Free Zone company setup in the UAE,Choose the right business activity.
Choose from over 45 Free Zones across the UAE's seven emirates, each offering different costs, business activities, and banking prospects. Our senior advisors assess your business model, budget, and banking requirements to recommend the most suitable jurisdiction and provide a transparent fixed-price quotation. Trusted by entrepreneurs since 2013.
100% foreign ownership, No local sponsor
0% corporate tax under QFZP, 0% personal income tax
Free, no commitment. You leave the call with a written shortlist of 2 to 3 zones.
15+
Years in UAE
1,500+
Companies Registered
45+
Free Zones covered
4.8★
85+ Google reviews
Why a Free Zone
Four reasons entrepreneurs choose a UAE Free Zone for long-term growth.
While the core benefits are similar across all Free Zones, each jurisdiction differs in terms of permitted business activities, licensing costs, office solutions, and banking reputation. This guide helps you compare these key factors and identify the Free Zone best suited to your business.
100% foreign ownership
Set up your company with 100% foreign ownership, no Emirati partner, a business-friendly tax regime, and a simple registration process. No profit and dividend repatriation
0% tax under QFZP
Qualifying Free Zone Persons keep the 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. Personal income tax is 0%.
License within 5 days
Clean applications are issued in under a week in most zones. Residency visa and Emirates ID follow in another 5 to 10 days; corporate bank account in 2 to 6 weeks.
Full profit repatriation
No currency controls. No withholding tax on dividends paid to foreign shareholders. Free movement of capital in and out of the UAE.
The 7 emirates
Same country,Seven different markets.
Licensing costs, permitted activities, and banking accessibility vary considerably across the UAE’s seven emirates. The sections below explore each jurisdiction in detail, starting with Dubai and continuing through the Northern Emirates.
Dubai hosts more than 30 Free Zones, covering sectors including media, financial services, logistics, healthcare, and digital assets. As the UAE's principal commercial hub, Dubai remains the jurisdiction of choice for international investors and entrepreneurs due to its advanced infrastructure, access to skilled talent, and mature banking and regulatory environment.
Sharjah balances lower overheads with quick-access ports on both the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Strong on light manufacturing, publishing, education and freelancer-friendly media licenses.
SHAMS (Sharjah Media City)
Best for: Freelancers · agencies · content businesses
From
AED 5,750
One of the lowest-cost media licenses in the UAE: single-shareholder, zero-visa packages from AED 5,750.
SAIF Zone
Best for: Trading · logistics · light industry
From
AED 16,500
Direct airport access, on-site warehouses, multilingual government services.
Hamriyah Free Zone
Best for: Petrochemicals · manufacturing · food
From
AED 15,000
Deep-water port for industrial inputs; sector-specific zones for steel and timber.
Sharjah Publishing City
Best for: Publishing · printing · distribution
From
AED 14,000
Only Free Zone in the region dedicated to the publishing industry.
Ajman is where Entrepreneurs go when budget is the first constraint. Strong on services, trading and light industrial, with limited brand prestige with global banks, but workable with the right structuring.
Ajman Free Zone
Best for: Trading · services · small industrial
From
AED 5,555
Entry packages with virtual office and one visa allocation included.
Ajman Media City
Best for: Freelancers · media · IT
From
AED 4,999
Activity bundling allowed: media + IT + consultancy on one license.
Ajman Nuventures
Best for: Freelancers · media · IT
From
AED 4,888
Ajman Nuventures is a new Ajman Free Zone for freelancers and small businesses, with low-cost licenses and flexible activity options.
RAK is a strong-value choice for industrial activities and asset-holding structures. RAKEZ alone hosts more than 14 000 companies, and pricing is consistently lower than central Dubai.
Fujairah is the UAE's east-coast emirate, facing the Indian Ocean. Useful for bunkering, maritime and any business that benefits from a non-Strait-of-Hormuz port.
Fujairah Free Zone
Best for: Maritime · trading · light industry
From
AED 6,000
Adjacent to Port of Fujairah, the third-largest bunkering hub in the world.
Fujairah Creative City
Best for: Media · marketing · freelancers
From
AED 7,500
Activity-flexible licenses with a single shareholder, popular with remote Entrepreneurs.
UAQ Free Trade Zone is small but predictable, with fixed pricing, low overhead, and a fast issuance process. Best for service businesses that do not need a high-prestige address.
UAQ Free Trade Zone
Best for: Services · consulting · trading
From
AED 5,500
Single-window licensing with the lowest renewal fees among Northern emirate zones.
Abu Dhabi Free Zones cluster around two strengths: federal-grade compliance (ADGM) and industrial scale (KEZAD). Best fit for regulated finance, government-adjacent business, and heavy industry.
KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones)
Best for: Manufacturing · logistics · agritech
From
AED 9,450
Industrial-scale plots and warehouses adjacent to Khalifa Port and the national rail network.
twofour54
Best for: Media · production · gaming
From
AED 14,000
Subsidised licenses for production houses, generous content-creation incentives.
ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market)
Best for: Financial services · family offices
From
AED 47,000
English common-law courts, FSRA-regulated, top-tier reputation with global banks.
Masdar City Free Zone
Best for: Cleantech · sustainability · R&D
From
AED 13,500
Sector-focused community with attractive entry pricing for innovation businesses.
Book a 30-minute strategy call. We shortlist 2 to 3 zones for your activity, compare them on price, banking and visa profile, and send the quote within 24 hours.
Explore over 20 Free Zones across all seven emirates. A brief consultation with one of our advisors is all it takes to identify the best fit for your business.
Comparison of 20 UAE Free Zones across 7 emirates: emirate, banking-tier reception, best-fit activity and entry-level 2026 license price.
Prices are entry-level license packages for 2026 and may vary with activity, visa count and office option. Government fees included. Tier 1 / 2 / 3 banking reflects the typical reception by Tier-1 UAE banks (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB) for a clean-profile applicant.
Which Free Zone fits your business?Eight activities, our default picks.
These are the Free Zones we most frequently recommend for specific business activities. However, every recommendation is validated against your unique business model, projected revenue streams, banking profile, and long-term objectives before we issue a final quote. After all, standard recommendations are only a starting point not a final decision.
Consulting & professional services
Default:
IFZA· from AED 12,900
Alternates:
Meydan · SHAMS
E-commerce & online retail
Default:
Meydan· from AED 12,520
Alternates:
IFZA · RAKEZ
Fintech, crypto & web3
Default:
DMCC· from AED 34,340
Alternates:
RAK DAO · ADGM
Media, creative & production
Default:
SHAMS· from AED 5,750
Alternates:
twofour54 · TECOM Media City
Tech, SaaS & development
Default:
DIC (TECOM)· from AED 22,000
Alternates:
IFZA · DMCC
Trading & general commerce
Default:
JAFZA· from AED 27,500
Alternates:
DMCC · Hamriyah
Maritime, logistics, shipping
Default:
RAK Maritime· from AED 18,000
Alternates:
JAFZA · Hamriyah
Manufacturing & industrial
Default:
KEZAD· from AED 18,000
Alternates:
Hamriyah · RAKEZ
Cost spectrum
From AED 4,888 to AED 50,000.Explore what each level of investment includes.
Free-zone pricing is not a single number; it is a five-rung ladder. Same regulatory regime, very different signals to banks, customers and the tax authority.
1
Entry
AED 4,888
Ajman Nuventures
Budget-led setups, services, light trading.
2
Value
AED 12,520
Meydan (Dubai)
Most common entrepreneur choice: Dubai address at low license.
Quote in 24 h, license in days,bank account in weeks.
The same five-step path for every Free Zone in the country, executed by the same senior advisor from first call to working IBAN.
01
Day 1
Free 30-minute call
We map your activity, target market and budget against the right zone. You leave the call with a written shortlist of 2 or 3 zones.
02
Day 2
Fixed-price quote in 24 h
One PDF, all-in: license, lease, visas, bank introduction, government fees.
03
Day 3 to 5
Trade license issued
Trade-name reservation, activity codes, initial approval, Memorandum of Association (remote or in JLT), then the trade license, typically 3 to 5 working days.
04
Day 5 to 10
Residency visa & Emirates ID
Establishment card → entry permit → status change → medical, biometrics, Emirates ID. Scheduled and accompanied step by step, for you and your family.
From the initial consultation, you will work directly with a Dedicated Senior advisor responsible for assessing your objectives, identifying the most suitable jurisdiction, managing the incorporation process, and overseeing all related regulatory and administrative procedures. The same advisor will continue to support you on an ongoing basis as your business grows and evolves.
01
Dedicated Senior Advisor
You will work directly with a Dedicated Senior advisor from day one. Your advisor will assess your requirements, identify the most suitable jurisdictions, manage the entire application process, and remain your long-term point of contact for ongoing guidance and support.
02
Simple & fast process
One advisor from license to bank account.
03
Free advice
Free 60-min consultation to find the right zone for your activity, no commitment.
04
Multilingual
Our advisors speak English, Arabic, French, Urdu and Hindi, all in-house.
05
Since 2013
We have helped 1 500+ business owners set up in the UAE since 2013.
06
Meet us in JLT
Office 1908, Jumeirah Bay X2. Drop in, or book a video call online.
07
All 7 emirates
45+ Free Zones across the country, not a single zone.
08
Supporting services
Visa, banking, accounting, VAT, family sponsorship.
Meet us in person
Come and meet us in JLT,in person.
Office 1908, 19th floor, Jumeirah Bay X2, Cluster X, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. Walk-ins welcome, or call us first to make sure your advisor is in the building.
Ajman Nuventures at AED 4,888 for an entry license with no visa allocation. SHAMS in Sharjah offers a media license from AED 5,750 (single shareholder, zero visa). The trade-off is brand prestige with global banks: for most Entrepreneurs, IFZA at AED 12,900 with a Dubai address is the better value-for-money entry point. Any quote below AED 11,000 typically excludes establishment-card or government fees, so ask for a line-item breakdown before you sign.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a UAE Free Zone company?
Yes. UAE Free Zones permit full foreign ownership, allowing investors to establish, operate, and transfer their companies without the need for a local sponsor or Emirati shareholder. The company remains entirely under your ownership and control from incorporation through to any future sale or transfer.
How does 0% corporate tax actually work in a Free Zone?
Free Zone companies that meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) criteria (substance, qualifying income, transfer-pricing compliance) keep the 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% federal rate. We structure activity and contracts to stay inside the QFZP envelope wherever possible.
Can a Free Zone company trade in the UAE Mainland?
Not directly. Free Zone companies invoice the Mainland via a local distributor, a Mainland branch, or a Dual License (where available, e.g. DMCC × DET). If most of your revenue is UAE Mainland B2C, a Mainland company is usually the cleaner structure. See our /company-formation-in-dubai/ page for that path.
How long does the full Free Zone setup take?
Trade license: 2 to 7 working days in most zones (1 day in eligible IFZA / Meydan packages). Residency visa and Emirates ID: 5 to 10 days after the license. Corporate bank account: 2 to 6 weeks depending on the bank and activity. Realistic end-to-end timeline: 30 to 45 days from signed quote to operational company with a working IBAN.
Do I need a physical office in a Free Zone?
Most zones offer flexi-desk or virtual-office packages that satisfy the licensing requirement without a dedicated office. As the company grows beyond 6 to 10 employees, zones require a dedicated office, so we plan the transition and shortlist co-working spaces inside the zone if you want to scale flexibly.
How do Free Zone companies open a UAE corporate bank account?
Successful bank account opening starts with proper pre-assessment and preparation. We review your business activity, source of funds, shareholder profile, and anticipated transaction flows against the compliance requirements of multiple banking institutions before any application is submitted. The banks most commonly used by our clients include Emirates NBD, Mashreq, ADCB, Wio, and RAKBANK.
Can I move my company between Free Zones later?
Yes, most zones allow inbound and outbound transfers. The legal entity is continued (not liquidated), so contracts, history and banking relationships transfer with it. We have done this many times when an entrepreneur outgrows their initial zone, e.g. SHAMS → DMCC for a media business scaling into commodities advisory.
Free Zone vs Mainland vs Offshore: how do I choose?
Free Zone: best for international services, E-commerce, holdings, regulated finance. Mainland: best for UAE-domestic B2C, government contracts, retail. Offshore: best for pure asset-holding with no UAE operations. We map this trade-off live during the initial consultation, usually in under 20 minutes, and get expert recommendations.
Is the Free Zone license enough to get a residency visa?
Yes. Every Free Zone trade license includes one or more residency visa allocations (1 visa as standard, scalable to 6+ depending on the package). The visa lasts 2 years and is renewable indefinitely as long as the license remains active. Family-member visas (spouse, children, parents) are sponsored under the same establishment card.
“Highly recommended. A professional team, prompt on every detailed query and seamless on every requirement, trade license, corporate tax, bank account, residence ID, medical.”
Maha Badr
“Simply impeccable. They didn't just meet deadlines, they anticipated them, with quick and effective solutions even in complex situations.”
Largo Home
“Very efficient. Company formation, employment contract, residency visa, and all the prerequisites handled. Friendly and professional throughout.”
One advisor.From company formation to corporate banking.
A 30-minute consultation is all it takes to receive a tailored proposal, a transparent quotation, and a written roadmap delivered the same day. You will deal directly with an experienced advisor throughout the process.
