The Cost of Doing Business in the UAE
The main costs
| Cost | What to expect | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Office rent | AED 189 per sq ft a year on average in Dubai, H1 2026 | Office rents |
| Warehouse rent | About AED 90 per sq ft a year for Grade A space in Al Quoz | Warehouses |
| Lease registration in Dubai | AED 177.75 to register a lease in Ejari online | Offices in Dubai |
| Work permits | AED 250 to AED 3,450 to issue or renew, depending on the company's MOHRE classification | Employment visa |
| Corporate tax | 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income, 9% above | Corporate tax |
Source: Cavendish Maxwell via Zawya: Dubai office sales reach AED 15.8 billion in H1 2026; Knight Frank: UAE Industrial and Logistics Market Review H1 2026; Dubai Land Department: Register or renew a tenancy contract (Ejari); UAE Government Portal: Work permits; Federal Tax Authority: Corporate tax rates FAQ1,2,5,3,4
A mainland company needs a physical address and a registered lease to get its licence, so rent is a setup cost as well as a running cost.6
The costs, one by one
Setup costs: mainland and free zone
Free zone packages, mainland fees and the first-year extras.
5,555 AED, Ajman Free Zone licence, no visa
Read moreLicence fees
Government fees in four emirates, line by line.
790 AED, Abu Dhabi licence issuance
Read moreVisa costs
Work permit, residence, ID and insurance, item by item.
250 AED, two-year work permit, category 1 company
Read moreSalaries by role
Monthly base pay in AED for 31 common roles.
AED 32,500 Software engineer, average a month
Read moreOffice rents
Dubai by district, Abu Dhabi and the extras.
AED 189 Average Dubai office rent per sq ft a year, H1 2026
Read moreWarehouse rents
Industrial rents by area, and what drives them.
90 AED per sq ft a year, Grade A, Al Quoz
Read moreResidential rents
Homes for you and your staff, emirate by emirate.
76.1 AED per sq ft a year, Dubai average, Q1 2026
Read moreUtilities (DEWA, ADDC, SEWA)
Electricity and water tariffs, and a sample bill.
23 Fils per kWh, first DEWA commercial slab
Read moreFuel
Petrol and diesel prices, month by month.
4.80 AED a litre, diesel, October 2026
Read moreTelecoms
Business internet plans from e& and du.
810 AED a month, du 100 Mbps, 12 months
Read moreLogistics
Customs duty, rail freight, diesel and storage.
5% Customs duty on the CIF value of most imports
Read more
Sources
- Cavendish Maxwell via Zawya: Dubai office sales reach AED 15.8 billion in H1 2026
- Knight Frank: UAE Industrial and Logistics Market Review H1 2026
- UAE Government Portal: Work permits
- Federal Tax Authority: Corporate tax rates FAQ
- Dubai Land Department: Register or renew a tenancy contract (Ejari)
- UAE Government Portal: Steps to start a business on the mainland
Figures checked 21 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.