Setting up a company in the UAE involves more decisions than most guides let on — mainland or free zone, which of the 40+ free zones, which licensed activity, what the real all-in cost looks like once visas and office space are added, and how long each step genuinely takes. Rather than piecing this together from scattered articles, this guide walks through every stage and links directly to a free calculator or checker for each one, so you can move from research straight to a real number.
Every Business Setup Tool in One Place
Below are all 10 business setup tools on the site, each solving one specific part of the bigger decision. Click through to any of them directly, or read on for guidance on which one to start with.
- Free Zone vs Mainland Tool — Answer 5 quick questions and get a live recommendation with cost comparison.
- PRO Services Cost Estimator — Retainer, pay-per-task or in-house PRO? See the cheapest model for your headcount.
- Business Setup Cost Calculator — Estimate licence, visa & office costs for your UAE company in seconds.
- Trade Licence Activity Finder — Find the right licensed business activity for what you actually plan to do.
- Formation Timeline Estimator — See how long each step of setting up your UAE company realistically takes.
- Business Setup Advisor — Answer 5 quick questions for a personalized jurisdiction, license, and structure recommendation.
- Free Zone Recommendation Engine — Already decided on a free zone? Find which specific one (DMCC, JAFZA, IFZA, RAKEZ) actually fits your business.
- Legal Document Assistant — Tell us your situation and find which legal document you need, plus its essential clause checklist.
- Business Name Generator — Enter a keyword and style to get instant name suggestions, plus the real UAE naming rules to follow.
- Startup Cost & Runway Planner — Not just setup cost — the real total capital you need, combining setup, business burn, and personal living costs.
How to Use This Guide
If you're just starting out, work through the list roughly top to bottom — each tool builds on the last, from the first big decision down to the specific number you'll need before signing anything. If you already know exactly which question you need answered, jump straight to that calculator; each one takes under a minute and needs no sign-up.
How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Situation
Not everyone needs every tool on this list. If you're early in the process and still weighing broad options, start with whichever tool frames the big decision rather than a specific number — that's usually the first one or two listed above. If you already know your general direction and just need a hard figure to plan around or take into a conversation with an agent, bank or authority, go straight to the calculator that matches that specific cost or eligibility question.
Why These Numbers Are Worth Checking Yourself
Formation agents, brokers and banks all have an interest in the number they quote you, which is exactly why it helps to have your own independent estimate first. None of these tools replace professional advice for anything with legal or financial consequences, but they do mean you walk into that conversation already knowing what a reasonable figure looks like — and able to spot a quote that's out of line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the result from this tool a legally binding quote?
No — it's an estimate based on current published fees and rules, meant to help you compare options before speaking with a formation agent or the relevant free zone authority, who will confirm the final figure.
Does the estimate include visa costs?
Where relevant, the tool separates licence-related costs from visa costs so you can see each figure clearly, since visa allocation and cost depend on your headcount and structure.
How often are the fees updated?
Fee data is reviewed against current free zone and mainland authority publications, but always double-check with the issuing authority before making a final payment.
Can I compare more than one jurisdiction at once?
Run the tool once per jurisdiction or free zone you're considering — each run takes seconds, so comparing three or four options side by side only takes a couple of minutes.
Do I need to create an account to use it?
No — the tool is free to use with no sign-up required, and nothing you enter is saved after you close the page.
Company formation isn't a single decision — it's a sequence of them, and getting each one right compounds into meaningfully lower costs and fewer surprises down the line. Work through the tools above in order, and you'll walk into your first conversation with a formation agent already knowing what a fair quote looks like.