Your UAE company, set up with both fees in writing.
I pick the structure with you, file everything, and show my fee and the government fee on separate lines.
Most people come to me after reading five websites that each quote a different number. The difference is usually what was left out. I start with what your business actually does, then show you the structure that fits and both fees, line by line.
Siraj IzharFounder. I reply to every message myself.- Mainland, free zone or offshore licence
- Establishment card and visa quota
- Bank introduction included
Who this is for
Which one sounds like you?
Most people who ask me about business setup are in one of these situations. Pick yours and the message is written for you.
- If you're
Founders moving to Dubai
You want a company, a residence visa and a bank account, and you want to know the full cost before you fly in.
That's me, message Siraj - If you're
Freelancers going formal
You already invoice clients abroad and need a licence so you can contract and get paid properly.
That's me, message Siraj - If you're
Owners adding a UAE entity
You run a business elsewhere and want a UAE company to hold, trade or hire from the region.
That's me, message Siraj
Your options
Three structures. Pick the one that fits.
Where you trade, who your clients are and whether you need an office decide the structure. I'll tell you which one fits before you pay anything.
My feeGovernment fee
01Mainland · DEDMainland company
Trade anywhere in the UAE, open a shop or office on the high street, and bid for government contracts.Full market accessGovernment clientsVisa quota by officeGovernment from AED 25,000 · My fee from AED 2,500See both fees for this setup
02Free zoneFree zone company
Full foreign ownership and a faster licence, set up inside one of 40+ zones such as IFZA, Meydan or DMCC.100% ownershipFast setupSector-specific zonesGovernment from AED 4,888 · My fee from AED 600See both fees for this setup
03OffshoreOffshore company
A holding structure for assets, IP and international trade. It cannot trade inside the UAE.Asset holdingInternational tradeNo office neededBoth fees quoted on requestSee both fees for this setupWhere your money goes
Two payments, never one bundled number.
You pay the authority directly, at the published rate, with receipts in your name. You pay me separately, a flat fee agreed before I start.
Example · IFZA free zone, 1 visa
TogetherAED 19,150
Payment oneTo the authority
Paid by you- Trade licenceIFZA, licence-only packageAED 12,900
- Residence visa1 person, entry permit to visa stampAED 3,750
Published rates. I never add to them or collect them for you.
Payment twoTo me
Flat, agreed first- Structure, filing and follow-upFlat, agreed before I startAED 2,500
- Bank introductionShortlist and meetingIncluded
One invoice from me. No markup, no commission, no surprises later.
An example to show how the two payments split. Your figure depends on your answers.
Two quotes, one job
Lay the two quotes side by side, and read the small print.
Both cover the same business setup work. Only one shows you where each dirham goes.
QuoteA typical agent
- Government feeFolded into one package price
- Service feeNot stated separately
- Licence activityPicked from a list
- ReceiptsIn the agent’s name, if any
- Extras after signingAdded as the file moves
- RenewalA new package price each year
TotalAEDNot itemised
Breakdown: not provided
QuoteSiraj Business Expert · Business setup
- Government feeShown at the published rate, paid to the authority in your name
- Service feeFlat, on its own line
- Licence activityMatched to what you sell, so the bank and customs accept it
- ReceiptsIssued to you by the authority
- Extras after signingListed before I start
- RenewalSame split, reminder 60 days ahead
My feefrom AED 600
Governmentfrom AED 4,888
Government receipt issued in your name
What I check first
Where these files usually get stuck, and how I stop it.
I go through these before anything is filed, so problems are fixed while they are still cheap.
“Most of these come from files people bring me after another agent. Each one is easy to avoid if someone checks first.”
- 01Where it goes wrongActivity picked from a list without checking what it allowsWhat I checkI match the activity wording to what you actually sell, so the bank and customs accept it later.
- 02Where it goes wrongCheapest zone chosen, then the visa quota is too smallWhat I checkI check how many visas you need in the next two years before recommending a zone.
- 03Where it goes wrongPackage price that leaves out the establishment card and visasWhat I checkEvery line is shown, including the ones a package price usually hides.
- 04Where it goes wrongBank account treated as an afterthoughtWhat I checkI check which banks accept your nationality and activity before the licence is issued.
What's covered
What I handle, and what I don't.
How it works
Five steps. In the order they happen.
You always know which part is yours and which part is mine.
Typically 3 to 5 days
- 01Free
Consultation
We work out the right structure for what you actually do, before any fee exists.
- 02Your choice
Jurisdiction
Mainland, free zone or offshore, with the cost difference shown side by side.
- 03My job
Documents filed
I handle verification, forms and follow-up with the authority.
- 04Your name
Licence issued
You remain the owner throughout. I never hold your documents.
- 05Same split
Visas and bank
Residence visas and the bank introduction, quoted the same way.
Documents you'll need
Get these ready and the file moves in days.
A general list. I confirm the exact set for your case before you start.
- 01Passport copyFor every shareholder and manager. At least 6 months validity.
- 02Passport photoWhite background, recent.
- 03Visa or entry stampOnly if you are already in the UAE.
- 04Three company namesIn order of preference. I check them against naming rules.
- 05Business activityWhat you sell or do, in a sentence or two.
- 06Corporate shareholder papersOnly if a company owns shares: incorporation certificate, MOA, board resolution, attested.
Questions
Asked before, by people in your position.
What does a Dubai trade licence actually cost?
It depends on the authority. Free zone licences start around AED 5,750 (SHAMS) and run to AED 20,000+ (DMCC); mainland is typically AED 14,000–16,000. That is the government fee, which you pay directly at the published rate. My fee sits beside it as a separate, agreed number.
Do I need to be in Dubai to set up?
For most free zones, no. The company can be formed entirely remotely. If you want a residence visa, you enter the UAE once for biometrics and the medical test. I schedule both into a single short visit.
Mainland or free zone: which do I need?
Mainland if your customers are inside the UAE or you want government contracts. Free zone if you sell internationally or online and want 100% ownership at the lowest cost. The calculator shows the cost difference for your case.
How long does it take?
Free zone licences are usually issued in 3–5 working days once documents are ready. Mainland takes 1–2 weeks because of extra approvals. Visas add 2–3 weeks after the licence.
What exactly is your fee for?
Structure advice, preparing and filing every form, chasing the authority until the licence is issued, coordinating translations and attestations, and the bank introduction. It is flat, agreed before we start, and it never includes a markup on any government fee.
Client words
Helping founders through the paperwork.
“He told me the government fee before I even asked. Nobody else did that.”
“One person answered every message, from first call to licence in hand.”
“The invoice matched the estimate to the dirham. That is why I refer him.”
“I compared four agencies. He was the only one who put both numbers in writing.”
“Licence, visa and bank account done while I was still abroad.”
“No surprise line items at the end. The final bill was the first quote.”
Get in touch
Tell me about your case. I'll reply with both fees.
A few lines is enough. I read every message myself.
- 01You get my fee and the government fee, in writing, on separate lines.
- 02Nothing is filed until you say go.
Prefer to chat? Message me on WhatsApp
Often needed alongside
Most people need two or three.
- 01 / LicensingTrade licence and renewalNew licences, renewals and amendments, filed and followed up until issued.From AED 1,000
- 02 / ResidencyGolden Visa and residencyLong-term residency for investors, founders and specialists, eligibility checked first.From AED 14,000
- 03 / BankingCorporate bank accountYour compliance file prepared and matched to banks that fit your profile.From AED 2,000
Rather talk it through
Still weighing it up? Message me on WhatsApp.
Tell me what you need and I'll reply personally with both fees and what happens next.