Dubai Business Licence: Real Fee Example & Calculator

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MDT News Desk September 6, 2026Updated on October 11, 2026

Estimate Your Dubai Business Licence Fees Before You Spend a Dirham

Setting up a company in Dubai comes with upfront costs, but you do not have to guess what your trade licence will run you. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) offers a free online tool on its Invest in Dubai portal that calculates your estimated licence fees before you sign a commercial lease or file paperwork.

How office rent impacts your total licence price

The calculator tailors its estimates based on your planned business activity, legal structure, and partner details. If your business activity requires physical office space on the Dubai mainland, the system factors 5 per cent of your annual rent into the final licence cost.

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For example, an expatriate starting a sole establishment for Advertisement Designing and Producing on the mainland with a Business Bay office renting for about Dh140,000 a year can expect an estimated business licence fee of around Dh15,000, though the actual amount may vary. If you opt for a virtual licence that does not require physical premises, the 5 per cent rent calculation does not apply.

Every estimate generated by the tool covers a licence validity period of one year. You’ll pay the same amount upon annual renewal, subject to whatever official fees and requirements apply at the time of renewal.

What the licence estimate covers and what to budget separately

Treat the tool’s figure as a baseline for licensing alone rather than a total startup budget. Setting up an operating company also means budgeting for residence visa fees, your office rent beyond the 5 per cent calculation, utility registration, and routine operating expenses.

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Steps to estimate your licence cost online

Visit the Invest in Dubai portal at www.investindubai.gov.ae and select ‘Cost Calculator’.
Choose your business activity to view the licensing options available under DET.
Enter partner details, including the number of partners and their citizenship status (UAE national, GCC national, or expatriate).
Select your preferred legal structure, such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) or a Sole Establishment.
Enter your estimated annual office rent if prompted, then click ‘Calculate Fees’ to see your projected one-year cost.

For the three cost factors DET uses and another walkthrough, see our Dubai Business Licence Cost guide.

💡 Quick FAQ & IntelligenceTap to Expand

Q: Does the Invest in Dubai cost calculator include employee visa fees?

No. The calculator estimates the business licence fee itself. Visa processing, commercial rent, utilities, and daily operational expenses must be budgeted separately.

Q: How does annual office rent change the Dubai licence cost?

For business activities requiring physical space, 5 per cent of your annual rent is factored into the licence fee. Virtual licences that do not require physical premises skip this rent calculation.

Q: How long is the estimated Dubai business licence valid?

The licence cost shown by the calculator covers one year. The same amount is payable on annual renewal, subject to the fees in force at the time.