 AED in 2026.
Flexi Desk▸
Shared desk inside a free zone office. Satisfies the legal commercial address requirement at the lowest cost. Enables up to 3 visas per company. Included in IFZA and RAKEZ packages, billed separately in DMCC (AED 16,800/year).
Establishment Card▸
Government card required so a free zone company can apply for residence visas for its employees or shareholders. Annual renewal. IFZA: AED 2,200 · DMCC: AED 1,825 · RAKEZ: included in package.
Employee visa▸
UAE residence visa tied to an employment contract with the company. Renewal every 2 years with medical and Emirates ID. Requires entering the UAE at least every 6 months to remain valid.
Investor visa▸
Residence visa variant for shareholders or partners. Allows entering the UAE once every 12 months instead of every 6 months, ideal for founders living abroad. Available in IFZA only, with an additional cost of AED 1,000 every 2 years.
Status change▸
Additional fee when the visa is processed while the applicant is already inside the UAE on another status (tourist, other visa). Allows changing status without leaving the country. Cost: AED 1,600 in IFZA · AED 435 in DMCC · included in RAKEZ.
Medical + EID▸
Mandatory medical exam and Emirates ID issuance, required for every visa application or renewal. Part of the biennial residence cycle. IFZA: AED 900 per visa · DMCC: AED 980 · RAKEZ: included in package.
Emirates ID▸
UAE national ID. Essential to open a corporate bank account, rent accommodation, sign up for phone lines and public services. Issued after the medical and the residence visa stamping.
Corporate TaxCT▸
UAE federal corporate income tax of 9% on profits above AED 375,000. In force since June 2023. Qualifying free zones (QFZP) can maintain 0% on qualifying income.
QFZPQualifying Free Zone Person▸
UAE Corporate Tax regime that allows 0% taxation on qualifying income when the company meets economic substance, audited accounting and activity restriction requirements. Key to maintaining free zone tax advantages.
What founders ask us most
about the calculator.
What does the year 1 cost in the calculator include?
It includes one-time government setup, annual licence from the free zone, establishment card, commercial address (Flexi Desk in DMCC), visa fees, medical and Emirates ID, status change if applicable and optional investor visa.
Not included: LorcaBase professional fees, which are quoted separately after the initial consultation.
Why is the first visa free in IFZA but not in DMCC?
IFZA bundles the first employee visa government fee for the lifetime of the licence (typically for the founder or main shareholder). DMCC charges all visas at the standard rate (~AED 2,973 new, ~AED 2,790 renewal). It is a commercial difference between zones, not a tax matter.
When does the "status change" fee apply?
It applies when the new visa is processed while the applicant is already inside the UAE on another status (tourist, other visa). It allows status change without leaving the country.
Additional cost by zone: AED 1,600 in IFZA · AED 435 in DMCC. In RAKEZ it is included in the package.
What is the investor visa and when is it worth it?
It is a residence visa variant for shareholders or partners. It allows entering the UAE once every 12 months instead of every 6 months like employee visas.
Only worth it if you live abroad but want to keep an active UAE residence with minimal presence. In IFZA it adds AED 1,000 every 2 years.
Why does RAKEZ look so much cheaper than IFZA and DMCC?
RAKEZ offers an all-inclusive package that bundles most ancillary services (medical, EID, status change, e-channel, stamping) within the licence price.
In IFZA and DMCC those services are billed separately, which can make the headline price look lower while the total ends up similar or higher. That's why the calculator shows the real total, not the marketing figure.
Do these costs include LorcaBase fees?
No. The calculator only shows the official fees the company pays to the government and the free zone.
LorcaBase professional fees for setup, legal and tax advisory are quoted separately after the initial consultation. Book a consultation to receive a fixed quote.
What EUR/AED exchange rate do you use?
Live exchange rate via public currency-api. If the browser cannot reach it, a fallback of 1 AED ≈ 0.24 EUR is used. The selector indicates whether the rate is live or approximate.
USD uses the official peg: 1 USD = 3.67 AED.
Can I use this calculator from outside the UAE?
Yes. The calculator works from any location with internet access. The EUR/AED rate updates in real time.
For founders setting up while living abroad, see our dedicated guide with the tax implications.
The calculator guides,
the consultation decides
the optimal structure.
The final number depends on your activity, shareholder profile and visa plan. Book a consultation to receive a fixed quote and the specific zone recommendation for your project.
Book a consultation →Dubai Marina, UAE