The right structure, chosen for your customers.
Mainland, free zone or offshore is not a preference, it is a consequence. Where your buyers are, what you sell and how many people you need on visas decides it. We work that out first and quote second.
What each one actually gets you
Including the limitations. A consultant who only lists the benefits is selling, not advising.
Dubai Mainland
A DED licence that lets you trade anywhere in the UAE, open a shop or office, bid for government work and hire without free zone quota limits.
- Sell directly to UAE customers
- No visa quota ceiling
- Eligible for government tenders
- Ejari tenancy required
Free Zone
The fastest, lowest-cost route to a licence, residency and a bank account — provided your customers are mostly outside the UAE.
- Licence often issued in days
- Flexi-desk instead of an office
- 0% corporate tax possible on qualifying income
Offshore
An international holding vehicle for owning shares, property or IP. Not a trading licence, and it does not carry residency.
- Asset and share holding
- Confidentiality of ownership
- No UAE trading permitted
- No residence visa attached
There is no best package. There is only the one that fits you.
Every firm advertising a headline price is selling you the route that pays them most. Which of these three is right for you depends entirely on where your customers are and who you need on a visa. Answer six questions and we will tell you which, and what it costs.
UAE Free Zone
The fastest, cheapest legal route to a UAE trade licence and residency.
- Trade licence (1 year)
- 1 x residence visa allocation
- Fastest route to UAE residency
- Up to 5 business activities
- No physical office required
- Flexi-desk access
- Corporate bank account introduction
Dubai Free Zone
A Dubai-registered licence with the credibility clients and banks recognise.
- Dubai trade licence (1 year)
- 1 x residence visa allocation
- A Dubai address banks recognise
- Up to 3 business activities
- No physical office required
- Flexi-desk access
- Priority bank account introduction
Dubai Mainland
Trade anywhere in the UAE, sell to government, and hire without limits.
- DED mainland trade licence
- 1 x residence visa allocation
- No visa quota ceiling
- Full UAE market access
- Government and semi-government tenders
- Flexible office space options
- Priority fast-track available
We do not publish package prices, because a price without your circumstances attached is a number designed to get you on the phone. Your quote is built from your actual answers and you see it in minutes.
Build my personalised quote →
From first call to open bank account
Five stages. You always know which one you are in, and what we need from you next.
Tell us the plan
A 15-minute call about what you sell, where your customers are, and whether you need residency. No pitch.
We design the structure
The right jurisdiction and activity codes for your business, with the reasons written down so you can check them.
Licence issued
We prepare and file everything. Free zone licences typically land in days, mainland in one to three weeks.
Visa and Emirates ID
Entry permit, medical, biometrics and stamping handled end to end, for you and your family.
Bank account open
We match you to banks that actually accept your profile and prepare the file the way compliance wants to see it.
Business setup questions
What documents do I need to start?
For most free zone setups: a passport copy, a passport photo, and a completed application. Some jurisdictions also want a CV, proof of address or a bank reference. Mainland adds the tenancy contract and Ejari, and any external approvals your activity requires. If you are a corporate shareholder, expect attested company documents.
Do I need to be in Dubai to set up?
Not for the licence. Most free zone formations can be completed remotely with a signed application and passport copy. You do have to be physically present in the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics once your entry permit is issued.
How many business activities can I have on one licence?
It depends on the jurisdiction and whether the activities sit in the same group. Some free zones allow up to five related activities on a standard licence, others charge for each additional one. Mixing incompatible groups usually means a second licence, not a bigger one.
Can I change jurisdiction later?
You can, but it is a new formation rather than a transfer in most cases: new licence, new visas, new bank account, and a liquidation of the old entity. That is why we spend the first conversation on where your customers are.
What ongoing costs should I budget for?
Annual licence renewal, visa renewals every two to three years, corporate tax registration and filing, mandatory health insurance for visa holders, and accounting or bookkeeping. Free zones also charge for establishment card renewal.
Get your structure and your number in one go
Six questions, then an itemised quote built for your business and a call from Joule to walk you through it.
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