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Free zone company setup in Dubai and the UAE
Own 100% of your company with no local partner. Free zone licenses start from AED 4,888, and we compare the zones for you so you pay for what your business actually needs.
Response within 15 minutes during working hours
What a free zone company is
Full ownership, your own zone's rules
You can own a free zone company 100% yourself, with no local partner. The company is licensed by the free zone where you register, and every zone has its own prices, office rules and list of allowed activities. There are more than 40 free zones across the UAE.
The license price is only part of the cost. Visas, the establishment card, the medical test and Emirates ID are usually paid on top, and each zone draws that line in a different place. Two zones with the same headline price can end up thousands of dirhams apart once you add two visas.
So we don't start with a zone. We start with your activity, how many visas you need and whether you'll need a bank account quickly. Then we compare two or three zones that fit, with the full cost of each, and you choose.
Our advice is free. We recommend the zone that suits your business, whether it's the cheapest one or not. If a free zone is the wrong choice for you, we'll say so before you pay anything.
Is a free zone right for your business?
It suits most service, trading and online businesses
A free zone company usually works well if you are:
- A consultant, agency or freelancer billing clients inside or outside the UAE
- Selling online or running an e-commerce store
- Importing, exporting or re-exporting goods
- A foreign investor who wants a UAE company fully in your own name
- A founder who needs a residence visa for yourself and your family
When mainland is the better choice
Choose a Dubai mainland company instead if you want to sell directly to customers inside the UAE without a distributor, or if you need a shop, restaurant, clinic or any place where the public walks in. A free zone company can't do either of those on its own.
Some clients need both. A mainland company for local sales and a free zone company for international work is a common setup, and we can run both files together. Not sure which fits? Our mainland vs free zone consultation gives you a written answer.
Which free zone to choose
A quick comparison of the zones we work with most
This is a general guide. The right zone for you depends on your activity, your visa count and your bank, and prices change during the year, so we confirm the current offer in writing.
| Free zone | Cost | Office | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFZADubai | Low | Flexi desk | General trading, consulting, e-commerce |
| MeydanDubai | Low | Flexi desk | General trading, consulting, e-commerce |
| SPC Free ZoneSharjah | Low | Flexi desk | Media, technology and general activities |
| SHAMSSharjah | Low | Flexi desk, or freelancer permit | Media and creative work |
| Ajman Free ZoneAjman | Low | Flexi desk or office | General trading |
| RAKEZRas Al Khaimah | Low to medium | Flexi desk up to warehouse | Industrial, manufacturing and general |
| DMCCDubai | High | Dedicated office | Commodities, established firms that need strong bank standing |
If your activity is a regulated financial service, you'll need DIFC or ADGM, which run their own rules and require a dedicated office. Tell us your activity and we'll confirm which zones can license it.
Documents you need for a free zone company
Clear scans matter as much as the documents themselves
Free zones ask for fewer documents than mainland, but they're strict on quality. A cropped, blurred or incomplete scan gets sent back, so we check everything before it's submitted.
| Who | Documents we need |
|---|---|
| Every shareholder | Clear passport copy with at least six months' validity, and a passport photo on a white background. |
| Shareholders living in the UAE | Emirates ID and residence visa copy. If your current visa is with an employer, some zones ask for a no objection letter from them. |
| The company | Three trade name options in order of preference, and the activities you want on the license. |
| A company as shareholder | Certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association and a board resolution approving the new company. Documents issued outside the UAE need attestation and legal translation. |
Some zones also ask for a short business plan, a CV for the manager or professional certificates for certain activities. We'll send you the exact list for your zone before any fee is paid.
How free zone company setup works
Six steps from first call to your first visa
Times depend on the zone. The fastest zones issue a license in a few working days on a complete file. Zones that need an extra approval take longer.
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Zone comparisonAlmotmaken | We compare two or three zones for your activity and visa count, and send you the full cost of each. | 1 working day |
| 2. Name and applicationFree zone | Your trade name is reserved and the application is filed with your documents. | 1 to 2 working days |
| 3. Initial approvalFree zone | The zone approves the shareholders and the activity. Some zones run a compliance check here. | 1 to 3 working days |
| 4. Office and company documentsFree zone | The flexi desk or office agreement is signed and the company documents are issued for signature. | 1 to 2 working days |
| 5. License issuedFree zone | Fees are paid and you receive the trade license, certificate of incorporation and share certificate. | 1 to 2 working days |
| 6. Establishment card and visasImmigration | The establishment card is opened, then each visa goes through entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. | 7 to 15 working days |
For each visa step in detail, see our visa management page. Once your license is ready, we can also help with your corporate bank account.
Free zone company setup cost
From AED 4,888, and what gets added on top
The cheapest free zone license we've formed recently was AED 4,888, in Ajman Free Zone. That was a license only, with no visa, and the price includes our service fee. It's the right starting point if you want a company for invoicing and don't need a residence visa through it.
Your total goes up with each of these:
- A package with a visa allocation, if you need visas
- The establishment card, which the company needs before any visa
- Each visa, with its medical test, Emirates ID and insurance
- A dedicated office, if your zone or your visa count needs one
- Extra activities outside the zone's standard group
Try our free zone cost calculator for a quick estimate across 30 zones. Your written quote then confirms the exact total, with our service fee already included.
The license renews every year. Ask us for the renewal cost of each zone before you choose, because renewal prices differ from zone to zone.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on free zone company setup, cost, visas, offices and banking.
What is the cheapest free zone license in the UAE?
The cheapest one we've formed recently was AED 4,888 in Ajman Free Zone, for a license with no visa, including our service fee. Prices change during the year as zones run offers, so we confirm the current lowest option when you contact us.
If you need a visa, compare packages that include one. A cheap license plus a visa added later can cost more than a package with the visa built in.
Can a free zone company sell to customers in mainland Dubai?
Not directly. To sell goods to customers inside the UAE, a free zone company usually works through a mainland distributor or opens a mainland branch. If most of your customers are local, a mainland company is often simpler.
Do I need an office?
Not at most low cost zones. IFZA, Meydan, SPC, SHAMS and Ajman accept a flexi desk, which is included in the package. You'd only need a dedicated office for a larger number of visas, or if you choose a zone like DMCC, DIFC or ADGM where an office is required.
Can I get a residence visa with the AED 4,888 license?
No, that license has no visa allocation. If you need a visa for yourself, your family or staff, choose a package with visas included. Tell us how many you'll need in the first year and we'll compare the right packages.
Can I set up a free zone company without coming to the UAE?
Yes, several zones accept the application fully online, so the license can be issued while you're abroad. You'll need to be in the UAE later for the visa medical test and Emirates ID fingerprints.
Will a bank open an account for my free zone company?
Usually yes, but it depends on the zone, your activity and your profile. Banks know some zones better than others, and a flexi desk with no other UAE presence can make some banks hesitate. We look at banking when we compare zones, not after the license is issued.
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need
We'll compare the zones that fit and send you the total cost of each in writing.
No spam. No follow up calls unless you ask. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.
Related services
- Mainland vs Free Zone Consultation
- Virtual Office
- Offshore Company Formation
- Freelance Permit
- UAE Residence Visa Services
- Corporate Bank Account Opening in the UAE
Further reading
Want the numbers first? UAE Free Zone Cost Calculator
