UAE Free Zones Under AED 15,000 Per Year — 2026 Rankings
If budget is your primary concern, these UAE free zones offer a fully-featured company setup for under AED 15,000 per year. Ranked by year 1 cost.
UAE Free Zones Under AED 15,000 Ranked
| Zone | Year 1 (AED) | Renewal (AED) | Banking | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| twofour54 | 5,000 | 4,000 | ⚠️ Challenging | 14 days |
| RAK Innovation City | 7,500 | 6,500 | ✅ Easy | 5 days |
| KEZAD | 8,000 | 7,000 | ✅ Moderate | 14 days |
| SAIF Zone | 10,800 | 9,500 | ✅ Moderate | 10 days |
| Ajman Free Zone | 11,000 | 9,500 | ⚠️ Moderate | 10 days |
| ADAFZ | 11,500 | 10,000 | ✅ Moderate | 14 days |
| SHAMS | 12,000 | 10,000 | ⚠️ Moderate | 7 days |
| SPC Free Zone | 13,165 | 11,720 | ✅ Easy | 5 days |
| Dubai Knowledge Park | 13,180 | 11,500 | ✅ Easy | 10 days |
| RAKEZ | 14,000 | 12,000 | ✅ Easy | 7 days |
⚠️ Banking Warning: twofour54 has a challenging banking difficulty score — many licensees struggle to open UAE bank accounts. For budget-conscious businesses that also need easy banking, RAK Innovation City (AED 7,500, Easy banking) and SPC Free Zone (AED 13,165, Easy banking) offer the best combination.
Best Budget Zone Pick for 2026
RAK Innovation City at AED 7,500/year offers the best combination of low cost, easy banking, and fast setup (5 business days). It is our top pick for entrepreneurs on a tight budget who need UAE company + investor visa.
Runner-up: SPC Free Zone at AED 13,165 — slightly more expensive but has a Dubai presence and strong banking relationships.