Answer a few questions about your business activity, visa count, preferred emirate, budget, office needs and banking priority.
Quick answer: The UAE Free Zone Finder at UAE Freezone Compare scores every zone against eight published factors — Year-one cost (25%), activity flexibility (15%), renewal cost (15%), banking difficulty (15%), visa flexibility (10%), setup speed (10%), hidden-cost risk (5%) and reputation/location (5%) — and returns a shortlist with fit scores, reasons, tradeoffs and quote next steps.
Bottom line: Cost drives the shortlist — Year-one cost (25%) plus renewal cost (15%) equals 40% of every fit score, so a zone rarely wins on reputation or speed alone.
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Default free zone recommendation output
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| Recommendation type | Free zone | Fit score | Package / configuration | Year 1 planning cost | Renewal status | Banking difficulty | Why it fits | Why it may not fit | Source confidence | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | IFZA | 89/100 | 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 | Quote-based renewal - confirm the current package | Medium | Dubai-based consultants, service companies, e-commerce founders and startups. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Conflicting public sources; Multiple public consultant sources; current written quote required | |
| Cheapest comparable configuration | ANCFZ | 93/100 | Zero Visa official 1- or 3-year package | AED 4,888 official 1-year zero-visa package | AED 4,888 current 1-year list price; renewal follows the approved price list for the selected duration | Medium | Low-budget Ajman setup, micro-businesses, general trading and small service companies. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Verified official price; Official authority 2026 package table | |
| Best Dubai option | Meydan Free Zone | 88/100 | AED 12,500 Dubai Company Formation | AED 12,500 advertised amount only; Starting amount; inclusions require confirmation. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. | Current renewal quote required for this configuration | Medium | Dubai address-focused startups, consultants, digital businesses and entrepreneurs. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Indicative official starting price; Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | |
| Best banking-ready option | DMCC | 81/100 | Standard company setup fee components | AED 34,185 standard company fee components before office, visas and add-ons; current schedule confirmation required | AED 22,090 annual standard licence renewal plus establishment-card components before office and add-ons | Medium to high | Premium trading, commodities, crypto-adjacent, consultancy and JLT address-led companies. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Indicative public price; Published DMCC fee schedule components; reconfirm current configuration | |
| Best visa option | UAQ FTZ | 86/100 | Zero-visa General Trading annual package | AED 7,000 official zero-visa General Trading annual package | AED 7,000 official renewal for the same named package | Medium | Cost-sensitive general trading and import/export founders who do not need a visa in the base package. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Verified official price; Official authority package article; three-year total is documented arithmetic | |
| Best trading / logistics option | RAKEZ | 88/100 | Basic Package | AED 6,000 advertised amount only; Advertised package amount. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. | Current renewal quote required for this configuration | Medium | SMEs, trading, light industrial, warehouse-led, e-commerce and cost-sensitive service businesses. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Verified official price; Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | |
| Best media option | SHAMS | 85/100 | Standard | AED 6,875 advertised amount only; Advertised annual amount; not a complete total. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. | Current renewal quote required for this configuration | Medium | Media, creator, consultancy, digital service and founder-led businesses that fit the SHAMS activity list. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Verified official price; Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total | |
| Best alternative | SPC Free Zone | 80/100 | Standard License (licence only) | AED 6,875 advertised amount only; Starting amount; inclusions require confirmation. Complete mandatory-cost quote required. | Current renewal quote required for this configuration | Medium | Publishing, consulting, e-commerce, services and founder-led companies needing flexible activity packaging. | Confirm exact activity, visa allocation, office requirement, banking profile and current package before payment. | Indicative official starting price; Official source; named advertised configuration, not complete setup total |
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By submitting this form, you agree that UAE Freezone Compare or a vetted partner may contact you about your request. We do not guarantee government approval, bank approval, visa approval, or unchanged pricing.
Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team
Reviewed by: UAE Business Setup Research Team
Last reviewed: October 2026
Our free zone guides are prepared by the UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team and reviewed using public authority information, official package pages, available fee schedules, partner quotations, and manual research. Prices may change depending on activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure, and authority approval.
Related reading: our how we verify UAE free zone cost data (last reviewed October 2026).
Finder notes
Are these UAE free zone prices final?
No. Prices are indicative or quote-based unless marked as verified official pricing. Final pricing depends on activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure, authority approval and free zone updates.
Can UAE Freezone Compare recommend a free zone?
Yes. Share your business activity, visa need, budget, office requirement and banking priority so the team can shortlist practical options and current quotes.
Does bank account approval depend only on the free zone?
No. Bank approval depends on activity, shareholder profile, residency, documentation, expected transactions, compliance checks and bank policy.