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Free financial calculators for UAE residents
Starting a business in the UAE requires careful financial planning to account for all startup costs, license fees, visa expenses, and ongoing operational requirements. Our Business Startup Calculator helps entrepreneurs understand the complete cost structure of establishing a business, whether you choose a Free Zone setup (like DMCC, DIFC, or JAFZA) or a Mainland license. The calculator accounts for trade license fees, professional license costs, office or warehouse space (whether flexi-desk, shared office, or dedicated space), visa costs for owners and employees, Emirates ID fees, medical tests, and miscellaneous setup expenses that are often overlooked in initial planning.
Free Zone setups offer 100% foreign ownership, tax benefits, and streamlined processes, but come with specific license fees, office space requirements (even flexi-desks), and annual renewal costs. Mainland licenses allow direct trade with the UAE market but require a local service agent for certain activities and have different fee structures. Our calculator helps you compare both options by breaking down all costs: initial license fees (which vary by activity and jurisdiction), office space costs (flexi-desk options starting from AED 5,000 annually to premium offices), visa costs (owner, employee, and dependent visas), and annual renewal fees that you'll need to budget for each year.
All cost estimates are based on current fee schedules from major Free Zones (DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, SHAMS, etc.) and Department of Economic Development (DED) regulations for Mainland licenses. We update our data quarterly to reflect changes in license fees, visa costs, and regulatory requirements. Use this calculator to create a realistic startup budget, compare Free Zone vs Mainland options, understand all hidden costs, and make informed decisions about your business setup in the UAE. Proper financial planning at this stage helps avoid surprises and ensures you have adequate capital to launch and sustain your business successfully. For our data sources and methodology, see our Methodology page.
Content verified by Varun Punjabi, Founder & CEO
Founder & CEO
Varun founded Yalla Calculators to help UAE residents make informed financial decisions. Based in the UAE since 2018, he has firsthand experience with property purchases, DLD fees, mortgage rules, and cost-of-living planning. His background in software and digital business (13+ years) drives the accuracy and regulatory alignment of our property and mortgage tools. Varun is not affiliated with other professionals who share the same name; he operates from Dubai/Sharjah and maintains editorial independence across all calculators.
Focus: UAE Property, Cost of Living, Financial Planning, Mortgage & DLD
Business Calculators is built for UAE residents and uses local regulations and fee schedules. Our calculators use official UAE data sources, current regulations, and methodology that is reviewed by UAE-based experts. We update fee schedules and formulas when regulators publish changes, and we clearly cite our sources so you can verify results.
All calculations reviewed by UAE-based financial experts.
Yalla Calculators provides UAE-specific financial tools for gratuity, mortgages, property fees, rent vs buy, school fees, visas, and cost of living. Our formulas follow official UAE sources: UAE Labor Law (gratuity, leave), Dubai Land Department and RERA (property, DLD 4% transfer fee), UAE Central Bank (DBR, LTV), KHDA (school fees), and published visa and healthcare data. We update figures when regulations or market rates change. Calculator results are estimates only; actual entitlements, fees, and approvals depend on your specific situation, employer, bank, or authority.
For gratuity, any employee who completes at least one year of continuous service earns gratuity on basic salary for the years served — 21 days’ pay per year for the first five years and 30 days per year thereafter. Under Federal Decree-Law 33/2021 (effective 2 February 2022) the old sliding scale that cut gratuity for resignation before five years was abolished, so resigning no longer reduces your entitlement for completed years. For mortgages, DBR caps and LTV limits vary by buyer type (UAE national, GCC, expat) and property value. Property fees include DLD registration, trustee fees, agent commission, and often mortgage registration. Rent vs buy outcomes depend on holding period, appreciation, and opportunity cost. School fee projections use KHDA fee frameworks and typical annual increases; actual costs vary by school and grade.
Gratuity: If you resign after 3 years with AED 15,000 basic (unlimited contract), you receive 21 days’ basic per year for the first 5 years. Three years × (21/365) × (15,000 × 12) ≈ AED 31,068. After 5 years, the rate becomes 30 days per year. Mortgage: At 50% DBR, a AED 25,000 monthly income with AED 3,000 existing commitments allows roughly AED 9,500 per month for a mortgage, depending on rates and tenure. Property fees: On a AED 2M purchase, 4% DLD transfer fee is AED 80,000; add trustee, agent, and optional mortgage registration per our property-fees calculator.
Are calculator results legally binding? No. They are illustrative. Gratuity, mortgage eligibility, and visa decisions depend on your contract, bank, or authority. Always confirm with your employer, lender, or official sources.
How often do you update data? We review UAE labor, property, mortgage, and school-fee data periodically and after notable regulatory changes. Check our methodology and data-updates pages for more detail.
Do you store my inputs? Calculator inputs are processed in your browser. We do not store your salary, property value, or other personal figures. See our privacy policy and cookie policy for details on analytics and cookies.
Which Emirates are covered? Default examples often use Dubai (DLD, RERA, KHDA). Several tools support other Emirates where data is available. We indicate coverage in each calculator.
Can I use these for official applications? Our tools are for planning and comparison only. Use official forms, bank offers, and government portals for applications and compliance.
Varun Punjabi
CEO & Founder, Yalla Calculators. Over 13 years of professional experience, including a decade in the domain and internet industry. Specializes in UAE property market analysis, mortgage calculations, DLD and RERA regulations, and UAE labor and school-fee frameworks. Built Yalla Calculators after navigating Dubai’s property and education landscape firsthand.
LinkedInFor methodology, data sources, and disclaimers, see our Methodology, Data Updates, and Terms of Use. Contact: info@yallacalculators.online.