Business setup company in Dubai, done right.
Establish your company in the UAE within 3 days, starting from AED 7,000. We pick the right route, structure the ownership, and issue your trade licence, handled by UAE legal advisors with 17 years in the market.
- Trusted since 2008
- Licence in 3 days
- No hidden fees
Free 30-min consultation
What happens on your call
- 1Pick a slotChoose a time that fits. Instantly confirmed.
- 2Meet an advisorNot a sales rep. A real legal advisor reviews your case.
- 3Leave with a planThe right licence, a clear price, and next steps.
Free · No obligation · Confidential
Setting up in both the mainland and UAE free zones
- Dubai DED
- DMCC
- IFZA
- JAFZA
- Dubai South
- MOHRE
From enquiry to licence
Four steps. One named advisor. No guesswork.
- 01ConsultationA 30-minute call to map your activity, ownership and budget, and choose the right route: mainland or free zone.
- 02Fixed quoteA written proposal with the full fee breakdown and timeline. Nothing starts without your sign-off.
- 03Legal filingWe draft the MOA and shareholder documents, then file for approvals on your behalf.
- 04Licence & bankingLicence issued, establishment card set up, bank intro arranged, visas on request.
How fast you'll be trading
Realistic working-day timelines from the day you sign. They depend on the route and how quickly your documents come back.
- 01ConsultationSame day
- 02Fixed quote1 working day
- 03Legal filingDays 1 and 2
- 04Trade licence issuedWithin 3 working days
- 05Visa & bank accountTimeline confirmed in your quote
Book in 60 seconds
Skip the setup headache. Pick a slot, meet an advisor, leave with a plan.
30 minutes, free, no obligation. Choose a time that fits your calendar and a Halston advisor confirms it instantly.
Business setup company in Dubai: cost, with nothing hidden
Clear starting prices for a standard company formation. Anything outside the package is quoted separately, at actual cost, in writing.
Business setup from
- UAE free zone
5,500 - Dubai free zone7,000
Starting price for a standard activity. Any government or free zone fees outside the package are billed at cost, with no markup.
Book to get my quoteEvery setup includes
- Route & activity selection
- Trade name reservation
- MOA drafted by our legal team
- Shareholder & ownership review
- Initial & government approvals
- Trade licence issuance
- Establishment card
- Bank account introduction
Add on when you need it: investor & staff visas, flexi-desk or office, corporate tax & VAT, accounting, ongoing legal & PRO retainer.
Pick your route
There are two ways to set up a company in Dubai, and each suits a different kind of business. Click through to learn more, or book a consultation and we'll decide together.
5,500100% foreign ownership, a faster and simpler setup, and a lower starting cost. Ideal for international trade and remote work.See Free Zone company formationFor local trade & government contractsMainlandFrom16,000Trade directly with the UAE market, 100% ownership where eligible, and offices anywhere in the emirate.See Mainland company formationHow to decide
Mainland wins when you sell to the local UAE market or the government. Free zone wins for export and remote services. Here's the honest split.
Choose mainland if
- You sell directly to UAE customers or retail
- You want government & public-sector contracts
- You need offices or branches anywhere in the emirate
- You plan a larger team and more visas
A free zone may fit better if
- You mainly export or serve clients abroad
- You work remotely with a lean setup
- You want the lowest-cost entry point
- You're holding assets or IP
Doing both? Many businesses run a mainland licence for local trade and a free zone entity for international work. We structure the dual setup so the two work together.
A legal advisor, not a licence agent
Most setup firms sell the licence and leave. Halston is a UAE legal consultancy, which means your route, ownership structure and shareholder terms are reviewed by our legal advisors before anything is filed, whether with the DED or a free zone authority.
17 years of UAE legal practice
We know how the DED and the free zones work, which activities allow full foreign ownership, and where founders usually go wrong.
Legal review built in
MOA, shareholder agreements and ownership structure drafted by our legal advisors, not pulled from a template.
One point of contact
A named advisor handles your file end to end, in English and Arabic.
Confidential by default
Your documents and plans are held under legal confidentiality from the first call.
After the licence
Visa, PRO, bank intro, tax registration, and ongoing legal retainer available under one roof.
Questions founders ask
Common questions on business setup company in Dubai: route, cost, timelines and ownership.
How much does it cost to set up a business in Dubai?
Company setup starts from AED 5,500 in a UAE free zone and AED 7,000 in a Dubai free zone. The final cost depends on your route, activity, visa quota and office. We quote the licence fee, government or free zone costs, and our legal fee as separate lines before any work starts.
What is the difference between mainland and free zone company formation?
A mainland company is licensed by the emirate's Department of Economy and can trade directly across the UAE market and take government contracts. A free zone company is licensed by the zone authority itself, with 100% foreign ownership, and suits export and international services best.
How long does business setup in Dubai take?
Your trade licence can be issued within 3 working days of your signed quote, provided your documents are ready. Visa processing timelines are confirmed in your written quote.
I don't know which route is right for my business. What should I do?
That is exactly what the first consultation is for. We review your activity, your customers and your growth plans, and recommend mainland, free zone, or a dual structure using both.
Still on the fence?
If any of these are the reason you haven't set up yet, book a 30-minute consultation. No fee, no obligation.
Ready to set up your company in Dubai?
Request a free consultation and we'll confirm your ownership, legal form and licence, with a written quote on your first call.