UAE Free Zones
Every free zone quotes a different price, visa quota and activity list, and the cheapest licence is rarely the cheapest structure once banking and tax enter the picture. These are the zones we place clients in most, with the honest trade-offs of each.
Dubai
25 zonesDMCC
DubaiDubai Multi Commodities Centre
24,000+ member companies in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. The default choice for trading, commodities and increasingly Web3 businesses.
- Licence
- from AED 34,000 first year
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
IFZA
DubaiInternational Free Zone Authority
Aggressively priced, fast, and flexible on activities. The volume leader for consultants, freelancers stepping up, and service SMEs.
- Licence
- from AED 12,900
- Setup
- 3 to 7 working days
JAFZA
DubaiJebel Ali Free Zone
The UAE's original mega free zone: port-side logistics, warehousing and manufacturing at a scale no other zone matches.
- Licence
- from AED 15,500
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
DIFC
DubaiDubai International Financial Centre
English common law, an independent regulator and 6,000+ firms. The address for funds, fintech, family offices and financial services.
- Licence
- from AED 45,000 (non-regulated)
- Setup
- 2 to 8 weeks (longer if DFSA-regulated)
Meydan
DubaiMeydan Free Zone
Digital-first setup with a Meydan address minutes from Downtown. Popular with e-commerce, consultants and online businesses.
- Licence
- from AED 12,500
- Setup
- 3 to 7 working days
Dubai South
DubaiDubai South Free Zone
Aviation, logistics and e-commerce next to Al Maktoum International, with the Expo City corridor driving a decade of growth.
- Licence
- from AED 12,500
- Setup
- 1 to 2 weeks
DUQE
DubaiDUQE Free Zone
A newer, founder-focused zone headquartered on the QE2 at Port Rashid. Fast, affordable and unapologetically startup-oriented.
- Licence
- from AED 12,500
- Setup
- 3 to 7 working days
DAFZA
DubaiDubai Airport Free Zone
On-airport offices and bonded logistics at DXB, favoured by aviation, electronics, pharma and luxury-goods traders.
- Licence
- from AED 20,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
Dubai Silicon Oasis
DubaiDubai Silicon Oasis (DIEZ)
A full tech township under the DIEZ umbrella: electronics and IT firms, the Dtec co-working ecosystem and cost-effective licences.
- Licence
- from AED 14,000
- Setup
- 1 to 2 weeks
Dubai Internet City
DubaiDubai Internet City (TECOM)
The address where global tech runs its Middle East operations. Premium offices, deep talent pool and TECOM's established licensing.
- Licence
- from AED 20,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Dubai Media City
DubaiDubai Media City (TECOM)
CNN, Reuters, MBC and the region's agency networks broadcast from here. The licence of record for serious media businesses.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
d3
DubaiDubai Design District (d3)
Fashion houses, design studios and creative agencies in Dubai's purpose-built design quarter, host of Dubai Design Week.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Dubai Knowledge Park
DubaiDubai Knowledge Park (TECOM)
Training institutes, HR consultancies and professional-development providers, licensed in the cluster built for human capital.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Dubai Science Park
DubaiDubai Science Park (TECOM)
The cluster for pharma distributors, lab operators, biotech and science-driven firms, with wet-lab capable space.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Dubai Studio City
DubaiDubai Studio City (TECOM)
The production backbone of the region's screen industry: sound stages, workshops, backlots and broadcast facilities.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Dubai Production City
DubaiDubai Production City (TECOM)
The graphic-industries zone: printers, packaging converters and publishers with warehouse-office combos at sensible rates.
- Licence
- from AED 14,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
Dubai Outsource City
DubaiDubai Outsource City (TECOM)
Purpose-built for outsourcing: contact-centre-grade floors, resilient connectivity and licensing shaped for BPO providers.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Academic City
DubaiDubai International Academic City (TECOM)
Branch campuses of international universities and higher-education ventures, licensed in the zone built for academia.
- Licence
- from AED 20,000
- Setup
- 4 to 12 weeks with approvals
Dubai Healthcare City
DubaiDubai Healthcare City (DHCC)
Hospitals, specialist clinics and healthcare companies under the DHCA's dedicated regulatory regime, minutes from Downtown.
- Licence
- from AED 18,000
- Setup
- 4 to 12 weeks (clinical)
Dubai CommerCity
DubaiDubai CommerCity (DIEZ)
Purpose-built for online retail: e-commerce licensing plus in-zone fulfilment centres and last-mile logistics next to DXB.
- Licence
- from AED 20,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
Gold & Diamond Park
DubaiGold and Diamond Park (JAFZA)
Workshops, offices and retail showrooms for jewellers under JAFZA administration, in the trade's established SZR home.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
Dubai Maritime City
DubaiDubai Maritime City
A purpose-built peninsula for the marine economy: ship repair, yacht services, maritime trading and services firms.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 4 weeks
Dubai Industrial City
DubaiDubai Industrial City (TECOM)
One of Dubai's largest industrial bases: food, machinery, chemicals and logistics parks with land to build at scale.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 2 to 6 weeks
Expo City
DubaiExpo City Dubai Free Zone
A new free zone across the Expo legacy site: sustainability-branded, COP28's venue, and the centre of Dubai's southern growth plan.
- Licence
- from AED 15,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
DWTC
DubaiDubai World Trade Centre Free Zone
The city's events landmark doubling as a free zone, notable for hosting VARA-regulated virtual-asset businesses.
- Licence
- from AED 20,000
- Setup
- 1 to 4 weeks
Sharjah
6 zonesSHAMS
SharjahSharjah Media City
Licences from under AED 6,000 with no office requirement. The budget entry point for creators, media companies and lean startups.
- Licence
- from AED 5,750
- Setup
- 3 to 5 working days
SAIF Zone
SharjahSharjah Airport International Free Zone
Established 1995 beside Sharjah International Airport: trading, logistics and light manufacturing with quick licensing and low costs.
- Licence
- from AED 8,000
- Setup
- 1 to 5 working days
SRTIP
SharjahSharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park
Labs, pilot facilities and licences built for research-driven companies, from ag-tech and water to advanced manufacturing.
- Licence
- from AED 5,500
- Setup
- 1 to 2 weeks
Hamriyah
SharjahHamriyah Free Zone (HFZA)
A port-side heavy-industrial base: steel, petrochemicals, maritime and manufacturing on Sharjah's Arabian Gulf coast.
- Licence
- from AED 9,000
- Setup
- 1 to 2 weeks
Publishing City
SharjahSharjah Publishing City (SPC)
Publishers, printers and content businesses in the zone created around Sharjah's UNESCO book-city credentials.
- Licence
- from AED 6,500
- Setup
- 3 to 7 working days
Healthcare City
SharjahSharjah Healthcare City (SHCC)
A healthcare-dedicated zone licensing clinical facilities and medical businesses at Sharjah cost levels.
- Licence
- from AED 12,000
- Setup
- 4 to 10 weeks (clinical)
Ras Al Khaimah
2 zonesRAKEZ
Ras Al KhaimahRas Al Khaimah Economic Zone
One authority spanning free zone and non-free-zone parks in RAK: manufacturing, trading and services at some of the UAE's lowest costs.
- Licence
- from AED 6,500
- Setup
- 3 to 7 working days
RAK DAO
Ras Al KhaimahRAK Digital Assets Oasis
A purpose-built home for Web3: DAOs, protocols, NFT ventures and crypto-native service firms, with DAO legal wrappers unique in the region.
- Licence
- from AED 10,000
- Setup
- 1 to 2 weeks
Abu Dhabi
4 zonesADGM
Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi Global Market
English common law applied directly, the FSRA regulator, and the capital's sovereign-wealth ecosystem. DIFC's serious rival.
- Licence
- from AED 20,000 (SPVs lower)
- Setup
- 1 to 6 weeks (longer if FSRA-regulated)
KEZAD
Abu DhabiKhalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi
KIZAD's successor: vast industrial land, Khalifa Port integration and Abu Dhabi's manufacturing push under AD Ports Group.
- Licence
- from AED 10,000
- Setup
- 2 to 6 weeks
Masdar City
Abu DhabiMasdar City Free Zone
Renewable energy, sustainability and deep-tech firms in the low-carbon district that houses IRENA's headquarters.
- Licence
- from AED 12,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
twofour54
Abu Dhabitwofour54 Abu Dhabi (Yas Creative Hub)
CNN Arabic, Sky News Arabia and international productions work from Yas Creative Hub, with rebates for filming in the emirate.
- Licence
- from AED 12,000
- Setup
- 1 to 3 weeks
Ajman
2 zonesAjman Free Zone
AjmanAjman Free Zone (AFZ)
One of the UAE's oldest budget zones: trading, services and light industry with port access and aggressive package pricing.
- Licence
- from AED 6,000
- Setup
- 1 to 5 working days
Ajman Media City
AjmanAjman Media City Free Zone (AMCFZ)
Rock-bottom licence pricing with a media branding: the entry point for freelancers, creators and micro-businesses.
- Licence
- from AED 5,000
- Setup
- 2 to 5 working days
Fujairah
2 zonesFujairah Free Zone
FujairahFujairah Free Zone (FFZ)
Trading and industrial licences at the UAE's east-coast port, prized for oil trading, shipping and Hormuz-independent logistics.
- Licence
- from AED 8,500
- Setup
- 1 to 5 working days
Creative City
FujairahFujairah Creative City
A low-cost media-and-services zone popular with freelancers, consultancies and online businesses across the region.
- Licence
- from AED 6,000
- Setup
- 2 to 5 working days
Not sure which zone fits?
Tell us the activity, the visa count and the budget, and we come back with a side-by-side of the two or three zones that actually fit, with the full landed cost of each. No fee for the comparison.
- Full first-year cost, not the headline price
- Banking realism for your activity and profile
- Qualifying free zone tax treatment checked upfront