Work independently
Freelance Permit
- Remote application available
- UAE residence visa option where eligible
- Profession and activity eligibility reviewed
Compare freelance, free zone, mainland, and offshore routes by how you plan to work, trade, and live in the UAE.
Pick the outcome you need. Zenesis will confirm the licence, authority, and full cost before filing.
Start with what you need the licence to do.
Work independently
Start a company without a visa
Start a company and get UAE residency
Trade directly across the UAE
Choose the registry based on where the structure will be used.
Use a UAE offshore registry
Use an international registry
Starting prices are indicative. Your confirmed quote will reflect the jurisdiction, business activity, visa requirements, government fees, office package, approvals, and the exact sequence needed for your setup.
Your final quote depends on the jurisdiction, activity, visas, premises, banking preparation, and work required after setup.
Mainland, free zone, and offshore routes have different authority fees, license rules, office requirements, and renewal costs.
Regulated, professional, trading, consultancy, e-commerce, and industrial activities can need different approvals or documentation.
A no-visa setup is usually leaner. Founder, employee, and family visa planning changes cost, timing, and document requirements.
Virtual office, flexi-desk, dedicated office, warehouse, and mainland Ejari requirements can change the real first-year budget.
Bank account applications require company and shareholder KYC, a business profile, source-of-funds evidence, and information about the licensed activity and expected transactions.
Corporate tax, VAT, bookkeeping, renewals, amendments, and records should be planned before they become urgent follow-up work.
Quotes vary because business activity, approvals, visa needs, office requirements, and post-setup compliance differ by founder. A low starting price can be useful for comparison, but the suitable structure is the one that still works once licensing, banking, and post-setup obligations begin.

Compare market access, office requirements, visas, and costs for mainland and free zone companies.

UAE offshore from AED 7,500
Compare Ajman, RAK, and Jebel Ali offshore routes from AED 7,500 to AED 15,000, and international options such as BVI, Nevis, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Hong Kong from AED 8,000 to AED 15,000.
Answers about setup routes, starting prices, visas, and applying from outside the UAE.
Zenesis business setup consultancy prices start from AED 4,000 for freelance permits, AED 7,000 for free zone company setup without visa, AED 15,000 for free zone company setup with visa, AED 10,000 for mainland company setup, AED 7,500 to AED 15,000 for UAE offshore company setup, and AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 for international offshore company setup. Final pricing depends on jurisdiction, business activity, visa requirements, government fees, office package, and approvals.
Zenesis free zone company setup starts from AED 7,000 without a visa and AED 15,000 when the founder needs both a registered company and a UAE residence visa. The final cost depends on the selected free zone, activity, visa requirement, office package, government fees, and approvals.
Zenesis mainland company setup starts from AED 10,000. Mainland is often considered when the business will operate directly across the UAE, needs local premises, plans to pursue local contracts, or carries out an activity that requires mainland licensing. The final cost depends on the activity, licence requirements, government fees, approvals, office needs, and visa planning.
Zenesis freelance permit support starts from AED 4,000. Eligible applicants can apply remotely from outside the UAE for a freelance permit and, where the selected route allows it, a linked UAE residence visa. The final cost depends on the profession, activity, authority requirements, visa choice, and approvals.
Yes. Eligible applicants can apply remotely from outside the UAE for a freelance permit and, where the selected route allows it, a linked UAE residence visa. Eligibility depends on the profession, approved activity, documents, authority rules, and visa requirements.
Zenesis UAE offshore company setup for Ajman, RAK, and Jebel Ali routes starts from AED 7,500 to AED 15,000 and suits founders who want a UAE registry for an eligible holding, ownership, or international use. International offshore setup for BVI, Nevis, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Hong Kong starts from AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 and uses a non-UAE registry for suitable cross-border ownership, assets, or business. The confirmed quote depends on the jurisdiction, intended use, registered agent, documentation, compliance, and renewal requirements.
Starting prices are indicative. Your confirmed quote will reflect the jurisdiction, business activity, visa requirements, government fees, office package, approvals, and the exact sequence needed for your setup.
It depends on whether you need a registered company or a permit to work independently. The cheapest option overall is the Freelance Permit, starting from AED 4,000. Eligible applicants can apply remotely from outside the UAE and may add a linked residence visa where the selected route allows it. A freelance permit is not a registered company. If you need a company, Zenesis Free Zone Company Setup without a visa starts from AED 7,000. The final cost depends on the selected free zone, activity, office or flexi-desk package, government fees, approvals, and any additional visa or banking support required.
A free zone setup can be cheaper for founders who do not need direct mainland operating access, especially when no initial visa is required. Mainland setup can cost more when office, approvals, and visa planning are included, but it may be the better route for local UAE market access.
Published figures are starting prices, not universal authority quotes. Final cost depends on activity, jurisdiction, approvals, visas, office needs, government fees, and selected support.
Zenesis starting prices and sources checked October 4, 2026