The first question business owners ask when planning to liquidate a company is, “How much will closing my company cost?” There is no single all-inclusive company closure fee in Dubai. Your budget depends on the licensing authority, legal structure, required professional work and obligations still outstanding. A licence cancellation fee is only one part of the budget. Depending on your company, other expenses can include appointing a liquidator, publishing newspaper notices and completing company dissolution.
If you are planning to close a company in Dubai, this guide explains the main expenses to consider. This guide explains how to build a closure budget, compare quotations and identify expenses that can otherwise be overlooked. It focuses primarily on voluntary mainland company closure, with a free zone example for comparison. Companies unable to pay their debts, or cases involving disputes, need specialist assessment rather than a routine closure quotation.
What Does the Cost of Closing a Company Include?
Separate your budget into three parts:
Having this detailed breakdown can help you compare providers fairly. A low service fee doesn’t mean a low total exit budget, if the company still has substantial amounts to settle.
For the procedure behind these expenses, read our step-by-step guide to mainland LLC liquidation in Dubai.
Published Dubai Mainland Company Closure Fees
The official Invest in Dubai trade licence cancellation service lists the following amounts. Fee information checked on 16 October 2026; confirm current charges and applicability before paying:
Published fee itemListed amountBudgeting noteLicence cancellationAED 1,020Confirm applicability to your legal form and applicationCompany dissolutionAED 2,520Confirm the charges assessed for your closureCertificate of dissolution and liquidator appointmentAED 520Listed separately in the procedure; confirm whether included in another assessed charge
The total depends on the licensing authority, legal structure, work required and outstanding obligations. Ask your consultant for an itemised quotation. The official page lists the AED 520 certificate charge separately but does not clearly explain whether it is included in the dissolution fee. Do not automatically add all three figures together and call the result the total government bill. Always ask: “Is this the fee for your service, or the complete amount I need to budget for the agreed closure work?”
A Breakdown of Additional Company Liquidation Costs
Appointing a Liquidator
For a Dubai mainland LLC following the published commercial-company closure procedure, the requirements include appointing a liquidator and submitting a final report. Other legal forms and licensing authorities may have different requirements. Ask the proposed liquidator for a written scope. Does the quotation cover appointment, review of records, the final report, and responses to authority queries? Are additional accounting services charged separately?
A report fee and liquidator fee may describe overlapping work. Confirm the scope before treating them as two separate expenses.
Resolution, Notarisation and Supporting Documents
A resolution is the formal written decision approving the closure. Notarisation is the official verification required for certain documents. Dubai’s published commercial-company closure procedure includes notarised general assembly minutes confirming liquidation and naming the liquidator.
Your quotation should explain the document-preparation and notarisation work included. Translation or representation documents may also need assessment, particularly where signatories are overseas.
Newspaper Notices
A liquidation notice publicly announces the company’s winding up so that claims can be raised. The Dubai Government’s commercial-company closure guidance specifies notices in two local Arabic newspapers and a 45-day claims period.
Ask the business consultant whether the publication quote includes both newspapers, preparation of the notice and the evidence needed for final submission. The 45 days describe the claims period, not the total time required to complete every closure task.
Work Permit, Visa and Company-File Procedures
If the company employs staff or sponsors residence visas, include the relevant administrative work in the assessment. Ask the provider to distinguish:
•Applicable authority charges•Professional service charges•Employee payments owed by the company
These are different expenses. A visa cancellation quote should not be assumed to include unpaid salary or other applicable employee entitlements.
The appropriate route may involve cancellation, transfer or another status arrangement, depending on the individual file. Our PRO services in Dubai can help coordinate the relevant paperwork.
Accounting and Tax Details
Your company may need its accounts brought up to date before the closure information can be finalised. For example: an accountant may need to reconcile bank transactions, identify unpaid invoices or prepare financial statements. “No sales” does not mean “no records”: bank charges, rent and other expenses may still exist.
Ask separately about the cost of:
- Updating accounting records
- Preparing required financial statements
- Completing outstanding tax returns
- Supporting applicable tax deregistration applications
Our accounting and bookkeeping services can help organise the financial records needed for review.
Obtain Closing Statements from Banks and Service Providers
Check each provider’s terms and obtain closing statements where needed. Possible items include:
These are items to investigate, not charges that automatically apply to every business. The contract and account status determine the answer.
Is Tax Deregistration Free?
The FTA currently lists its corporate tax deregistration service as free of charge.
That means the authority’s application service has no fee. It doesn’t mean an accountant must prepare the records or application for free. It also does not remove outstanding tax obligations.
ItemHow to treat it in your budgetFTA corporate tax deregistration application serviceCurrently listed as freeAccountant or tax adviser supportSeparately agreed professional feeOutstanding taxExisting company obligationAdministrative penalties, if applicableSeparately assessed amountVAT-related workReview separately if the company is VAT-registered
The FTA also lists financial statements and licence cancellation evidence among the documents for corporate tax deregistration on business closure. Plan the process with expert assistance rather than assuming trade licence cancellation closes tax registration.
If returns remain outstanding, our tax filing services in the UAE can assist with the relevant submissions.
Does Closing a Free Zone Company Cost Less?
Not necessarily. Each free zone has its own service categories and charges. Check the requirements of the authority that issued your licence rather than assuming every free zone follows one price list.
For example, the official DMCC Schedule of Charges lists AED 4,015 for company winding up and AED 2,015 for deregistration of a company that was registered but never issued a licence. These are different DMCC service categories, not general starting prices for all free zone companies. DMCC’s general conditions also refer to Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fees. Confirm the current payable assessment and any additional charges. Professional services and outstanding liabilities must be considered separately.
What Makes One Company More Expensive to Close?
Two companies with the same licence type can need different amounts of work.
These are factors to assess, not automatic extra charges. Ask the provider to explain why each quoted item applies.
A company with no sales may still have banking, contractual or tax matters to resolve. Describe its actual history when requesting a quotation.
How to Calculate Your Closure Budget
Build a working estimate using:
Closure budget = applicable authority charges + third-party expenses + professional fees + outstanding obligations + an allowance for unresolved items.
Use this worksheet:
Track expected refunds, recoverable deposits and receivables separately until their amounts and timing are confirmed. An expected refund may not be available when an upfront payment falls due.
How to Compare Company Liquidation Quotations
Ask each provider the same questions:
- Which legal entity and licensing authority does this quote cover?
- Are government charges included or payable separately?
- Does the liquidator’s fee include the final report?
- Are required publications and notarisation included?
- How many employment or visa files are covered?
- Are accounting, tax filing and deregistration support included?
- Is VAT included in the quoted professional price?
- What could trigger an additional fee?
- What documents or approvals mark completion of the agreed scope?
- What is the payment schedule?
Ask for exclusions in writing. “Company closure package” can describe a limited administrative service or a broader coordination engagement; the written scope should explain which.
Can Delays Increase the Cost?
They can, depending on what remains active and the terms that apply.
For instance, an uncancelled subscription can continue billing. A lease may have notice requirements. Missing records can create additional preparation work.
Ask your adviser to identify time-sensitive matters before starting. Coordinate contracts, records and account closures rather than waiting for one final cancellation document to solve every issue.
For related practical advice, read our guide to common mistakes when liquidating a Dubai company.
What to Send When Requesting a Closure Quote
Prepare a short overview containing:
- A copy of the trade licence and its expiry date.
- The company's legal form and licensing authority.
- Number of employees and company-sponsored individuals.
- VAT and corporate tax registration status.
- Whether accounting records are current.
- Details of bank accounts, loans and guarantees.
- Active office, supplier and other important agreements.
- Known unpaid balances, fines or disputes.
- Whether shareholders are available to sign.
Avoid sending unnecessary personal documents in an initial enquiry. Start with the information needed to identify the scope, then provide requested supporting records through the agreed channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to close a company in Dubai?
There is no single total for every company. The cost depends on the licensing authority, legal structure, professional work and outstanding obligations. Obtain an itemised quotation that separates closure fees from debts, employee settlements and other liabilities.
Is the Dubai mainland licence cancellation fee the total liquidation cost?
No. Invest in Dubai lists AED 1,020 for licence cancellation, but dissolution and other applicable charges may also apply. Professional fees, publication, documentation and outstanding obligations must be assessed separately.
Is the liquidator’s report included in the liquidator’s fee?
It depends on the quotation. Ask whether appointment, financial review, the final report and responses to authority queries are included. Check for overlapping charges before comparing prices.
Is corporate tax deregistration free?
The FTA lists the corporate tax deregistration service as free of charge. Professional assistance, accounting preparation, outstanding tax and administrative penalties are separate matters.
Does a company with no sales cost nothing to close?
No. A company without sales may still have applicable authority charges, professional work, contracts, banking matters or tax obligations. The company’s actual records determine the work required.
Are free zone closure fees the same across Dubai?
No. Each authority has its own service categories and charges. Check the fee schedule and requirements of the authority that issued the company’s licence.
Request a Company Closure Quotation
For a more useful quotation, share your trade licence, licence expiry date, employee and visa details, tax registration status and an overview of outstanding contracts or balances.
Contact Dahhan Business Services to discuss the coordination support required and request a quotation based on your company’s circumstances.
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