The real cost of a UAE company

No, and neither can anyone else. The bank's compliance department decides, independently of your company formation agent, based on your nationality, your source of funds, your business activity and your free zone. We can prepare the file properly, introduce you to banks that have historically accepted similar profiles, and tell you before you start whether your profile is likely to struggle. We will not imply a guarantee we cannot give, and we advise caution with any provider that promises a UAE bank account.

A free zone company is registered with one of the UAE's economic zones, allows 100% foreign ownership, can sponsor residence visas, and can obtain a tax residency certificate — but cannot sell directly into the UAE local market without a distributor or branch. A mainland company is licensed by the emirate's economic department, can trade anywhere in the UAE including government contracts, and now also allows full foreign ownership for most activities. An offshore company — RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore, Ajman Offshore — is a non-resident holding vehicle: no visas, no UAE trading, no tax residency certificate. If your goal involves residency or tax residence, offshore is not the right product, as it is not a route to either.

It depends on three choices: the free zone, the number of residence visas and the type of office. The packages above give the floor price of each configuration, calculated from the same data as the calculator: Licence only, without a visa; Licence and residence, with the establishment card, one visa and the Emirates ID. A second visa, a customs code or a physical office raise the figure. The calculator itemises every line for a given configuration, and the written quotation sets a firm price, fee by fee.

For the licence alone, often no — many free zones allow fully remote incorporation. For a residence visa, yes: the medical examination and Emirates ID biometrics must be done in person in the UAE. Most banks also now require an in-person meeting for account opening. In practice, if you want the visa and the bank account, budget for one trip of roughly five to ten days, and expect that it may not all complete in a single visit.