Compare bank account options, documents, rejection risks and free zone fit.
Quick answer
Compare bank account options, documents, rejection risks and free zone fit.
Decision table
| Rank | Free Zone | Emirate | Best For | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Banking Difficulty | Price Confidence | Last Reviewed | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANCFZ | Ajman | Low-budget Ajman setup, micro-businesses, general trading and small service companies. | From AED 4,888 planning figure | Renewal quote required | 3-year quote required | 0-2 visas | Medium | Indicative public price | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 2 | SHAMS | Sharjah | Media, creator, consultancy, digital service and low-cost UAE setup profiles. | From AED 5,750 planning figure | Renewal quote required | 3-year quote required | 0-3 visas | Medium | Indicative public price | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 3 | SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | Publishing, consulting, e-commerce, services and founder-led companies. | From AED 5,750 planning figure | Renewal quote required | 3-year quote required | 0-3 visas | Medium | Indicative public price | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 4 | Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | Budget trading and SME setup where an Ajman base is acceptable. | From AED 6,000 planning figure | Renewal quote required | 3-year quote required | 0-4 visas | Medium | Indicative public price | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 5 | Ajman Media City | Ajman | Freelancers, media services and creator-led businesses needing a lean setup. | Quote-based - confirm current package | Renewal quote required | Quote-based 3-year total | 0-2 visas | Medium | Quote-based | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 6 | UAQ FTZ | Umm Al Quwain | Cost-sensitive service and trading setup outside Dubai. | Quote-based - confirm current package | Renewal quote required | Quote-based 3-year total | 0-4 visas | Medium | Quote-based | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 7 | RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | SMEs, trading, light industrial, warehouse-led, e-commerce and cost-sensitive service businesses. | From AED 6,000 planning figure | Renewal quote required | 3-year quote required | Up to 6 visas | Medium | Indicative public price | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 8 | IFZA | Dubai | Dubai-based consultants, service companies, e-commerce founders and startups. | AED 12,900 zero-visa Year 1 planning figure (public consensus, 2026 sources) | Renewal quote required | 3-year quote required | 0-3 visas | Medium | Indicative public price | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 9 | Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | Dubai address-focused startups, consultants, digital businesses and entrepreneurs. | Quote-based - confirm current package | Renewal quote required | Quote-based 3-year total | 0-3 visas | Medium | Quote-based | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 10 | DMCC | Dubai | Premium trading, commodities, crypto-adjacent, consultancy and JLT address-led companies. | Quote-based - confirm current package | Renewal quote required | Quote-based 3-year total | Depends on office | Medium to high | Quote-based | June 2026 | Request Quote |
Documents and mistakes
| Documents | Passport, photo, license, shareholder details, address, business description and supporting proof where relevant. |
|---|---|
| Common mistakes | Choosing only by first-year cost, ignoring renewal, weak bank documents, unclear activity wording and assuming visas are included. |
Useful internal links
Cost calculator | Free zone finder | Business activities | Cheapest free zones | Cost Index | Methodology
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Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team
Reviewed by: UAE Business Setup Research Team
Last reviewed: June 2026
Prices and fit notes are reviewed using public authority information, available package pages, fee schedules, partner quotations and manual research. Pricing can change based on activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure and authority approval.