The differences that matter are: who you can invoice, whether an audit is compulsory, how many visas the entry package carries, and whether a bank will take you seriously. Everything else is branding.
| JURISDICTION | TYPE | LICENCE YR 1 | RENEWAL YR 2 | VISA QUOTA | DESK NEEDED | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA | Free zone | AED 12,900 | AED 14,500 | 1 | Optional | No |
| Meydan | Free zone | AED 14,500 | AED 15,800 | 1 | Optional | No |
| DMCC | Free zone | AED 34,000 | AED 42,000 | 3 | Included | Yes |
| DIFC | Financial centre | AED 44,000 | AED 82,000 | 4 | Included | Yes |
| RAKEZ | Free zone | AED 9,500 | AED 11,000 | 1 | Optional | No |
| Mainland | Mainland | AED 15,500 | AED 26,000 | 3 | Compulsory | No |
Free zone and international. Mainland UAE only through a distributor or a branch.
BEST FOR
The cheapest credible licence with a visa quota, and the paperwork is genuinely fast.
THE CATCH
No physical desk is included at the entry price, so the 'address' is a service address. Some banks price that in.
Free zone and international. A Dubai address that reads well on an invoice.
BEST FOR
Fast, fully online, and the address sits inside Dubai proper rather than an outer zone.
THE CATCH
Renewal has moved upward two years running. Budget an increase rather than the current figure.
Free zone and international. Strong recognition with banks and with counterparties.
BEST FOR
The name opens a bank account. For a trading company with real counterparties, that alone can be worth the difference.
THE CATCH
Audited accounts are mandatory, a physical flexi-desk is compulsory, and it is roughly three times IFZA all-in.
Common-law jurisdiction with its own courts. Required for most regulated financial activity.
BEST FOR
English common law, its own court, and the only sensible answer if you need a regulated financial licence.
THE CATCH
Expensive, slow, and overkill for a consultancy. Most people who ask for DIFC do not need DIFC.
Free zone and international, from an emirate 45 minutes north of Dubai.
BEST FOR
The lowest total in this table by a clear margin, and the licence is legitimate everywhere in the UAE.
THE CATCH
It is not a Dubai address. Some Dubai banks and some clients treat that as a signal, fairly or not.
Anywhere in the UAE, including government contracts and direct retail, with no distributor.
BEST FOR
100% foreign ownership since 2021 on most activities, and you can invoice UAE clients directly.
THE CATCH
A real leased office with Ejari is compulsory. That single line is what makes mainland expensive, not the licence.
01 — JURISDICTION
02 — RESIDENCE VISAS
AED 6,020 per person in government fees, itemised on the costs page.
03 — PREMISES
04 — ALSO NEEDED
AED 6,020 per person, itemised on the costs page
Government lines are passed through at cost and never marked up. Ours are the two lines that say Tasees. Figures are indicative 2026 ranges for this demonstration and change with authority pricing — ask for a written quote before you budget on them.