Compare UAE free zones by setup cost, renewal fees, visa quota, business activity eligibility, banking difficulty, office requirement, setup timeline, and hidden costs.
Use these crawlable side-by-side comparison pages first, then use the interactive tool below for a custom shortlist.
| Comparison | Best For | Key Difference | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA vs Meydan | Dubai startups and consultants | Compare cost, Dubai location, visas, and banking | View Comparison |
| IFZA vs DMCC | Consultants, traders, and premium setup seekers | Compare low-cost flexibility vs premium reputation | View Comparison |
| RAKEZ vs IFZA | Low-cost setup and SME comparison | Compare cost, visas, activities, and banking | View Comparison |
| DMCC vs JAFZA | Trading and premium infrastructure | Compare prestige, logistics, cost, and offices | View Comparison |
| DAFZA vs DMCC | Dubai premium free zone comparison | Compare trading, airport access, and banking | View Comparison |
| SPC vs SHAMS | Media, creators, and freelancers | Compare media activities, cost, and flexibility | View Comparison |
| ADGM vs DIFC | Finance and professional services | Compare regulatory environment and prestige | View Comparison |
| Dubai South vs JAFZA | Logistics and trade | Compare logistics, warehouses, and port/airport access | View Comparison |
Choose at least 2 free zones from the panel on the left to generate your comparison table.
Compare annual license fees, registration costs, and renewal fees. Some zones have lower upfront costs but higher renewals.
Understand how many employee visas your chosen package includes and the cost for additional visas.
Ensure your business activity is permitted in the zone. Some zones specialise in specific sectors like media, finance, or technology.
Check if the zone requires a physical office, flexi-desk, or virtual office. This significantly affects the total cost.
Consider proximity to airports, ports, and city centres. Location matters for client meetings and logistics operations.
Processing times vary from same-day to several weeks. If you need to start trading quickly, this is a key factor.
RAKEZ and SHAMS are among the most affordable, with packages from AED 4,500 to AED 5,750 per year.
Compare up to 5 UAE free zones side by side across setup costs, visa quotas, licence types and business activities.
Yes — use the activity filter to find which free zones support your activity before comparing costs and visas.
Yes, completely free with no sign-up required. Compare as many UAE free zones as you need.
Tell us about your business — our experts will match you with the right UAE free zone.