Business Setup in Dubai & the UAE, Start, License & Grow Your Company
Bizstart handles your company formation end-to-end, free zone, mainland, licenses, visas, and everything after. Transparent pricing, one dedicated consultant.
- 100% foreign ownership
- License in 1–7 days
- From AED 5,750 govt fees
- 0% tax below AED 375k
Get Your Free Setup Plan
What Does Bizstart Do for a UAE Company?
Bizstart is a UAE business setup consultancy that manages the complete lifecycle of your company, not only the day of registration. Bizstart forms companies across all 7 emirates and every jurisdiction, then keeps them compliant long after the license is issued.
Continuity sets Bizstart apart: one dedicated consultant who knows the file handles every later stage, including the renew, convert and close stages and the corporate tax and banking work that follow setup.
- All 7 emirates, every free zone
- Mainland, free zone & offshore
- Trade licensing & activity approvals
- Residence visas & Emirates ID
- Corporate tax, VAT & accounting
- PRO services & business banking
Start to close, one team
Why Do Founders Set Up in Dubai?
Dubai pairs 100% foreign ownership with 0% personal income tax and a location within an 8-hour flight of Europe, Asia and Africa.
What Are the 3 Routes to a UAE Company?
Bizstart sets up all three UAE jurisdictions and advises which fits your 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 license to trade directly across the UAE mainland, take government contracts and open unlimited locations.
- LLC company formation →
- Professional license →
- Foreign branch →
Offshore Setup
An offshore company to hold assets, own shares and trade internationally, without UAE residence visas or a physical office.
- RAK ICC offshore →
- Ajman offshore →
- Holding structures →
How Long Does a UAE Company Setup Take?
A free zone company is licensed in 1 to 7 working days, and a full setup with a residence visa and a bank account takes about 4 to 8 weeks. The ranges below are typical for a complete file.
Free zone license
1 to 7 working days after a complete application, and 3 to 7 working days in IFZA.
Mainland license
1 to 5 working days once the trade name, approvals and Ejari office lease are in place.
Residence visa
About 2 to 3 weeks per person, including the entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID.
Corporate bank account
2 to 6 weeks after the license and Emirates ID, depending on the bank and the file.
Full setup
About 4 to 8 weeks from the first call to a working bank account, with one consultant throughout.
Each step is set out in the UAE company formation process guide.
Which Business Setup Services Does Bizstart Offer?
Bizstart covers every service to start a company and keep it running, with one team across the full lifecycle.
Free zone, mainland or offshore, from choosing your activity to the trade license in your hand.
Learn more →Commercial, professional, industrial, e-commerce and general trading.
Learn more →Investor, employee, family and golden visas, medical and biometrics.
Learn more →Approvals, attestations and government-counter paperwork, done for you.
Learn more →A compliance-ready file for traditional and digital UAE banks.
Learn more →FTA registration and filing, including the 0% qualifying free-zone rules.
Learn more →Bookkeeping, VAT returns and audit-ready records from day one.
Learn more →Renewals, activity changes, share transfers, conversions and closures.
Learn more →ESR and UBO filings plus every corporate-tax deadline, tracked for you.
Learn more →MoA drafting, shareholder agreements, contracts, notarization and attestation.
Learn more →Brand, logo and trademark registration to protect your business across the UAE and GCC.
Learn more →Eligibility checks and applications for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa for investors and talent.
Learn more →How Much Does Business Setup Cost?
Each route starts at the government fees listed below, before the activity, visas and office are added. Government fees appear separately from the Bizstart service fee.
Free Zone
100% ownership · flexi-desk · lowest entry cost.
- 100% foreign ownership, always
- Flexi-desk accepted, no office needed
- 0 to 5+ visa packages
- Licensed in 1–7 working days
Mainland
Full UAE market access · government contracts.
- Trade anywhere in the UAE
- Ejari-registered office required
- Visas scale with office size
- Licensed in 1–5 working days
Offshore
Holding & asset structures · no UAE trade.
- International structuring only
- Hold assets, shares & IP
- No residence visas
- RAK ICC / JAFZA Offshore
Your exact quote depends on your activity, number of visas, and office type. Bizstart calculates it free, with the service fee always shown separately. See the full cost breakdown →
How Does Business Setup Work in the UAE?
Which Emirate Suits Your Business Setup?
From Abu Dhabi in the west to Fujairah on the east coast, Bizstart licenses and supports companies in all 7 emirates. Dubai for market access; the Northern Emirates to cut your setup cost.
Dubai
The UAE's commercial hub, the widest free-zone choice and the address most founders want, where the majority of Bizstart setups happen.
Abu Dhabi
Government, industry and energy.Sharjah
Low-cost zones near Dubai.Ras Al Khaimah
Balanced cost and flexibility.Ajman
Lowest license costs.Fujairah
East-coast port access.Umm Al Quwain
Lean, remote-run companies.Which UAE Free Zone Should You Choose?
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 exchanges, vaults and a large trading community.
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 →Which Sectors Does Bizstart Set Up?
Bizstart sets up companies across the eight sectors that file most often in the UAE, each with its own activity codes and approvals.
Why Do Founders Choose Bizstart?
Transparent pricing
Government fees shown separately, no surprises.
Full lifecycle
Renew, amend, convert and close, well beyond setup.
Authority relationships
Registered agent across 5 major free zones.
Fast turnaround
Free zone licenses in 1–7 days.
One consultant
A single expert, first call to bank account.
Partners & Credentials
Official Partner
Registered Agent
Registered Agent
Registered Agent
Registered AgentFree Guide: UAE Business Setup 2026
Costs, zones, visas and the full process, in one PDF, updated for 2026.
Latest Business Setup Guides
What to Know Before Starting a Business in the UAE
Free Zone vs Mainland: Which Should You Choose?
Business Setup Cost in the UAE: Full Breakdown
UAE Business Visas: Investor, Employee & Golden
Corporate Tax for Free Zone Companies, Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start a business in Dubai?
A free zone company starts from roughly AED 8,600 all-in for a 0-visa package; a Dubai mainland setup starts from about AED 25,000 for a zero-visa license, and with office and one visa typically begins around AED 40,000.
Government license fees are AED 5,750–13,900 for free zones and AED 10,000–25,000 for mainland. Your final cost depends on activity, number of visas, and office type. Bizstart shows government fees separately from the service fee, and the cost calculator gives an exact figure.
How long does business setup take?
A free zone company is typically licensed in 1–7 working days; a mainland company takes 1–5 working days.
Residence visas take about 2 to 3 weeks per person after the license is issued, including the medical test and Emirates ID. Activities needing external approvals (health, food, education) or attested foreign documents can add time.
Can foreigners own 100% of a UAE company?
Yes, foreigners can own 100% of UAE mainland and free zone companies in most activities.
The 2021 ownership reform removed the old 51% local-partner rule for most mainland activities; free zones have always allowed full ownership. Only a short strategic-impact list still requires an Emirati partner.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up?
Not for most free zone setups, licensing can be completed remotely with attested documents, and your visa follows on your first visit.
You typically enter the UAE once for your visa medical and Emirates ID. Mainland setups more often need one in-person step, which a power of attorney can usually cover.
Free zone or mainland, which is cheaper?
A free zone is cheaper to enter, from about AED 8,600 all-in against AED 40,000 or more for mainland, mainly because free zones accept a flexi-desk while mainland requires a physical office.
Mainland is worth the higher cost for companies that trade directly with the UAE local market or bid for government contracts.
What documents do I need?
The core set is passport copies of all shareholders, a visa or entry-stamp copy for shareholders in the UAE, the MOA and the application forms.
An NOC applies when a shareholder holds a UAE employment visa, and mainland companies add an Ejari tenancy contract. Corporate shareholders add attested company documents.
Do you handle visas and bank accounts too?
Yes, Bizstart handles the full journey: license, residence visas, Emirates ID, PRO work, corporate tax registration and business bank account assistance.
One dedicated consultant manages your file from the first call through to a working bank account, so you deal with a single point of contact.
What happens after my license is issued?
After licensing, you apply for residence visas and Emirates ID, open a business bank account, and register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority.
Bizstart stays on for the ongoing lifecycle: annual renewals, amendments, visa additions and closure when the company ends.
Start Your UAE Business Today
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