Dubai Studio City vs JAFZA: Which UAE Free Zone Should You Choose?
Choosing between Dubai Studio City and JAFZA? This data-driven comparison covers licence costs, setup speed, banking, visa quotas, and 3-year total cost to help you decide.
- 💰 Cheaper Year 1: Dubai Studio City (AED 38,540 vs AED 40,000)
- ⚡ Faster Setup: Dubai Studio City (14 days vs 14 days)
- 🏦 Easier Banking: JAFZA
- 💼 Best 3-Year Value: Dubai Studio City (saves AED 7,960 over 3 years)
Cost Comparison: Dubai Studio City vs JAFZA
| Cost Item | Dubai Studio City | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Licence | AED 38,540 | AED 40,000 |
| Annual Renewal | AED 32,000 | AED 35,000 |
| Visa Quota (Base Package) | 1 visa(s) | 3 visa(s) |
| Investor Visa Cost | AED 4,000 | AED 4,500 |
| Setup Time | 14 days | 14 days |
| Banking Ease | ✅ Easy | ✅ Easy |
| 3-Year Total (Licence + 1 Visa) | AED 106,540 | AED 114,500 |
When to Choose Dubai Studio City
- ✅ You want a lower Year 1 cost (saves AED 1,460)
- ✅ You have existing relationships or activity-specific reasons for this zone
When to Choose JAFZA
- ✅ You prioritise easier bank account opening
- ✅ You need more visa slots (base package includes 3)
- ✅ Your specific business activity is better supported here
Bottom Line
Dubai Studio City wins on 3-year total cost by AED 7,960. However, cost is just one factor — also consider your specific business activity, whether you need UAE banking access quickly, and how many visas you’ll need in year 1. Use our cost calculator to model your exact scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Dubai Studio City to JAFZA later?
Yes — you can close one free zone company and open another in a different zone. However, this involves dissolving the first company, which can take 1–3 months and incur additional costs. It’s better to choose the right zone from the start using our Zone Finder Quiz.
Do both zones offer flexi-desk/virtual office?
Most UAE free zones offer flexi-desk packages (shared workspace address) as their entry-level option. Virtual office (address only, no physical access) is available at some zones. Confirm the exact package options directly with each zone before signing up.
Which zone is better for UAE bank account opening?
JAFZA has a lower banking difficulty score, suggesting a more straightforward account opening process. However, individual outcomes vary — nationality, business activity, and source-of-funds documentation all affect bank approval rates.
Explore More Comparisons
- Browse all UAE free zone comparison pages
- Mega comparison table — all zones filterable
- Dubai Studio City full profile
- JAFZA full profile