ADGM vs DMCC: fees and rules

Figures use the same default scenario: a commercial licence, one individual shareholder and one visa.

ADGM

Foreign ownership
Unknown
Office requirement
Unknown
Onshore trading
Unknown
Visa quota basis
Business-centre address: 2 visas per desk for standard Category A/B activities and 3 per desk for innovation; physical premises: 1 visa per 8 sqm for standard Category A/B, 1 per 6 sqm for Category C retail/restaurants, and 1 per 20 sqm for Category B hoteliers; Category C kiosks: 3 visas per unit.
Minimum capital
Unknown
Shareholder types
Unknown
Licence term
12 months
ItemAmountRenewalKindVATSource
Name reservationAED 734.5—One-offUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Application for incorporationAED 1,101.75—One-offUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Commercial licenceAED 734.5AED 734.5AnnualUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Business activity, Category BAED 17,628AED 17,628AnnualUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Data protectionAED 1,101.75AED 1,101.75AnnualUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Annual confirmation statementAED 0AED 367.25AnnualUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Establishment cardAED 1,127.27AED 1,127.27AnnualIncludedOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
E-Channels accountAED 4,197.27AED 1,622.27AnnualIncludedOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
One-year employment visa, applicant inside the UAEAED 2,744.4AED 1,429.62Per visaIncludedOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05

First year: AED 29,369.44; Renewal: AED 24,010.66

Published fee as of 2026-10-05

DMCC

Foreign ownership
Unknown
Office requirement
Unknown
Onshore trading
Unknown
Visa quota basis
Unknown
Minimum capital
Unknown
Shareholder types
Unknown
Licence term
Unknown
ItemAmountRenewalKindVATSource
ApplicationAED 1,035—One-offUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
RegistrationAED 9,020—One-offUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Articles of associationAED 2,020—One-offUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
LicenceAED 20,285AED 20,265AnnualUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
Establishment cardAED 1,825AED 2,205AnnualUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
One-year employment residence visa, applicant outside the UAEAED 2,237AED 2,200Per visaUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05
One-year Emirates ID typingAED 351.4AED 351.4Per visaUnknownOfficial source
as of 2026-10-05

First year: AED 36,773.4; Renewal: AED 25,021.4

Published fee as of 2026-10-05

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