Dubai Business Setup Quote – What’s Included & How Pricing Works

Dubai Business Setup Quote – What’s Included & How Pricing Works (Complete 2026 Guide)

When you start researching how to open a business in Dubai, one of the first things you ask for is a “business setup quote.”

And immediately… the confusion begins.

Some companies quote AED 6,000
Others quote AED 12,500
Some say AED 18,000
Others say “starting from AED 5,999” but the final cost becomes AED 25,000+

So what’s real?
What’s inflated?
What’s included?
What’s missing?
And how exactly does business setup pricing actually work in Dubai?

The truth is this:

👉 The Dubai business setup quote you receive will determine whether you pay a fair price or get overcharged.
👉 But 90% of people don’t understand what a quote should include — and that’s why they get confused, misled, or oversold.

This guide will fix that permanently.

In the next 2,000+ words, you will learn:

• What a REAL Dubai business setup quote includes
• How pricing actually works
• Which fees are government costs (fixed)
• Which fees are consultant service charges (negotiable)
• How consultants hide fees
• How to compare quotes accurately
• How to know if you’re being overcharged
• How to avoid “package traps”
• The smartest way to evaluate ANY quote in 2026

And throughout this article, you’ll discover the ultimate resource that protects entrepreneurs from overpaying, from misinformation, and from costly mistakes:

📘 Dubai Business Setup Guide – 261 Pages (2026 Edition)
👉 https://dubaiuae.gumroad.com/l/DubaiBusinessSetupGuide

Plus: You get 7 powerful bonuses and FREE access to the Dubai Startups & Entrepreneurs Community.

Let’s begin.

⭐ Why Dubai Business Setup Quotes Are Often Confusing (and Sometimes Misleading)

If you’ve requested quotes from multiple setup companies, you’ve probably experienced something strange:

❌ Every quote looks different
❌ Every consultant says something different
❌ Every price structure uses different terminology
❌ Some quotes hide key fees
❌ Some inflate “government fees”
❌ Some give too little detail

There is a reason this happens:

👉 There is no standard template for Dubai business setup quotes.

Every consultant creates their own version — which means:

• You cannot compare them easily
• You do not know what’s missing
• You do not know what’s unnecessary
• You cannot tell what’s government vs service fees

This lack of transparency is why many entrepreneurs overpay.

The solution?

Understanding what MUST be included in a legitimate quote.

That’s what this guide covers in detail.

⭐ The Two Types of Fees in Every Dubai Business Setup Quote

Every quote is made of TWO categories:

1. GOVERNMENT FEES

These are fixed fees paid directly to:

• Free zone authorities
• Department of Economic Development (DED)
• Immigration & labor departments
• Federal authorities
• Regulatory bodies
• Visa authorities

Government fees are non-negotiable.

You cannot get a discount on government fees.
You cannot negotiate them.
No consultant has “special pricing” on them.

Any consultant who claims so is misleading you.

2. SERVICE FEES

These are the consultant’s charges for:

• Advisory
• Paperwork preparation
• Submission
• Coordination
• Bank support
• Office assistance
• Visa processing
• PRO services

Service fees ARE negotiable, and they vary widely.

Some firms charge AED 500.
Some charge AED 3,000.
Some charge AED 7,000+.

This is where most pricing confusion happens.

A proper quote must clearly separate:

• Government fees
• Consultant service fees

If a quote combines both into one number…
If it says “All-inclusive package” but no breakdown…
If it hides pricing in a bundle…

👉 That is a red flag.

⭐ What a Real Dubai Business Setup Quote Should Include (Full Breakdown)

This is the section most entrepreneurs NEVER see — and that’s why they overpay.

Here is the complete list of what a setup quote should clearly include:

✔ 1. Trade Name Reservation Fee

Every company must reserve a business name.

Included costs:

• Name approval
• Trade name reservation fee
• Extra charges for foreign names

✔ 2. Initial Approval Fee

This is the government approval to begin the licensing process.

It verifies:

• Your activity
• Your personal documents
• Your company structure

✔ 3. License Fee (The Biggest Government Cost)

This is the actual cost of your:

• Mainland license
• Free zone license
• Professional, commercial, industrial, or e-commerce license

License fees typically range:

• Free zone: AED 5,750 – AED 15,000
• Mainland: AED 10,000 – AED 18,000

This must be itemized.

✔ 4. Office / Flexi Desk / Ejari Fees

Many jurisdictions require:

• Office space
• Flexi desk
• Virtual office
• Ejari (mainland only)

Office fees must be clearly listed.

Some setup companies hide these fees — then surprise you later.

✔ 5. Establishment Card (Immigration Card)

Required for:

• Visa processing
• Immigration activity
• Hiring employees

Typical cost: AED 600 – AED 1,500

✔ 6. E-Channel Registration / Immigration File Setup

Some free zones include this.
Some charge extra.

Typical cost: AED 1,000 – AED 2,500

It must be labeled clearly.

✔ 7. Visa Fees (if applicable)

Every visa involves:

• Entry permit
• Change of status
• Medical test
• Emirates ID
• Visa stamping

Government visa cost: AED 3,500 – AED 5,000

Service fee must be separate.

✔ 8. Consultant Service Fee

This MUST be transparent.

Service fees cover:

• Advisory
• Paperwork
• Submissions
• PRO services
• Bank assistance
• Follow-up

Many consultants inflate this amount — which is why you must understand its true value.

✔ 9. External Approvals (if needed)

These vary depending on your activity.

For example:

• KHDA approval (education)
• DHA approval (healthcare)
• Dubai Municipality (food, beauty, fitness, etc.)
• Civil Defense (warehousing, industrial activities)

These fees MUST be listed separately.
Otherwise consultants may charge inflated amounts.

✔ 10. Renewal Fees (Often Hidden)

Many quotes hide renewal fees.

This is extremely dangerous.

Your renewal fee may be:

• Higher than the first-year cost
• Linked to visa allocations
• Required annually
• Paid to multiple departments

A proper quote must list:

• License renewal fee
• Office renewal fee
• Establishment card renewal
• Visa renewal fees

No entrepreneur should ever sign a setup package without knowing year-two cost.

⭐ Why Most Dubai Business Setup Quotes Look Cheaper Than They Really Are

Setup companies use marketing psychology to make their offer look attractive.

Here are the most common tricks:

❌ Trick 1 — Quoting the First-Year License Only

They hide:

• Establishment card
• Visa fees
• Office fees
• Renewal costs
• External approvals

The final invoice becomes double the quote.

❌ Trick 2 — “Package pricing” with no breakdown

This prevents you from:

• Comparing quotes
• Understanding real costs
• Identifying inflated fees

This is one of the biggest traps for beginners.

❌ Trick 3 — Advertising “Starting from AED XXX”

This usually refers to:

• A license with zero visa quota
• No office included
• Limited activities
• High renewal fees
• Extra charges for everything

These packages look cheap but become very expensive later.

❌ Trick 4 — Hiding renewal fees

A license may cost AED 6,000 in year one…
…but AED 14,000 in year two.

If you don’t ask, they won’t tell you.

❌ Trick 5 — Adding “mandatory fees” that are NOT mandatory

Examples:

• “Compliance fee”
• “Courier fee”
• “Document attestation fee”
• “PRO subscription”

These are usually inflated or unnecessary.

⭐ How Dubai Business Setup Pricing Actually Works (The Honest Formula)

Dubai setup pricing always follows this simple formula:

Total Setup Cost = Government Fees + Office Fees + Visa Fees + Consultant Service Fees

Let’s break it down:

✔ Government Fees (Fixed)

Paid directly to authorities.

✔ Office Fees (Variable)

Depends on:

• Free zone
• Mainland location
• Visa needs

✔ Visa Fees (Variable)

Depends on:

• Number of visas
• Medical test type
• Emirates ID type
• Residency duration

✔ Consultant Service Fees (Negotiable)

Depends on:

• Company reputation
• Level of support
• Banking assistance
• Application complexity

⭐ How to Compare Quotes Properly (The 5-Step Method)

Here is the exact comparison system used by experts:

✔ Step 1 — Create a table with four columns:

• Government Fee
• Office Fee
• Visa Fee
• Service Fee

Fill this for each quote you receive.

✔ Step 2 — Identify missing items

If something is missing in the quote, ask for it in writing.

✔ Step 3 — Identify inflated items

If any item looks unusually high, compare it with market ranges.

✔ Step 4 — Calculate YEAR TWO costs

This is where most entrepreneurs get shocked.

✔ Step 5 — Evaluate support level

A cheaper price does NOT mean better.

Consider:

• Support quality
• Banking success rate
• Visa processing speed
• Experience
• Transparency

⭐ The Smartest Thing You Can Do Before Requesting Any Quote

Learn the Dubai setup process FIRST.

When you understand:

• Mainland vs free zone
• Visa structures
• Office requirements
• Banking approval criteria
• Activities & restrictions
• Cost components
• Renewal fees
• Compliance rules

…no consultant will ever be able to mislead or overcharge you.

This is exactly why hundreds of entrepreneurs start with:

📘 Dubai Business Setup Guide – 261 Pages (2026 Edition)
👉 https://dubaiuae.gumroad.com/l/DubaiBusinessSetupGuide

Inside, you get:

✔ Full cost breakdowns

✔ Visa pricing tables

✔ Free zone comparison

✔ Mainland vs free zone decision guide

✔ Business activity cheatsheet

✔ Bank account approval strategies

✔ Renewal fee transparency

✔ Compliance checklists

✔ Step-by-step setup instructions

PLUS:

🎁 Dubai Business Setup Checklist
🎁 Mainland vs Free Zone Decision Guide
🎁 Licensing Cost Breakdown
🎁 Business Activity Selection Cheatsheet
🎁 Marketing Mastery Guide
🎁 Growth Strategies Guide
🎁 70+ Profitable Business Ideas for 2026

And…

🌟 Free access to the Dubai Startups & Entrepreneurs Community, built directly into Gumroad.

This alone makes your learning faster, easier, and far more interactive.

⭐ The Right Quote Saves Money. The Right Knowledge Builds Wealth.

Most entrepreneurs choose a setup company based on price.

But smart entrepreneurs choose based on:

• Transparency
• Accuracy
• Long-term cost
• Banking feasibility
• Business model alignment
• Visa strategy
• Growth potential

The RIGHT Dubai business setup quote tells you everything clearly.
The WRONG one hides everything that matters.

But once YOU understand how pricing works…
Once YOU know what's included…
Once YOU know how to evaluate a quote…

👉 You will never be overcharged again.
👉 You will always choose the right setup structure.
👉 You will save thousands in unnecessary fees.

It all begins with the right foundation — and the most complete foundation available today is:

📘 Dubai Business Setup Guide – Your Roadmap to Starting a Business in Dubai
👉 https://dubaiuae.gumroad.com/l/DubaiBusinessSetupGuide

If you’re serious about setting up your Dubai business correctly, affordably, and with full confidence…

This guide is your advantage.
Your protection.
Your roadmap.
Your shortcut to success.

Disclaimer: Regulations, procedures, and tax rules can change. This book provides general information and frameworks; always verify current requirements and seek professional advice for your specific situation.