Free zones and authorities

UAE free zones compared

Which zone to set up in, what it costs, and the authorities we get your work done with.

Fixed price quoted up front
Mainland and every free zone
Licence, visas, banking, one team
Most licences in days, not weeks

UAE free zones give you 100 percent foreign ownership, full profit repatriation and one of the fastest routes to a licence. They differ on cost, on the activities they license and on the visa quota they allow, not on the ownership rule, which is the same across all of them.

A UAE free zone is its own licensing authority, granting 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation and a fast, packaged licence. The twenty zones we set up in differ on cost, on the activities they license and on the visa quota the workspace carries, not on the ownership rule, which is the same across all of them. A qualifying free zone person can also access a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, while 9% applies above AED 375,000 on the rest.

Cost and recognition pull in different directions. SPC in Sharjah and Ajman Free Zone sit among the lowest entry points, with SPC publishing packages from AED 5,750; IFZA and Meydan give a flexible Dubai address at a mid price, with Meydan known for bundling a flexi-desk and supporting bank letters; and DMCC costs more but carries the strongest bank recognition, built around commodities trading and the Dubai Diamond Exchange in Jumeirah Lake Towers.

Specialist zones match specific industries: Dubai Internet City and Dubai Silicon Oasis for technology, Dubai Media City and d3 for media and design, Dubai Healthcare City for clinics, DIFC and ADGM for finance, and JAFZA and Dubai South for logistics and trade. We compare the real all-in cost of the zones that fit your activity and visa count, and quote a fixed, itemised total rather than a headline figure that grows at renewal.

The honest deciding factor is where your clients are and what you can spend: a value zone such as Ajman starts from AED 4,888 all in, while a Dubai address in DMCC, IFZA or Meydan costs more.

Free zones at a glance

Free zoneAuthorityBest suited to
DMCC (JLT) Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) The UAE's largest free zone, in the heart of Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
IFZA (Dubai) International Free Zone Authority, Dubai A popular Dubai free zone with flexible packages and no owner presence needed.
Meydan (Dubai) Meydan Free Zone, Dubai A central Dubai free zone that is strong for e-commerce and bank access.
DIFC Dubai International Financial Centre (DFSA + DIFC Authority) The Gulf's leading financial centre, under its own English common law.
ADGM (Abu Dhabi) Abu Dhabi Global Market (FSRA + ADGM Registration Authority) Abu Dhabi's common-law financial centre for SPVs, foundations and funds.
DAFZA Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority Premium free zone inside Dubai International Airport, for trade and distribution.
JAFZA (Jebel Ali) Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (DP World) The UAE's original industrial free zone, at the world's largest man-made port.
Ajman Free Zone Ajman Free Zone Authority The most affordable all-in free zone licence for Dubai-based owners.
RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Affordable licences and the cheapest warehousing, run from Dubai.
Sharjah (SHAMS / SPC) Sharjah free zones (SHAMS, SPC) Low-cost media, e-commerce and services licences next door to Dubai.
Dubai Internet City Dubai Development Authority (TECOM Group cluster) The technology cluster on Sheikh Zayed Road, home to the regional tech names.
Dubai Media City Dubai Development Authority (TECOM Group cluster) The media and advertising cluster, from broadcasters to agencies.
Dubai Design District (d3) Dubai Development Authority (TECOM Group cluster) The design, fashion and architecture cluster beside Business Bay.
Dubai Knowledge Park Dubai Development Authority (TECOM Group cluster) The education, training and human resources cluster.
Dubai Production City Dubai Development Authority (TECOM Group cluster) The printing, publishing and packaging cluster, formerly IMPZ.
Dubai Studio City Dubai Development Authority (TECOM Group cluster) The film and television production cluster, with sound stages.
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DSOA) The technology park and integrated community, now part of DIEZ.
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) The healthcare and medical education cluster, with its own regulator.
Expo City Dubai Expo City Dubai Authority (ECDA) A free zone on the Expo 2020 site, beside Al Maktoum airport.
SPC Free Zone SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City), a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority A low-cost Sharjah free zone with 2,000+ activities and unlimited visas.

Choose a zone

Authorities we work with

We are a consultancy, not a government body. These are the authorities we prepare and submit your applications to, and what each one does for your company.

Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)

Licenses mainland companies in Dubai and registers trade names and activities. We prepare and submit your mainland licence application, initial approval and activity list to the DET.

Official site

Federal Tax Authority (FTA)

Administers corporate tax and VAT across the UAE. We handle your corporate tax and VAT registration, filing and any Small Business Relief or free zone tax position with the FTA.

Official site

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Issues Dubai residence visas, entry permits and establishment cards. We process your investor, employment and family visas, medicals and Emirates ID through the GDRFA.

Official site

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)

Runs the federal identity and residency system, including the Emirates ID and the golden visa nomination path. We submit and track your applications through the ICP where the route requires it.

Official site

Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)

Regulates mainland employment, work permits and labour contracts. We register your establishment and process staff work permits and contracts with MOHRE.

Official site

Ministry of Economy

Oversees commercial agencies, intellectual property and trademark registration. We file and prosecute your UAE trademark application through the Ministry of Economy.

Official site

Dubai Land Department (DLD)

Registers Dubai real estate and issues the title deeds used for the property route to the golden visa. We coordinate the title deed and valuation evidence your residency application needs.

Official site

Frequently asked questions

  • Which UAE free zone is the cheapest?

    Ajman Free Zone is the most affordable of the zones we set up in, with all-in packages from AED 4,888. RAKEZ and Sharjah follow. Dubai zones such as DMCC, IFZA and Meydan cost more but carry a Dubai address, so the right choice depends on budget against where your clients are.

  • What is the difference between a free zone and a free zone authority?

    A free zone is the jurisdiction you license in. The free zone authority is the body that issues the licence and visas for it, such as DMCC for the DMCC free zone or IFZA for its own. Each authority sets its own activities, visa quota and rules.

  • Can a free zone company do business anywhere in the UAE?

    A free zone company trades freely inside its zone and internationally. To sell directly into the wider UAE mainland it usually appoints a distributor or opens a mainland branch.

  • Do free zone companies pay corporate tax?

    A free zone company can access a 0 percent rate on qualifying income only if it is a Qualifying Free Zone Person with real substance in the zone. It is conditional, not automatic.

  • Which authorities handle a UAE company setup?

    Depending on your structure: the free zone authority or the Department of Economy and Tourism for the licence, GDRFA and ICP for residence visas and Emirates ID, the Federal Tax Authority for corporate tax and VAT, MOHRE for staff, and the Ministry of Economy for trademarks.

Sources

  1. UAE Government, free zones u.ae
  2. Federal Tax Authority, Corporate Tax tax.gov.ae

Figures verified September 2026 against the sources above.

Government fees and rules change. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. We confirm the current position in writing before you commit.

Not sure which zone?

Tell us your activity, visa needs and budget. We will name the right zone and a fixed all-in quote.