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.

For a single-person service company with one residence visa and no physical office, a realistic all-in first year lands between roughly AED 20,000 and AED 35,000 depending on the free zone. Add a second visa, a customs code or a real office and it rises quickly. The figures advertised as 'from AED 5,750' are licence-only, exclude the establishment card, visa, medical, Emirates ID and corporate tax registration, so they are not the full price. Our calculator shows a range with every line itemised, including the ones most providers leave out until invoicing.

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.