Set up your UAE company without the guesswork.
Tell us what you need. We show you every step, the documents to gather and what it costs before you commit.
- companies set up
- 2,400+
- average Google rating
- 4.9
- median time to licence
- 9 days
What do you need?
Free zone company setup
The steps
- Choose your activity and free zone
- Reserve the trade name
- Initial approval
- Flexi-desk or office lease
- Trade licence issued
Documents you’ll need
- Passport copy
- Passport photo
- Proof of address
- Short business plan
Trademark registration
The steps
- Availability search
- Choose the classes
- File with the Ministry of Economy
- Examination and publication
- Registration certificate
Documents you’ll need
- Logo file
- Trade licence copy
- Signed power of attorney
Investor and employee visas
The steps
- Entry permit
- Entry or change of status
- Medical test
- Emirates ID biometrics
- Visa issued
Documents you’ll need
- Passport
- Photo on white
- Trade licence
- Medical fitness result
Bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax
The steps
- Onboarding call
- Connect bank and invoices
- Monthly books closed
- VAT returns filed
- Corporate tax return
Documents you’ll need
- Trade licence
- Bank statements
- Sales and purchase invoices
Prices are typical starting points for 2026. Government fees vary by emirate, zone and activity.
Licences issued through 14 free zones, including
- Creekside Free Zone
- Falcon Tech Park
- Pearl Media City
- Oasis Trade Hub
- Dunes Logistics Zone
- Marina Innovation District
What we handle
One team for the licence, the visas, the brand and the books, so nothing falls between two firms.
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From AED 12,900
Company setup
Free zone, mainland or offshore, chosen for what you’ll actually sell and where.
- Free zone
- Mainland
- Offshore
- Branch offices
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From AED 4,200
Visas and Emirates ID
Investor, employee and family visas, booked and tracked for you.
- Investor
- Employee
- Family
- Golden visa
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From AED 6,500
Trademarks
Search, file and defend your brand with the Ministry of Economy.
- Search
- Filing
- Renewals
- Objections
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From AED 950 a month
Accounting and tax
Books closed every month, VAT and corporate tax filed on time.
- Bookkeeping
- VAT
- Corporate tax
- Audit support
How a setup runs
Most free zone companies go from first call to licence in under two weeks.
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Free consultation
We pick the right jurisdiction and activity with you, and send a written quote.
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Documents and name
You upload your papers once; we reserve the trade name and file for approval.
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Approvals
We follow up with the authority daily and tell you the moment anything is needed.
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Licence and visas
Your licence is issued and visa applications start the same day.
Mainland or free zone?
The short version. Your adviser walks through the details for your activity.
| Mainland Licensed by the emirate | Free zone Licensed by the zone authority | |
|---|---|---|
| Sell directly to UAE customers | Yes | Through a local distributor |
| Foreign ownership | 100% for most activities | 100% |
| Office required | A physical office | A flexi-desk is enough |
| Bid for government contracts | Yes | No |
| Typical setup time | 2–3 weeks | 5–10 working days |
| Starting cost | AED 16,500 | AED 12,900 |
Typical figures for 2026; rules and fees change by emirate, zone and activity.
Read the full guideEstimate your first-year cost
A rough range in seconds. We’ll confirm the exact figure, in writing, after a short call.
Estimated first-year cost
AED 16,700 – 22,600
Includes the licence, visas and government fees for the first year. Exact costs depend on your activity’s approvals.
Get an exact quoteDocuments to get ready
Tick them off as you go. Copies are fine to start; originals only for the bank.
0 of 9 ready
Tamam in numbers
- advisers on staff
- 38
- languages spoken
- 11
- offices, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- 2
- in business since
- 2015
What founders say
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They showed us the full cost on day one and it didn’t change. Licence in eight days.
Rania S.Founder, design studio · Google review
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Our adviser chased the visas so I didn’t have to. Every update came on WhatsApp before I asked.
Marco D.Director, logistics start-up · Google review
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Clear about mainland versus free zone, and honest that the cheaper option wouldn’t work for us.
Aisha K.Co-founder, e-commerce brand · Trustpilot
Common questions
Can I set up without being in the UAE?
Yes. Most free zones accept remote applications; you only need to visit for the visa medical and Emirates ID.
Do I need a local partner?
Not for most activities. Mainland companies can be 100% foreign-owned for over a thousand activities; we check yours on the first call.
What’s included in the price?
The licence, registration and our service fee. Visas, office space and activity approvals are listed separately in your written quote.
How long until I can open a bank account?
Usually two to four weeks after the licence. We prepare the file and introduce you to banks that take your activity.
Do you handle renewals?
Yes. We remind you sixty days ahead and renew the licence, visas and trademark for you.
Guides from our advisers
All guidesPlain answers to the questions founders ask us most.
-
UAE corporate tax: the basics for a small company
Who pays 9%, who pays nothing, what small business relief means, and the deadlines every company has to meet.
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Mainland or free zone? Five questions that decide it
The cheapest licence isn’t always the cheapest company. Five questions we ask every founder before recommending one.
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Who qualifies for the UAE golden visa?
The ten-year golden visa is open to more people than most expect. The main routes, the figures and what you get.
Talk to an adviser today
A free 20-minute call. You leave with the right jurisdiction, a timeline and a written quote.