Compare free zones by visa options, office requirements, medical/Emirates ID costs and renewal exposure.
Quick answer
Compare free zones by visa options, office requirements, medical/Emirates ID costs and renewal exposure.
Ranking 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 |
| 11 | JAFZA | Dubai | Large trading, logistics, warehouse, import/export and industrial companies needing port access. | Quote-based - confirm current package | Renewal quote required | Quote-based 3-year total | Depends on facility | Medium to high | Quote-based | June 2026 | Request Quote |
| 12 | Dubai South | Dubai | Logistics, aviation, import/export and Dubai address companies near Al Maktoum Airport. | Quote-based - confirm current package | Renewal quote required | Quote-based 3-year total | Depends on package | Medium | Quote-based | June 2026 | Request Quote |
Methodology summary
Scoring uses Year 1 cost, renewal exposure, visa flexibility, activity fit, banking difficulty, setup speed, hidden-cost risk and suitability for the stated use case.
Hidden cost warning
The cheapest license can become expensive after establishment card, office allocation, visa processing, medical exam, Emirates ID, insurance, amendment and renewal charges.
FAQs
| Is the cheapest free zone always best? | No. Activity approval, banking, visas and renewal cost can matter more than the first invoice. |
|---|---|
| Are these prices final? | No. Rows are indicative or quote-based unless separately marked with source proof. |
Useful internal links
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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.
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Main Ranking Table
The table below uses the hardened cost dataset with source type, price confidence and conflict status. Quote-based rows require current authority or partner confirmation before payment.
| Recommended Free Zone | Package | Estimated Year-1 Cost | Estimated Renewal Cost | Estimated 3-Year Cost | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Banking Difficulty | Hidden-Cost Risk | Best For | Year 1 Confidence | Last Reviewed | Source Type | Conflict Status | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANCFZ | Zero Visa official 1- or 3-year package | AED 4,888 official 1-year zero-visa package Confidence: Verified official price Checked: July 2026 |
AED 4,888 current 1-year list price; renewal follows the approved price list for the selected duration Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official authority 2026 package table |
AED 14,664 official 3-year zero-visa package Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official authority 2026 package table |
0 visas | Lease agreement included; flexi/shared desk allocation to confirm | Medium | The AED 14,664 figure is the authority-published three-year zero-visa package, not an assumption that every future renewal invoice will stay unchanged. Confirm the current approved price list before payment. | Low-budget Ajman setup, micro-businesses, general trading and small service companies. | Verified official price | July 2026 | Official authority 2026 package table | No material public conflict recorded | |
| SHAMS | Standard | AED 6,875 advertised amount only; Advertised annual amount; not a complete total. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. Confidence: Verified official price Checked: 2026-10-18 |
Current renewal quote required for this configuration Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
Cannot calculate complete three-year cost until renewal and mandatory extras are confirmed Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
Included visa processing and maximum allocation require confirmation | Flexi-desk listed; confirm access and lease rights | Medium | Advertised named offer only, not a complete mandatory setup invoice. Confirm current eligibility, offer validity, activity, shareholders, premises and applicant-specific charges. VAT treatment, Emirates ID card issuance fee, insurance, levies, deposits and other mandatory extras are unresolved, not zero. Fixed-renewal marketing is subject to terms; matching itemised renewal charges are not established. No complete renewal or three-year total is calculated. Advertised visa allocation, visa processing and maximum quota are different; no bank account or visa approval is promised. Standard lists a flexi-desk but does not state a processed-visa count or exact allocation on this card; no zero-visa entitlement is inferred. Not established by activity listing; confirm the exact selected activity is allowed under this named offer. | Media, creator, consultancy, digital service and founder-led businesses that fit the SHAMS activity list. | Verified official price | 2026-10-18 | Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | Current package / renewal confirmation required | |
| SPC Free Zone | Standard License (licence only) | AED 6,875 advertised amount only; Starting amount; inclusions require confirmation. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. Confidence: Indicative official starting price Checked: 2026-10-18 |
Current renewal quote required for this configuration Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
Cannot calculate complete three-year cost until renewal and mandatory extras are confirmed Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
0 visas priced in this reference; maximum allocation and approval not established | Coworking lease; physical office optional; confirm actual workspace rights | Medium | Public package reference, not a complete mandatory-cost quote. Confirm current activity eligibility, taxes, offer validity and applicant-specific charges. Confirm name-reservation charges, inside-country status change, registration, actual workspace rights and any fees outside the published licence or worked example. Not established by zone-level activity listing; confirm this exact package supports the activity. | Publishing, consulting, e-commerce, services and founder-led companies needing flexible activity packaging. | Indicative official starting price | 2026-10-18 | Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | Current package / renewal confirmation required | |
| Ajman Free Zone (AFZA) | E-commerce starting package | From AED 5,555 official e-commerce starting package Confidence: Indicative public price Checked: Not officially verified as a complete setup total |
Quote-based renewal - AFZ states the amount is shown in the customer portal Confidence: Needs confirmation Source: Current authority or partner quote required |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on confirmed renewal and add-ons Confidence: Needs confirmation Source: Depends on confirmed renewal evidence |
0-visa e-commerce starting package; residence visas are separate and package-dependent | No physical office is required for the named e-commerce package; unlimited coworking access is listed | Case-by-case: banks assess the activity, owners, documents, source of funds and transaction profile | The AED 5,555 amount is a starting e-commerce package, not a universal AFZA setup total. Confirm activity wording, visas, immigration services, renewal and facility requirements before payment. | E-commerce founders and small digital trading businesses that can use an Ajman base and do not need a dedicated physical office in the named package. | Indicative public price | July 2026 | Official Ajman Free Zone e-commerce article; starting package only | Current package / renewal confirmation required | |
| Ajman Media City | Business Club annual package | AED 4,999 Business Club 0-visa official package Confidence: Verified official price Checked: June 2026 |
AED 4,999 annual renewal for Business Club package Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official authority package page |
AED 14,997 3-year license cost before add-ons Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official authority package page |
0 visas; upgrade required for visa allocation | Co-working space listed for Business Club package | Medium | Visa-inclusive packages start higher; confirm whether immigration services, medical, Emirates ID and insurance are included before payment. | Creators, digital startups, freelancers and lean service businesses that do not need a visa in the base package. | Verified official price | July 2026 | Official authority package page | No material public conflict recorded | |
| UAQ FTZ | Zero-visa General Trading annual package | AED 7,000 official zero-visa General Trading annual package Confidence: Verified official price Checked: July 2026 |
AED 7,000 official renewal for the same named package Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official authority package article; three-year total is documented arithmetic |
AED 21,000 calculated from the published annual price across three years Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official authority package article; three-year total is documented arithmetic |
0 visas in the published AED 7,000 configuration; visa packages are separate | Lease agreement and coworking access are listed for the published package | Medium | This row applies only to the named zero-visa General Trading package. Do not blend it with UAQ LYTE, UAQ START or visa-inclusive packages. | Cost-sensitive general trading and import/export founders who do not need a visa in the base package. | Verified official price | July 2026 | Official authority package article; three-year total is documented arithmetic | No material public conflict recorded | |
| RAKEZ | Basic Package | AED 6,000 advertised amount only; Advertised package amount. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. Confidence: Verified official price Checked: 2026-10-18 |
Current renewal quote required for this configuration Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
Cannot calculate complete three-year cost until renewal and mandatory extras are confirmed Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
Included visa processing and maximum allocation require confirmation | coworking access | Medium | Published named package amount only; a complete mandatory-cost breakdown and taxes remain unconfirmed. One shareholder, one activity and coworking are stated. A zero-visa application card was not conclusively bound to this named offer; visa count remains unknown. Confirm the selected activity is eligible under this named package; no inclusions are transferred between variants. | SMEs, trading, light industrial, warehouse-led, e-commerce and cost-sensitive service businesses. | Verified official price | 2026-10-18 | Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | Current package / renewal confirmation required | |
| RAK Innovation City | Idea annual technology package | AED 6,600 official Idea annual package Confidence: Verified official price Checked: July 2026 |
Quote-based renewal - confirm the current annual package Confidence: Needs confirmation Source: Current authority or partner quote required |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on confirmed renewal Confidence: Needs confirmation Source: Depends on confirmed renewal evidence |
0 visas on Idea; Seed, Startup and Growth packages list visa options | Shared desk included on Idea, Seed and Startup; dedicated desk included on Growth | Medium to high | The authority bills the packages annually but does not publish a separate renewal schedule on the cited page. Confirm the current package, activity scope, visa processing cost and renewal invoice before payment. | AI, Web3, gaming, robotics, health-tech and digital-first founders needing a Ras Al Khaimah technology-focused setup. | Verified official price | July 2026 | Official authority package page | Current package / renewal confirmation required | |
| IFZA | Zero-visa public package range; visa-inclusive totals require current itemised quote | AED 11,900 to AED 12,900 public zero-visa planning range; one-visa and all-in totals require current itemised quote Confidence: Conflicting public sources Checked: Not officially verified |
Quote-based renewal - confirm the current package Confidence: Needs confirmation Source: Current authority or partner quote required |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on renewal Confidence: Needs confirmation Source: Depends on confirmed renewal evidence |
0-visa public package range; one-visa and all-in totals require current written quote | Flexi desk and inclusions vary; confirm the written offer | Medium | Public sources disagree on headline, visa-inclusive and all-in IFZA package totals. UAE Freezone Compare therefore shows only the zero-visa planning range and keeps renewal, one-visa and complete all-in totals quote-based until an itemised current quote is reviewed. | Dubai-based consultants, service companies, e-commerce founders and startups. | Conflicting public sources | July 2026 | Multiple public consultant sources; current written quote required | Conflicting public sources - confirm current package | |
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 12,500 Dubai Company Formation | AED 12,500 advertised amount only; Starting amount; inclusions require confirmation. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. Confidence: Indicative official starting price Checked: 2026-10-18 |
Current renewal quote required for this configuration Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
Cannot calculate complete three-year cost until renewal and mandatory extras are confirmed Confidence: Current quote required Source: Matching current authority quote required; no renewal assumed |
0 visas priced in this reference; maximum allocation and approval not established | Flexi-desk solution; confirm access rights and lease terms | Medium | Public package reference, not a complete mandatory-cost quote. Confirm current activity eligibility, taxes, offer validity and applicant-specific charges. Not established by zone-level activity listing; confirm this exact package supports the activity. | Dubai address-focused startups, consultants, digital businesses and entrepreneurs. | Indicative official starting price | 2026-10-18 | Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | Current package / renewal confirmation required | |
| DMCC | Standard company setup fee components | AED 34,185 standard company fee components before office, visas and add-ons; current schedule confirmation required Confidence: Indicative public price Checked: July 2026 |
AED 22,090 annual standard licence renewal plus establishment-card components before office and add-ons Confidence: Indicative public price Source: Published DMCC fee schedule components; reconfirm current configuration |
AED 78,365 3-year core components before office, visas, VAT/levies and add-ons Confidence: Indicative public price Source: Published DMCC fee schedule components; reconfirm current configuration |
Visa entitlement depends on office/facility; visa processing is separate | A qualifying JLT/DMCC office or approved facility is required and priced separately | Medium to high | The three-year value is arithmetic from the published Year 1 components plus two published annual renewal/establishment-card component periods. It is not a complete DMCC occupancy or immigration invoice. | Premium trading, commodities, crypto-adjacent, consultancy and JLT address-led companies. | Indicative public price | July 2026 | Published DMCC fee schedule components; reconfirm current configuration | Review inclusions before payment | |
| JAFZA | FZCo registration and service licence components | AED 10,000 FZCo registration plus annual service licence components before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price Checked: July 2026 |
AED 5,000 annual service licence renewal component before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official JAFZA Investor Guide fee schedule; partial setup components |
AED 20,000 3-year registration plus service licence components before facility and add-ons Confidence: Verified official price Source: Official JAFZA Investor Guide fee schedule; partial setup components |
Visa access depends on the selected facility; immigration fees are separate | A workstation, office, warehouse, showroom or other qualifying facility is required and priced separately | Medium to high | AED 10,000 is not a complete JAFZA setup invoice. Facility choice and annual related charges materially change Year 1, renewal and three-year outlay; trading, logistics and industrial licences also use different official fee lines. | Large trading, logistics, warehouse, import/export and industrial companies needing port access. | Verified official price | July 2026 | Official JAFZA Investor Guide fee schedule; partial setup components | No material public conflict recorded |