Osome Accounting & Bookkeeping L.L.C<br>Empire Heights A - 16F-A-04, Business Bay,<br>Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) company formation gives your business a base in an international financial centre with its own common law, regulators and courts. Before you apply, you need to know which authority licenses you and which legal form fits what you plan to do. This guide walks you through both, along with the office rules, documents and steps for ADGM company set up in 2026.

JAFZA company formation costs start from AED 58,500 for a Service Licence and rise to AED 73,178 for a Trading Licence. Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), one of the UAE's largest freezones and home to Jebel Ali Port, prices its licences well above most other UAE freezones for one specific reason: every package bundles a mandatory office facility and a minimum of two visas. This article breaks down what a JAFZA setup actually costs in Year 1, what changes as you grow, and where a leaner freezone could save you tens of thousands of dirhams if your business doesn't need what JAFZA's price is really paying for.

Incorporating in DIFC (the Dubai International Financial Centre) is the starting point, not the destination. What determines whether the structure delivers on its promise is how you build and run it after setup. This article covers both sides of that question: the operational machinery that keeps the structure compliant and credible, and the ecosystem value that makes the operational discipline worth sustaining. Banking, payments, compliance, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulatory relationship, governance, the DIFC ecosystem, your team, and where your attention as a founder actually needs to go.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) costs more than every other UAE freezone, and that premium reflects exactly what it provides: regulatory infrastructure, legal standing under English common law, and an institutional ecosystem that changes how sophisticated counterparties engage with your business. This article covers the full setup cost picture across both tracks, non-regulated and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)-regulated, including incorporation fees, office costs, capital requirements, professional fees, and the all-in Year 1 number for three realistic founder profiles.

Running a JAFZA company looks different day to day than running an IFZA or RAKEZ company, mainly because goods, not just services, are moving through it. Banking, VAT, and compliance all carry a trade-specific layer that a service business never encounters. This article covers what actually happens once your JAFZA company is live: getting paid, staying on the right side of customs and VAT, and keeping up with a compliance calendar that has more moving parts than most freezones.

Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is the free zone most founders picture when they think of UAE trading and logistics. It earns that reputation from Jebel Ali Port next door, not from a downtown address. JAFZA suits businesses that trade, manufacture, or move physical goods and can use its port and warehousing, and it's an expensive choice for solo consultants, fractional professionals, or service-only founders. One detail catches most founders off guard before they even reach pricing: JAFZA has no licence-only package. Every setup includes a mandatory office facility and a minimum of two visas

The best accounting software platforms for small business help owners manage finances without relying on spreadsheets or manual bookkeeping. As invoices, expenses, and tax obligations grow, tracking transactions and maintaining accurate records becomes harder to manage manually. Accounting software automates tasks such as reconciliation, invoicing, and reporting, while giving founders clearer visibility into cash flow and financial performance. Choosing the right platform keeps records organised, supports tax compliance, and makes financial management easier as the company grows.

blog

Business setup

Accounting

Tax filing

Pricing

A Comprehensive Guide to Corporate Tax in the UAE

Understanding the Cost of Starting a Business in Dubai

Understanding Value Added Tax (VAT) in the UAE

Blog

Guides

Webinars

Podcasts

Product Releases

Resources

If you're an existing customer with a question, [click here](https://my.osome.com/) to chat

+65 6232 6932

hi@osome.com

Accounting experts and simple software for better business

Shahla Mohammad

Company Formation in ADGM: The Complete 2026 Setup Guide

How to Get a Corporate Tax Registration Number in the UAE

JAFZA Company Formation Cost: Setup and Ongoing Fees

Types of Companies in the UAE: 2026 Guide

How Does Running a DIFC Business Actually Work?

DIFC Setup Costs: What Founders Actually Pay to Incorporate