The 12 Most Popular UAE Free Zones, Compared
The list below covers the zones most frequently chosen by foreign entrepreneurs setting up in the UAE. Prices reflect the starting cost for a basic licence package and may vary based on activity type, visa inclusion, and office choice.
SRTIP Free Zone (Sharjah) starts at AED 5,750 and is best suited for tech, R&D, and industrial startups.
SHAMS, Sharjah Media City (Sharjah) starts at AED 5,750 and is popular with media companies, marketing agencies, and freelancers.
SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) starts at AED 5,750 and covers general trading and service businesses.
Ajman Free Zone (Ajman) starts at AED 6,000 and works well for budget-conscious startups and trading companies.
RAKEZ Free Zone (Ras Al Khaimah) starts at AED 6,010 and supports industrial, general trading, and e-commerce businesses.
JAFZA (Dubai, Jebel Ali) starts at AED 9,000 and is the go-to zone for logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing.
Meydan Free Zone (Dubai) starts at AED 12,500 and is a strong option for consulting, services, and general trading.
DUQE Free Zone (Dubai) starts at AED 12,500 and caters to professional services and consultants.
IFZA (Dubai) starts at AED 12,900 and offers a wide range of activities, making it popular with expat entrepreneurs.
DAFZA, Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dubai) starts at AED 25,000 and specialises in aviation, logistics, IT, and pharma.
DIFC (Dubai) starts at AED 30,000 and is the established hub for finance, legal, and fintech companies.
DMCC (Dubai) starts at AED 33,000 and is internationally recognised for commodities, gold, diamonds, and trading.
What Actually Drives the Price Difference
A zone starting at AED 5,750 and one starting at AED 33,000 are not offering the same thing. The price gap comes down to four factors.
First, location prestige. A Dubai address (especially DIFC or DMCC) carries weight with international banks and clients. Sharjah or Ajman zones cost less but may require more effort when opening corporate bank accounts, particularly with Dubai-based banks.
Second, included services. Some zones bundle flexi-desk, visa, and establishment card into the base price. Others charge for each separately, so a "cheap" licence can become expensive once add-ons are factored in.
Third, activity scope. Premium zones like DMCC and JAFZA support complex multi-activity licences, customs bonded warehouses, and physical storage. Budget zones may limit the number of activities on a single licence.
Fourth, regulatory reputation. Zones with strong international recognition (DMCC has won "Global Free Zone of the Year" multiple times) make due diligence easier for banking and investor relations.
What Most People Get Wrong When Comparing Zones
The most common mistake is choosing a zone based on licence cost alone. A zone that saves AED 5,000 on the licence but delays bank account opening by three months (because the bank sees that zone as higher risk) costs far more in lost time and revenue.
Another frequent error: assuming all zones support the same business activities. A food trading company cannot register in a media-focused zone like SHAMS. An architecture consultancy should not be in a commodities zone. The activity list matters, and it must match the zone's approved activity categories.
Finally, some founders pick a zone outside Dubai to save money, then discover their clients or partners expect a Dubai address. Moving zones later means re-registration, new licence fees, and potentially re-doing the visa process. Getting this right the first time is worth the extra research.
Dubai vs Non-Dubai Free Zones: The Real Trade-Off
Starting Licence Cost: Dubai free zones range from AED 9,000 to 33,000. Non-Dubai zones (Sharjah, Ajman, RAK) range from AED 5,750 to 6,010.
Address Prestige: Dubai zones are highly preferred by banks and international clients. Non-Dubai zones carry lower prestige, and some banks may ask more questions.
Bank Account Opening: Generally smoother with Dubai-based free zones. Non-Dubai zones may require additional documentation.
Office Commute: Dubai zones are closer to main business districts. Non-Dubai zones may require daily travel into Dubai.
Visa Residency: Dubai zones issue a Dubai visa. Non-Dubai zones issue an emirate-specific visa, though it is valid UAE-wide.
Activity Range: Broader in most Dubai zones. Non-Dubai zones are sufficient for common activities.
For businesses that operate entirely online or serve international clients, a non-Dubai zone can be the smarter financial choice. For businesses that need to meet clients in Dubai regularly or want the easiest path to corporate banking, a Dubai zone is worth the premium.
Visa Quotas by Zone Type
Every free zone sets its own rules for how many visas a licence holder can sponsor. The allocation usually depends on the office type, not the licence cost.
Flexi-desk packages typically include 1 to 3 visa allocations. Dedicated offices can offer 5 to 6 or more. RAKEZ offers a notable deal: its AED 11,990 package includes 1 free lifetime visa, which is rare at that price point.
Visa costs are separate from the licence fee in most cases. Budget AED 3,000 to 5,000 per visa for processing, medical, and Emirates ID. Some premium packages bundle the first visa into the licence fee, so read the inclusions carefully.
For more on what a UAE residence visa includes and how the process works, see the residence visa guide.
How to Shortlist the Right Zone
Start with three questions. What is the primary business activity? This eliminates zones that do not support it. What is the year-one budget, including visa and office costs? This narrows the list to affordable options. Does the business need a Dubai address, or is a Sharjah or RAK address acceptable?
For most service-based businesses (consulting, marketing, IT), zones like Meydan, IFZA, or SHAMS cover the requirements at a reasonable cost. For trading and logistics, JAFZA and RAKEZ offer the infrastructure. For finance and legal, DIFC is the established choice despite the higher entry cost.
If the budget is tight and the business does not require a Dubai address, SPC Free Zone or Ajman Free Zone at around AED 5,750 to 6,000 provide a legitimate licence with full ownership and visa eligibility.
For a recommendation based on your specific business activity and budget, book a free consultation with CorpWise.
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