No — the licence and the residence visa are separate. How visas work, what they really cost, how many you can get, and who they can sponsor.
No. You can register a UAE free-zone company with zero residence visas. The trade licence and a residence visa are two separate things: the licence makes your company legal to operate, while a residence visa gives a specific person the right to live in the UAE. Many founders start with a licence only — to invoice international clients, hold an asset or run online — and add visas later, when they actually need them. You only pay for the visas you choose.
Most free-zone licences start at zero included visas, and your visa allowance is tied to your package and, in some zones, your office or flexi-desk type. Typical allocations run from 1 to 6 visas, and a few zones go higher. On Formenzo we publish the all-in price for 0, 1, 2 and 3+ visas on every zone cost page, so you can see exactly what each additional visa adds before you commit.
Adding your first residence visa typically increases the all-in cost by roughly AED 6,000–11,000, depending on the zone, because the first visa also switches on the one-time immigration set-up. Each additional visa then adds a smaller per-visa fee. Here's what that figure is actually made of:
| Visa cost component | What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment / immigration card | One-time — lets the company sponsor anyone (first visa only) | AED 1,500–2,600 |
| E-channel registration | One-time immigration portal registration/deposit | AED 2,000–2,600 |
| Entry permit + status change | Permission to enter / convert status for the visa | AED 1,100–2,500 |
| Medical fitness test | Compulsory health check, per person | AED 300–700 |
| Emirates ID | Mandatory national ID card, per person | AED 370–600 |
| Visa stamping | Final residence-visa linked to your Emirates ID | AED 460–1,200 |
Indicative ranges that vary by free zone and visa term (2 or 3 years). The establishment card and e-channel are one-time, which is why the first visa costs more than the second. We confirm your exact all-in figure in writing.
The "AED 6,000–11,000" range isn't theoretical — here's the real difference between the 0-visa and 1-visa all-in price on Formenzo for each zone, so you can see exactly what your first residence visa costs where you set up:
| Free zone | 0 visas | 1 visa | First visa adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures Centre | AED 4,888 | AED 10,800 | +AED 5,912 |
| Fujairah Creative City | AED 4,900 | AED 12,500 | +AED 7,600 |
| SRTIP (Sharjah) | AED 5,500 | AED 12,500 | +AED 7,000 |
| SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) | AED 5,750 | AED 13,165 | +AED 7,415 |
| RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) | AED 6,000 | AED 14,000 | +AED 8,000 |
| Masdar City (Abu Dhabi) | AED 7,000 | AED 17,500 | +AED 10,500 |
| Meydan (Dubai) | AED 12,500 | AED 24,450 | +AED 11,950 |
| IFZA (Dubai) | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 | +AED 4,715 |
Real all-in 0-visa vs 1-visa prices from the Formenzo catalogue (2026). DMCC is priced as bundled packages rather than a per-visa ladder — see the DMCC cost page for its package visa allocations. The first visa includes the one-time establishment card and e-channel, which is why it adds more than each visa after it.
Once your licence is issued, residence-visa processing runs at roughly 5–7 working days per visa:
You don't have to decide on visas on day one — the licence comes first, and visas can follow whenever you're ready.
As the company owner you can sponsor your own residence visa, and your allocation lets you sponsor employees. Once you hold a UAE residence visa yourself, you can usually sponsor family members — spouse and children — under a separate family-sponsorship application, subject to the standard salary and housing (tenancy) requirements. Family visas are sponsored by you personally, not by the company's visa allocation.
The Golden Visa is a separate, long-term residence option (typically 5 or 10 years) for people who qualify on criteria such as investment, specialised talent or income. It isn't required to run a free-zone company, but some founders qualify and prefer it for the longer validity. If that's you, check eligibility against the official ICP/GDRFA criteria before applying — it runs alongside, not instead of, your company licence.
A trade licence is required; a residence visa is optional and priced separately. Start with the visa count you actually need, see the real all-in figure in writing, and add more later as you grow. Compare all 9 UAE free zones by visa count to find your fit — every price all-in, no hidden fees, and no sales calls.
See your exact all-in number in writing, locked for 14 days. No callback, no pressure.
No. You can register a UAE free-zone company with zero residence visas — the trade licence and a residence visa are separate. The licence makes your company legal; a visa lets a person live in the UAE. Most zones include zero visas by default, and you add the number you need as a priced option.
Adding your first residence visa typically increases the all-in cost by about AED 6,000–11,000, because it also switches on the one-time establishment card and e-channel registration, plus the entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. Each additional visa then adds a smaller per-visa fee.
Most licences start at zero included visas. Your allocation — often 1 to 6 or more — is tied to your package and, in some zones, your office or flexi-desk type. Formenzo shows the all-in price for 0, 1, 2 and 3+ visas on every zone page.
After your licence is issued (about 3–8 working days), residence-visa processing follows at roughly 5–7 days per visa: establishment card, entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
Once you hold a UAE residence visa yourself, you can usually sponsor your spouse and children under a separate family-sponsorship application, subject to the standard salary and housing requirements. Family visas are sponsored by you personally, not by the company's visa allocation.
