Free zones
Choose the right UAE free zone
Eight free zones across four emirates, from AED 5,500 for a licence. Each suits a different kind of business — here is an honest comparison rather than a sales pitch.
At a glance
Licence-only starting costs. Visa allocations, facilities and activity permissions differ considerably — the detail pages cover each properly.
| Free zone | Emirate | Licence from | Issued in | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,500 | 2–5 working days | Consultants and professional service firms |
| Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | AED 14,500 | 24–48 hours | Consultancies serving corporate or enterprise clients |
| SHAMS | Sharjah | AED 5,750 | 2–4 working days | Freelancers and solo consultants |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 6,500 | Same day, in many cases | Businesses needing both free-zone and mainland reach |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,800 | 3–5 working days | Manufacturing and light industrial businesses |
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | AED 5,500 | 2–5 working days | First-time founders testing a business idea |
| ANC Free Zone | Ajman | AED 5,500 | 2–4 working days | Freelancers formalising into a company |
| SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 9,500 | 5–10 working days | Deep technology and R&D businesses |
These are indicative 2026 market ranges, shown so you can budget realistically. Government fees change and every case differs — we send a fixed written quote covering your exact activity, visa count and facility before you commit to anything.
Every zone in detail
- Dubai
IFZA
The most flexible Dubai licence for consultants and traders
- Licence from
- AED 12,500
- Issued in
- 2–5 working days
- Dubai
Meydan Free Zone
A prestigious Dubai address with fully digital setup
- Licence from
- AED 14,500
- Issued in
- 24–48 hours
- Sharjah
SHAMS
Low-cost licensing for media, creative and service businesses
- Licence from
- AED 5,750
- Issued in
- 2–4 working days
- Sharjah
SPC Free Zone
Instant licence issuance and dual-licence options
- Licence from
- AED 6,500
- Issued in
- Same day, in many cases
- Ras Al Khaimah
RAKEZ
Industrial and trading strength at northern-emirate cost
- Licence from
- AED 6,800
- Issued in
- 3–5 working days
- Ajman
Ajman Free Zone
One of the most affordable routes to a UAE trade licence
- Licence from
- AED 5,500
- Issued in
- 2–5 working days
- Ajman
ANC Free Zone
Competitive packages for freelancers and small agencies
- Licence from
- AED 5,500
- Issued in
- 2–4 working days
- Sharjah
SRTIP
For technology, research and innovation-led businesses
- Licence from
- AED 9,500
- Issued in
- 5–10 working days
Free zone questions
What is the difference between a free zone and mainland company?
A free-zone company is licensed by a free-zone authority and can trade internationally and within its own zone, but cannot sell directly to the UAE mainland market without a distributor or dual licence. A mainland company is licensed by the emirate's economic department and can trade anywhere in the UAE, including with government entities. Free zones are usually cheaper and faster; mainland gives you unrestricted local market access.
Which free zone is cheapest?
Ajman Free Zone and SHAMS are consistently among the lowest-cost options, with licence-only packages starting around AED 5,500. But the cheapest licence is not always the cheapest outcome — factor in renewal costs, visa allocation and whether the zone will cause friction when you open a bank account.
Can I get a residence visa through any free zone?
Yes, provided your package includes a visa allocation. The number of visas you can sponsor depends on your facility — a flexi desk typically supports two to three, while private offices and warehouses scale with floor area.
Do free-zone companies pay corporate tax?
They must register for corporate tax regardless. A qualifying free-zone person can access a 0% rate on qualifying income, but this requires meeting substance requirements and avoiding excluded income such as most mainland revenue. Income that does not qualify is taxed at 9% above the AED 375,000 threshold.
How quickly can I get a licence?
SPC and Meydan frequently issue within 24 to 48 hours. Most other zones take two to five working days once documents are complete. Residence visas add a further one to three weeks on top.
Still deciding between zones?
Tell us what you plan to sell and to whom. We'll recommend the zone that actually fits — including when the answer is mainland instead.