Blog · Costs
Cost of Setting Up a Company in Dubai from India in 2026 (INR Breakdown)
“How much does it cost?” is the first question every Indian founder asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on four things. This 2026 breakdown shows what each part costs in AED and rupees, so you can build a realistic budget instead of trusting a single headline number.
The four things that drive your cost
- The free zone — low-cost emirates vs premium Dubai zones.
- Number of visas — the single biggest variable after the licence.
- Office type — a flexi-desk is cheap; a physical office costs far more.
- Your activity — some regulated activities carry extra approvals and fees.
Licence cost by tier (indicative, 2026)
Low-cost zones — from ~AED 5,500–9,000
SHAMS, RAKEZ, Ajman Free Zone, UAQ FTZ and SPC sit at the affordable end — roughly ₹1.3–2.1 lakh at current rates.
Dubai-address zones — from ~AED 12,500
IFZA and Meydan give you a Dubai licence at a sensible price — roughly ₹2.9 lakh and up before visas.
Premium zones — from ~AED 30,000+
DMCC, DIFC and ADGM are for trade prestige, finance and the strongest banking — from around ₹7 lakh upward.
Visas, office and the hidden costs
- Residence visa — roughly AED 3,500–5,500 each including medical and Emirates ID.
- Establishment card / immigration setup — a one-off fee in most zones.
- Office — a flexi-desk is often included; a physical office can add AED 9,000–22,000+.
- Bank account — usually free to open, but some banks require a minimum balance.
- Renewals — the licence and visas renew annually, so budget for year two.
The India-side cost most guides miss: TCS
When you remit money from India to fund your UAE setup, it falls under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), which allows up to USD 250,000 per person per financial year. Because funding a company is an investment remittance, it attracts 20% TCS on the amount above ₹10 lakh in a financial year (the reduced 2% rate in Budget 2026 applies only to education, medical and travel — not investment).
The important nuance: TCS is not an extra tax. It’s an advance tax that shows up in your Form 26AS and is adjusted against your income-tax liability — or refunded — when you file your return. It affects your cash flow, not your final cost. Since most setups cost well under ₹10 lakh, many founders never hit the TCS threshold at all.
Two example budgets
Solo consultant, 1 visa, flexi-desk
A low-cost or Dubai-entry zone with one visa typically lands around AED 16,000–28,000 all-in for year one — roughly ₹3.7–6.6 lakh.
Small trading company, 2–3 visas, physical office
A designated trading zone with a small office and a few visas runs higher — often AED 35,000–60,000+ for year one. Get a precise figure from the matcher.