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Premium guide · 02

Renewal Costs: What a UAE Business Really Costs to Keep Running

Every year the licence, lease, chamber membership and insurance renew, and every two years so do the staff visas. Before you buy, work out this bill and check when each item falls due, because a licence that expires a month after handover is your cost, not the seller’s.

Updated 23 October 2026Dubai mainland · free zone comparison10 min read

The short answer

AED 8k–15ktypical yearly licence renewal bill for a small or medium Dubai mainland business
AED 3k–7kper employee when a visa renews, usually every two years
5%of annual rent as the market fee at renewal, plus 5% housing fee through DEWA
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