Every relocation firm will happily quote you a package price. You will hear less about what is inside that package — and almost never about the full picture: what it actually costs to run a structure, live, and operate in the UAE for a full year, from the first government fee to the last licence renewal invoice. This article is an attempt to fill that gap. No selling, no packages — just numbers, ranges, and things most people find out too late.
| Category | Annual range (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Company (licence + government fees) | 4,000–15,000 |
| Visas (owner + family of 3) | 4,000–8,000 |
| Substance / office | 2,000–8,000 |
| Compliance, accounting, CIT | 3,000–12,000 |
| Apartment rental | 19,000–49,000 |
| Schools (2 children, mid-range) | 27,000–44,000 |
| Health insurance | 2,000–5,500 |
| Transport | 5,000–10,000 |
| Day-to-day living (excl. rent/schools) | 40,000–80,000 |
| Total (family of four) | ~106,000–231,000 |
Why Nobody Shows the Full Bill
If you are considering buying property in the UAE, read current Dubai property market data — Meridion Bridge's full report with DLD data and 2026 correction analysis.
The answer is straightforward: the full bill is less attractive as a sales tool than "company, account, and visa for 10k."
The relocation market runs on the first step: incorporating a company, getting a visa, perhaps opening a bank account. That is a product that can be priced, sold, and delivered. Everything that follows — maintenance costs, compliance, substance, family life, schools, health insurance — becomes your problem once the ink is dry.
The result is that many entrepreneurs arrive in the UAE believing they have spent 15–20k and sorted everything, only to discover twelve months later that the real cost of the first year was three to five times higher.
Layer 1: Company Registration and Setup
This is the only layer most firms quote upfront.
Free zone licence (annual):
| Free zone type | Annual cost (AED) | Annual cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (IFZA, Meydan, SPC) | 5,000–8,000 | 1,400–2,200 |
| Mid-range (DMCC, JAFZA) | 15,000–25,000 | 4,000–6,800 |
| Premium (DIFC, ADGM) | from USD 55,000+ | from EUR 15,000+ |
One-off fees at incorporation: government registration AED 2,000–5,000, Memorandum of Association and notarisation AED 500–2,000, service provider setup fee EUR 2,000–5,000 above government costs.
Total for company setup in a mid-range free zone: EUR 8,000–15,000 in year one.
Layer 2: Residence Visa and Emirates ID
Residence visa (company owner): government fees AED 3,000–5,000, medical check + biometrics + health insurance AED 1,500–3,000, Emirates ID AED 300–500, visa stamping AED 500–1,500.
Family member visas (sponsorship):
| Family member | Government fees | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | AED 3,000–5,000 | 800–1,400 |
| Each child | AED 3,000–5,000 | 800–1,400 |
| Family of four (total) | AED 12,000–20,000 | 3,300–5,500 |
Visa renewals every 2–3 years at similar cost ranges — a recurring expense to model.
Layer 3: Substance and Office
This is the category most relocation packages either omit entirely or cover at a minimum level that does not hold up under banking or tax scrutiny.
| Presence type | Annual cost (AED) | Annual cost (EUR) | Sufficient for... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual office / registered address | 3,000–8,000 | 800–2,200 | Incorporation — bank and tax authority may challenge this |
| Flexi desk inside free zone | 10,000–30,000 | 2,700–8,200 | TRC at moderate revenue levels |
| Leased market office | from 40,000 | from 11,000 | Full substance, serious audit |
The larger the asset base and the more seriously you want to defend tax residency, the stronger the substance needs to be. A virtual office is a starting point for registration — not for a serious wealth structure.
Layer 4: Banking
Banking in the UAE is a separate puzzle — covered in detail in the banking article — but here are the cost dimensions:
Corporate account maintenance: Emirates NBD, ADCB, FAB: AED 250–500 per month or minimum balance requirement of AED 25,000–50,000. Private banking: balance thresholds from AED 500,000+, lower transaction fees.
International SWIFT transfers: AED 50–150 per transfer depending on the bank.
Fintechs (Wise Business, Airwallex) have lower entry thresholds but do not replace a local bank account for TRC or serious substance requirements.
Layer 5: Compliance, Accounting, Reporting
Since 2023, the UAE has Corporate Tax at 9% above the income threshold (AED 375,000 profit). Even exempt companies must register with the FTA and file returns.
| Service | Annual cost (AED) | Annual cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| FTA registration | Free | — |
| CIT filing — simple structure | 3,000–8,000 | 800–2,200 |
| CIT filing — complex structure | 15,000–40,000+ | 4,000–11,000+ |
| Basic bookkeeping | 6,000–18,000 (AED 500–1,500/mo) | 1,600–5,000 |
| Full accounting service | 18,000–48,000 (AED 1,500–4,000/mo) | 5,000–13,000 |
| TRC (government fee) | 2,000–4,000 | 550–1,100 |
| ESR reporting (if applicable) | 2,000–5,000 | 550–1,400 |
Layer 6: Family Life
This is the category no relocation firm will price for you — because it is not part of the package.
Apartment rental (annual):
| Type | AED | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom, decent neighbourhood | 70,000–110,000 | 19,000–30,000 |
| 2–3 bedroom, family area | 100,000–180,000 | 27,000–49,000 |
| Villa in a gated community | 180,000–350,000+ | 49,000–95,000+ |
Note: rental is often paid upfront for the full year (1–4 post-dated cheques) — a large one-off cash commitment from day one.
School fees (annual per child):
| School type | AED | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / mid-range (Indian, Pakistani curriculum) | 20,000–40,000 | 5,500–11,000 |
| British / IB mid-range | 50,000–80,000 | 13,600–21,800 |
| Premium (top British, American) | 80,000–120,000 | 21,800–32,700 |
For 2 children in mid-range schools: AED 100,000–160,000 per year (EUR 27,000–44,000) — on education alone.
Other living costs: health insurance (sensible family coverage) AED 8,000–20,000 per year; car leasing AED 1,500–3,000 per month plus insurance and fuel; day-to-day living (food, dining, leisure, flights home) AED 15,000–25,000 per month.
What This Means for You
The break-even point is higher than the market suggests. If your current tax burden is lower than the potential savings minus the cost of maintaining your structure and living in the UAE, the relocation may not make economic sense. The detailed analysis is in the article on when 0% tax actually works.
Company setup is only the tip of the iceberg. The cost of year one for a family of four is realistically EUR 150,000–250,000 — not the EUR 15,000 in a relocation package.
Budget free zones have real limits. A licence at AED 5,000 is a tempting entry price, but you need to understand what it means for banking, substance, and TRC. Details in the article on choosing between free zone and mainland.
Compliance costs grow with complexity. The more elaborate the structure — holding, multiple companies, crypto, income from multiple jurisdictions — the higher the costs, and the more important it is to model them upfront.
The ROI is real — but only from a certain level. For someone with an effective tax burden of EUR 200,000+ per year and a genuine willingness to change where they live, the economics can work very well. For someone with EUR 50,000 in annual tax — probably not.
In short: Relocating to the UAE can be a very good move — for the right people, with the right asset and business profile, and with the right plan in place. But it should start with a clear-eyed cost-benefit analysis, not with an enthusiastic relocation package for 10k. If you want to see what that analysis looks like for your specific situation, we start with a diagnosis — not with an invoice for a company.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in the UAE? Setup in a mid-range free zone costs EUR 8,000–15,000 in year one. Budget free zones start from AED 5,000–8,000 for the licence alone — but that is only the starting point before visas, substance, compliance, and living costs.
How much does it cost for a family of four to live in Dubai? The realistic total for year one is EUR 150,000–250,000. This covers company setup, visas, rent, school fees, insurance, transport, and day-to-day living at a decent — not ultra-luxury — standard.
From what income level does UAE relocation make economic sense? For someone with an effective tax burden of EUR 200,000+ per year and a genuine willingness to relocate, the numbers can work very well. At EUR 50,000 in annual tax — probably not. The break-even is higher than most relocation marketing implies.
Are budget free zones sufficient for TRC and banking? A virtual office is sufficient for registration but may not hold up under banking or tax scrutiny. The stronger the substance, the stronger the TRC and banking position. Details in the article on free zone structures.
How much does compliance and corporate tax cost in the UAE? Since 2023, UAE Corporate Tax applies at 9% above AED 375,000 profit. Even exempt companies must register and file. Simple structure: AED 3,000–8,000 for CIT plus AED 500–1,500/month for bookkeeping. Complex structures: AED 15,000–40,000+ for CIT alone.
This article is for educational purposes only. Costs are indicative ranges — final figures depend on the free zone chosen, structure, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. We recommend an individual analysis before any relocation decision.