Dubai Business License Cost For Indians: 2025 Detailed Breakdown

For Indian entrepreneurs exploring the idea of expanding or relocating a business to Dubai, the first practical question is almost always the same: “How much does a Dubai business license cost?”

The good news is that unlike India, where state-level fees, hidden charges, and layered compliance can make simple registrations unpredictable, Dubai’s licensing system is far more transparent. Costs vary depending on your jurisdiction, visa needs, and business structure - but the core components are clear and regulated.

This guide breaks down the actual 2025 business license cost in Dubai for Indians, explains the difference between free zone and mainland pricing, and helps you understand the total you should realistically budget if you’re planning a move from India.

If you prefer an exact estimate tailored to your activity, you can always use the Meydan Free Zone Buisness setup cost calculator for a personalised breakdown.

Why Indian Founders Ask About Cost First

Indian entrepreneurs - whether based in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad or Coimbatore - tend to be financially methodical. Years of navigating GST updates, MCA filings, TDS cycles, and financial compliances train Indian business owners to calculate total exposure upfront.

Dubai’s system appeals because it removes many of the friction points Indians are used to. But the choices - free zone vs mainland, visa vs no visa, activity selection - can cause confusion. That’s why understanding the real, direct costs matters before you take the leap.

The Real Cost of a Dubai Business License for Indians

The most straightforward and founder-friendly structure for many Indians is setting up in a Dubai free zone. Among these, Meydan Free Zone offers clear, flat pricing that removes guesswork.

• ‍Standard business license: AED 12,500
  This is roughly ₹2.75 lakh.
  It covers your business license with up to three activities, making it one of the most cost-effective entry points for Indian founders.

• ‍Fawri business license: AED 15,000
  Approximately ₹3.3 lakh.
  This option is designed for founders who want an express business license issued in less than 60 minutes.

What About Visa-Related Costs?

A Dubai business license gives you the right to conduct business, but your residency visa is what enables you to live, work, and move freely in the UAE.

For Indian entrepreneurs relocating - or even just planning extended stays - the most relevant visa components are:

Visa allocation

This is the eligibility tied to your company. If you plan to get your investor visa or hire employees later, the company’s visa allocation is essential.

Investor visa

Your own residency visa tied to your company. Many Indian founders choose to secure this even if they plan to travel frequently between India and Dubai.

Medical test and Emirates ID

Every UAE residency visa requires a medical fitness test and an Emirates ID for identification and digital access.

These three steps form the core of your visa path. While the actual processing fees can vary depending on service choices or speed, the steps themselves are fixed and mandatory - and all can be completed digitally when you work with a free zone like Meydan Free Zone.

If you want to understand how these add up in your case, the safest method is to check the Meydan Free Zone cost calculator, which provides a real, itemised breakdown.

Mainland vs Free Zone Cost Differences for Indians

Dubai operates two major licensing systems - mainland (DET) and free zone. For cost-conscious Indian founders, it’s important to understand the distinction before choosing one.

Mainland Licensing

A mainland license often requires additional spending beyond the license fee, including:

• mandatory office rent (an EJARI),
• municipal approvals depending on activity,
• external approvals in many sectors,
• on-ground inspections,
• and department-level processing.

Even if a mainland license appears similar in price on paper, the total usually increases once all required components are included.

Indian founders setting up restaurants, clinics, salons, retail shops, logistics companies or contracting firms may justify these costs because their business requires local trading or footfall.

Free Zone Licensing

A Dubai free zone license streamlines everything into a more predictable structure.

A free zone like Meydan Free Zone, located centrally in Dubai, offers:

• 100% foreign ownership,
• no mandatory office lease,
• digital-first incorporation,
• activity lists suited for consultants, IT services, digital agencies, traders, and remote-first companies,
• and a business license cost that doesn’t fluctuate based on paperwork.

This is why many Indian founders launching global-first or hybrid businesses prefer free zones - they eliminate unnecessary cost centres and administrative layers.

How Indian Entrepreneurs Should Calculate the Total Setup Cost

Instead of looking only at the license fee, Indian entrepreneurs typically calculate the real total cost using three primary elements:

1. Business License Fee

This is your core business registration, and if you’re choosing a Dubai-based free zone, the amount is fixed:
AED 12,500, or AED 15,000 for the Fawri license.

2. Visa Pathway

Whether you’re getting your investor visa immediately or planning for it later, your company must have visa eligibility.

Your visa journey includes:

• company visa allocation
• investor visa processing
• medical
• Emirates ID

Indians relocating with families also consider dependent visas later on, which follow the same structure.

3. Workspace Needs

In a free zone, you may operate with a digital or flexi-desk model until you scale.
On the mainland, a physical office is usually mandatory from day one - a cost that significantly impacts your total.

This three-part calculation helps Indian founders avoid unexpected costs and aligns with how they budget back home when comparing LLPs, private limiteds, and branch setups

Why Dubai Licensing Appears Cost-Efficient for Indians

The license fee is only part of the story. The real advantage for Indian entrepreneurs is the cost of time saved.

Dubai eliminates many pain points Indians face daily:

• No unpredictable state taxes
• No repeated KYC surprises
• No in-person government visits for standard requests
• No delays due to paperwork errors
• No multi-department shuffling

Faster setup, faster banking, and faster access to global clients means Indian founders often recover their initial cost far quicker than they would with an equivalent setup in India.

This is especially true for IT services, consulting, design, marketing, trading, coaching, SaaS and remote-first models, which don’t require a heavy physical footprint.

Should Indian Entrepreneurs Choose a Free Zone or Mainland for Better Cost Control?

If your business is global-first or hybrid - meaning you serve clients in India, the Gulf, Europe, the US, or Singapore - then a Dubai free zone is almost always the more cost-effective path.

If your model requires:

• retail space,
• on-ground operations,
• logistics fleets,
• contracting teams,
• or regular local B2C sales,

then mainland licensing (DET) is more suitable despite the higher total cost.

For most modern Indian founders - consultants, tech professionals, agency owners, traders, freelancers transitioning to global clients - a Dubai free zone license offers better financial efficiency and far less friction.

Among the options, Meydan Free Zone stands out because of its central Dubai location, digital incorporation experience, and transparent pricing. You can explore your exact structure using their Business setup in Dubai page or speak with the team through the appointment booking link.

Conclusion: Plan with Real Numbers

A Dubai business license is not an expense, it’s an efficiency investment. For Indian entrepreneurs who are used to navigating India’s regulatory complexity, Dubai’s clarity offers a refreshing shift.

With a AED 12,500 business license fee (or AED 15,000 for Fawri), predictable visa steps, and the option to scale without large overheads, Dubai’s Meydan Free Zone offers one of the most accessible international launchpads for Indian founders in 2025.

If you want to understand your exact cost - with visa, license, structure, and add-ons - you can get a personalised estimate using the Meydan Free Zone cost calculator or book a conversation with the team directly.

Dubai rewards founders who plan well and move decisively. With the right structure, the returns far outweigh the setup cost - especially for Indian entrepreneurs ready to think global.

FAQs

How much does a Dubai business license cost for Indians in 2025?

A Dubai free zone business license typically costs AED 12,500, which is roughly ₹2.75 lakh. If you prefer an express setup, the Fawri license costs AED 15,000 (about ₹3.3 lakh). These are fixed, transparent prices offered by Meydan Free Zone.

Is it cheaper for Indians to set up in a Dubai free zone or mainland?

Free zones are generally more cost-efficient for Indian entrepreneurs because they don’t require mandatory office rent or multi-department approvals. Mainland licensing involves additional expenses such as office EJARI, municipal fees and on-ground inspections. If you don’t need a physical shop or UAE-facing retail operation, a free zone tends to be the more economical path.

Do Indian entrepreneurs need to rent an office to get a Dubai license?

Not in a free zone. A Dubai free zone such as Meydan Free Zone allows lean workspace models and does not require large office leases for most service-based businesses. On the mainland, by contrast, a physical office (EJARI) is usually mandatory.

Can Indians get a UAE residency visa through their free zone company?

Yes. Your business license enables eligibility for an investor visa, which then allows you to sponsor dependents such as your spouse, children and sometimes your parents. Visa processing always includes medical tests and Emirates ID issuance, all of which can be handled digitally when you work through a free zone like Meydan Free Zone.

Is AED 12,500 the final cost for setting up a business in Dubai?

AED 12,500 is the cost of the Meydan Free Zone business license itself. Your total may vary depending on how many visas you require and whether you add services such as faster processing or document assistance. This is why Indian founders frequently use Meydan Free Zone’s cost calculator to get an accurate picture.

Do Indians pay any income tax or GST after getting a Dubai business license?

Dubai has no personal income tax, regardless of whether you operate in a free zone or mainland. Corporate tax applies once businesses cross certain profit thresholds, with qualifying free zone companies receiving favourable treatment. GST does not exist in the UAE; instead, there is a simple 5% VAT system for applicable businesses.