HIGHLIGHTS
- DMCC setup runs two cost models: fixed-price packages at AED 35,484–49,941 (shared workspace, up to 3 visas) or AED 34,185 base fees plus market rent (private JLT office, 1 visa per 9 sqm).
- Cheapest entry: Crypto, Gaming and AI Centre packages at AED 31,000, but only for specific activity groups.
- Year-2 renewal at standard rates is AED 38,000–41,000. Compare the full 3-year cost, not just the first-year package price.
- While DMCC is a premium free zone, this doesn't guarantee bank approval, as it depends on the client's profile, not the free zone or license.
There are two ways to set up in DMCC, with two different cost models. Shared-workspace packages come at a fixed price: AED 35,484 with no visa (DMCC Basic Biz) to AED 43,780 with one visa (DMCC Jumpstart). The physical-office route has no single price tag: AED 34,185 in DMCC base fees plus a market rent set by your landlord. All figures below are first-party from DMCC's published Schedule of Charges and Free Zone brochure, not agent estimates.
| Route | First-year price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Route 1 · Packages · Fixed price | AED 35,484–49,941 | Shared workspace — flexi desk or co-working. Fixed packages, up to 3 visas. |
| Route 2 · Office · Fees + rent | AED 34,185 + rent | Physical office in JLT, market lease. Visa quota scales: 1 per 9 sqm. |
How much does DMCC company setup cost in 2026?
A DMCC setup with one visa costs AED 43,780 (DMCC Jumpstart, flexi desk) in year one. That's the package price — the same components bought itemised would cost AED 56,748, which is the DMCC published original cost. The medical test and Emirates ID are never part of any package, as they stack on top per person (see "What stacks on top").
Route 1 — shared-workspace packages: fixed price
Every package below is a sealed bundle with a fixed first-year total — the cheapest entry is AED 35,484 (DMCC Basic Biz, no visa). The struck price next to each package is DMCC's published original cost: what the same components would cost itemised.
| Package | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | Visa quota | Visa fees included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC Basic Biz — Special Flexi Desk (1-visa) | 35,484 | — | — | up to 1 | — |
| DMCC Jumpstart — Standard Flexi Desk (3-visa) | 43,780 | 81,881 | 120,000 | up to 3 | 1 visa |
| DMCC Jumpstart+ — Co-working desk, Time Share (3-visa) | 49,941 | — | — | up to 3 | 1 visa |
A package price is not the sum of itemised charges — it carries a built-in discount. What stacks on top of any package: per-person visa, medical and Emirates ID costs, and the parked share capital (both covered in "What stacks on top" below).
Need help comparing the numbers? The cheapest first-year package is not always the cheapest option over three years. We can help calculate the total setup and renewal costs based on your business activity, office requirements and visa plans.
Get your DMCC cost breakdownCrypto, Gaming and AI Centre packages
DMCC's sector packages are the cheapest way in — AED 31,000 in year one, below Basic Biz, with a discounted second-year renewal under each centre's terms. The catch is that they're activity-restricted. The fit depends on what your license will actually say, not on what your pitch deck says.
| Package | 1 year | Renewal year 2 | Visa quota | Visa fees included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC Crypto Centre — Co-working desk (Cluster O, JLT) | 31,000 | −50% on renewal fees (amount being verified with DMCC) | — | — |
| DMCC Gaming Centre — Centre co-working | 31,000 | −50% on renewal fees (amount being verified with DMCC) | — | — |
| DMCC AI Centre — Centre co-working | 31,000 | −50% on renewal fees (amount being verified with DMCC) | — | — |
Who actually qualifies for the Crypto Centre package
The license must carry one of six activity codes: Distributed Ledger Technology Services (7229-99), Proprietary Trading in Crypto-commodities (6599-92), Software House (7229-01), Metaverse Service Provider (7229-98), NFTs E-marketplace (7229-97), or Proprietary Crypto Mining (6599-90). Notice what's not on the list: exchanges, brokerage, custody — anything touching client money. The package covers proprietary and technology activities; client-facing virtual-asset services are an entirely different regulatory conversation.
You can learn more about crypto-related businesses from our Dubai crypto license guide.
Route 2 — physical office: base fees plus market rent
The moment you need more than three visas or actual operating premises, you lease a private office in JLT. DMCC's own fees stay fixed — the rent is the one line on the bill that DMCC doesn't set:
| Component | AED | When |
|---|---|---|
| Application | 1,035 | one-time |
| Registration | 9,020 | one-time |
| Articles of Association | 2,020 | one-time |
| License (trading/service, new) | 20,285 | year 1 |
| Establishment card (new) | 1,825 | year 1 |
| Total base fees | 34,185 | |
| Office rent — JLT, private landlord | 121–148 sq ft/yr | annual · market-set |
| Setup total | 34,185 + rent |
How much is the rent? That depends on the market, not on DMCC
The rent is a lease you negotiate with a private owner in JLT. As of 10/06/2026, the Dubai Land Department Rental Index puts JLT office rents at AED 121–148 per sq ft a year. In our experience, small units typically land at AED 70,000–130,000 a year, depending on the tower, size, and fit-out. You should budget a security deposit of 5–10% of the lease — and pin the exact number only against a specific unit.
If you need 4–5 visas but not your own premises, there's a middle step: DMCC's own serviced offices, from AED 35,000 a year. In addition, what a private office buys you is visa headroom: DMCC grants one visa per 9 sqm, so the quota grows with your floor plan instead of stopping at three.
DMCC Prime Plus — the packaged alternative on this route
DMCC Prime Plus is the packaged alternative to paying the base fees itemised: AED 40,145 46,105 (3-year 78,100 95,014) for license and setup only — no workspace included — plus fast-track processing, provisional approval extended to 180 days, free addition of shareholders, directors, and activities for 3 months, a 20% discount on additional activities, a guaranteed price freeze on license renewal, and free assistance with bank-account opening.
On that last point: DMCC's wording is "complimentary bank account opening" — in practice, this is free help with the application; approval is always the bank's decision made on your profile, not on the free zone.
Which route fits?
The decision rule is a visa-and-premises threshold:
If: up to 3 visas, no operating premises → Route 1, shared workspace. Fixed price AED 35,484–49,941.
If: more than 3 visas, or real premises → Route 2, physical office. AED 34,185 base fees + market rent, 1 visa per 9 sqm. For 4–5 visas, DMCC serviced offices from AED 35,000/yr are the middle step.
If you're between the two, price both at the 3-year horizon, not year one — Route 1's renewal runs AED 38,000–41,000 a year at standard rates (see the "What does year 2 cost?" section).
If you're still comparing jurisdictions, visa options, and legal structures, start with our UAE business setup guide before choosing a specific free zone.
What are the company formation process steps at DMCC?
The setup process follows the same structure regardless of whether you choose a package or a private office. First, you select your business activity, license category and legal structure. DMCC then reviews the application, issues the incorporation documents and registers the company.
Once the establishment card and visa quota are available, eligible shareholders and employees can proceed with residence visa formalities, including the medical fitness test and Emirates ID. The final step is opening a corporate bank account and activating business operations.
You do not need to be physically present in Dubai for every stage of the process, although visa-related procedures require an in-country visit.
What licenses and business activities does DMCC offer?
DMCC offers more than 1,000 approved business activities across 20 sectors, including trading, consulting, technology, AI, commodities, logistics, crypto, and professional services. Your selected activity determines what the company can legally do, invoice for and present to banks during onboarding.
Most businesses register under one of four license categories: Service, Trading, Commercial or Industrial. Your DMCC license allows you to engage in several business activities from the same activity group, which is why choosing the right combination at the start is usually easier than adding activities later through paid amendments.
What's included in every DMCC setup
Whatever route you take, the documents are the same — the only changes are the visa count and workspace. Every DMCC company is issued:
- Trade license
- Memorandum & Articles of Association (MOA/AOA)
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Share Certificate (proof of ownership)
- Lease — flexi desk as your registered address, or your office tenancy
- Establishment Card — added once you hold a visa quota
What stacks on top: per person and parked
Visa, medical & Emirates ID — cost per person
Per person, the all-in visa costs AED ~3,700–5,000 and applies to every visa holder, including the person using the visa bundled in DMCC Jumpstart:
| Item | Cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa processing — applicant outside the UAE | 2,972.5 | DMCC permit, 2-year |
| Visa processing — inside the UAE, no status amendment | 3,407.5 | |
| Visa processing — inside the UAE, with an amendment | 4,220 | |
| Medical fitness test | 250–350 | DHA centre; express via DMCC 770–800 |
| Emirates ID (2-year, DMCC typing service) | 451.40 | |
| All-in per visa | ~3,700–5,000 | processing + medical + Emirates ID |
Share capital: AED 50,000 must be shown, but it is deposited and withdrawable after setup — it is not part of the cost. A one-time deposit service fee of AED 2,120 applies within the deposit amount. Don't budget the 50,000 as an expense.
A two-visa DMCC Jumpstart setup, year one ≈ AED 43,780 + one additional visa + medical and Emirates ID for both persons — roughly AED 48,000–50,000 all-in.
For a detailed breakdown of federal visa charges across different UAE jurisdictions, see our UAE visa guide.
What does year 2 cost? The number nobody quotes
The first-year package discount does not repeat. From year two, renewal is billed at standard rates — roughly AED 38,000–41,000 a year — and consists of three components:
| Year-2 component | AED |
|---|---|
| License renewal (trading/service) | 20,265 |
| Establishment card renewal | 1,805 |
| Flexi desk (DMCC Business Centre) | 16,000–19,000 |
| Year 2 total (standard) | ~38,000–41,000 |
So a company that paid AED 43,780 in year one should budget roughly the same order again in year two — not the AED 20,000-odd that the "renewal is cheaper" folklore suggests. There are two ways to manage this:
- DMCC renewal packages: DMCC Basic Flexi at AED 35,564 or DMCC Flexi Boost at AED 43,720 (1 year; 2-year 81,861, 3-year 120,000) bundle the same components at a packaged rate.
- Multi-year setup upfront: the 2-year DMCC Jumpstart (AED 81,881) and 3-year (AED 120,000) lock the rate at signing — that, plus avoiding annual price drift, is their real economic case. DMCC Prime Plus achieves the same via its renewal price freeze.
Visas are on their own 2-year cycle: at the end of year 2, each visa renews at AED 2,790 plus medical and Emirates ID for that person.
Is DMCC the right choice?
DMCC is a premium free zone, and this premium buys infrastructure, not paperwork: a JLT address with two metro stations, DMCC's own office stock from flexi desk to multi-storey suites with visa quota that scales at 1 per 9 sqm, sector centres (commodities, crypto, gaming, AI) with their own packages, and renewal mechanics — multi-year locks and the Prime Plus price freeze — that contain the year-2 cost jump.
One thing the premium does not buy is a bank account. Bank approval in the UAE is decided on the client's profile — source of funds, UBO structure, activity narrative — and not on which free zone issued the license. More details on this topic can be found in our Corporate bank account guide.
If your goal is the lowest first-year sticker, DMCC is not it — and the honest comparison is the three-year cost, not year-one cost, because that's where the actual renewal economics play out.
Bottom line
DMCC is priced as a package but lived as a three-year commitment. The sticker is AED 35,484–49,941 fixed, or AED 34,185 plus rent on the office route. The comparison that matters is year-2 renewal at AED 38,000–41,000 and what the premium buys — infrastructure and visa headroom, not banking. If the goal is the lowest first-year cost, DMCC is not it.
Related reading
Price your case
Get a component-by-component DMCC cost breakdown for your route, visa count, activity and office plan — package vs. base-fees-plus-rent, year-2 renewal and the per-person visa stack on one sheet.
Get your DMCC cost breakdownHow Emirabiz works with DMCC
We don't start with the license.
We start with where you need to be in year three — your banking profile and source-of-funds — then confirm DMCC fits before you pay for anything.
- Profile-first screening: banks approve profiles, not free zones — we check yours clears before setup.
- We tell you on the first call if your case won't bank — no license sold into a dead end.
- Three-year budget, not year-one sticker: setup, year-2 renewal, visa cycle — on one sheet before you sign.
Reviewed by
Andrey Ovchinnikov
Co-founder & CEO
Founded Emirabiz in 2013. Structures UAE companies and owns the sourced pricing dataset behind every figure on this site. Every figure he signs off traces to a named primary source with a verification date.
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Published June 15, 2026 · Updated June 15, 2026 · How this article was made →