Quick answer
Dubai free zones should be shortlisted by activity and operating model before headline price. Meydan and IFZA are commonly assessed for service-led startups; DMCC and DWTC for established commercial or professional profiles; DAFZA for airport-linked business; JAFZA and Dubai South for trade, logistics and facilities; and specialist districts for technology, media, healthcare, education or regulated finance. Compare like-for-like package components, visas, workspace, renewal exposure and banking evidence before choosing.
How to Use This Dubai Free Zone Guide
A published licence amount is not automatically the Year 1 operating total. First confirm the exact activity and legal form. Then separate registration, annual licence, establishment or immigration services, visa processing, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, workspace, facility deposits, customs, external approvals and advisory support. The evidence table below uses the strongest reviewed public source for each named configuration and says when a value is only one component.
Do not compare a zero-visa service licence with a warehouse-led trading setup or a regulated financial entity as though they include the same services. Use the pricing methodology and UAE Free Zone Cost Index to understand the confidence labels.
Dubai Free Zones at a Glance
| Free zone | Practical use case | Cost position | Office / facility note | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan Free Zone | Consulting, digital services, e-commerce and Dubai-address-focused startups | Official/public regular licence component from AED 12,500; add-ons require confirmation | Confirm the current flexi/workspace and immigration scope in writing | Meydan profile |
| IFZA | Consulting, services, e-commerce and founder-led companies | Conflicting public zero-visa range; current written quote required | Flexi and office inclusions vary by offer | IFZA profile |
| DMCC | Trading, commodities, consultancy and JLT-based commercial profiles | Official core company components are available; office and add-ons remain separate | A qualifying JLT/DMCC facility is required | DMCC profile |
| DAFZA | Airport-linked trading, aviation, logistics and premium professional businesses | Official Scality package components are available before visas and external fees | Flexible working-space subscription in the compared route | DAFZA profile |
| JAFZA | Port-led trade, import-export, logistics, warehousing and industrial operations | Official registration and licence components are public; facility drives the complete budget | Workstation, office, warehouse or other qualifying facility required | JAFZA profile |
| Dubai South | Aviation, logistics, trade and businesses near Al Maktoum International Airport | Official Business Hub content publishes a base licence figure but package references require confirmation | Flexible workspace and facility options depend on the route | Dubai South profile |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | Technology, software, IT consultancy and innovation-led businesses | Official guide publishes service and trade package components | The reviewed package includes a Dtec coworking component | DSO profile |
| DWTC Free Zone | Central Dubai professional, commercial and event-related businesses | Official on-demand page publishes a licence component; complete total remains configurable | Workspace is selected separately | DWTC profile |
Source-Labelled Cost Components
These rows are planning evidence, not a universal cheapest-to-most-expensive ranking. Amounts use the currency published by the source. Each row identifies whether the source establishes a package, a partial component or a range.
| Zone / route | Reviewed Year 1 evidence | Renewal evidence | Important exclusions | Confidence and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan Regular business licence |
AED 12,500 regular licence component | AED 12,500 planning renewal before add-ons; confirm current terms | Visa allocation, establishment/immigration services, workspace changes and support | Official public price; renewal requires confirmation Official Meydan cost guidance, checked July 2026 |
| IFZA Zero-visa planning range |
AED 11,900 to AED 12,900 across reviewed public consultant sources | Quote-based: confirm the exact package and renewal | Official tariff, visa/immigration scope, flexi/office, activities and support | Conflicting public sources Current written quote required; see the IFZA evidence profile |
| DMCC Core company components |
AED 34,185 published application, registration, AoA, annual licence and establishment-card components | AED 22,090 annual standard licence renewal plus establishment-card components | Office, visas, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and activity-specific additions | Verified official components Official DMCC Schedule of Charges, checked July 2026 |
| DAFZA Scality setup |
AED 37,200 DAFZ fees before visa and external fees | AED 34,200 annual subscription before external fees | Visa, immigration, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and external approvals | Verified official price Official DAFZA Scality page, checked July 2026 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis Service / trade guide components |
AED 24,675 service or AED 27,675 trade in the official guide | AED 21,375 service or AED 24,375 trade for a succeeding year | Visas and any activity, facility or government item outside the named guide package | Indicative official guide Official DSO setup guide, checked July 2026 |
| Dubai South Business Hub base licence |
From AED 12,500 in current official Business Hub content | Quote-based: official content contains different package references | Visa, workspace, immigration, activity additions and facility requirements | Indicative official public price Official Dubai South Business Hub content, checked July 2026 |
| JAFZA FZCo / service licence components |
AED 10,000 FZCo registration plus applicable annual licence and facility components | AED 5,000 annual service-licence renewal component before facility and add-ons | Facility, visa, immigration, medical, insurance, customs and activity-specific charges | Verified official partial components Official JAFZA Investor Guide, checked July 2026 |
| DWTC Free Zone On-demand licence component |
AED 12,000 professional or commercial licence component | Quote-based: confirm current licence, workspace and add-ons | Registration/entity costs, workspace, immigration, visas and service support | Verified official component Official DWTC on-demand page, checked July 2026 |
Prices can change with activity, legal form, visa count, office or facility, shareholder structure, authority updates and support services. A partial component is not a complete company-setup total. Request the current itemised offer before payment.
Best-Fit Dubai Shortlist by Business Model
| Business model | Zones to assess first | Why | Main watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consulting or digital services | Meydan, IFZA, DMCC, DWTC | Different combinations of entry component, Dubai positioning and commercial environment | Confirm exact professional activity, visas, workspace and renewal |
| E-commerce or online platform | Meydan, IFZA, Dubai CommerCity, Dubai South | Service/e-commerce routes with different ecosystem and facility models | Separate software, portal, marketplace and physical-goods trading activities |
| General trading or commodities | DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, Dubai South | Trading ecosystems, customs/facility options and logistics access | Products, customs code, approvals, storage and bank transaction profile |
| Logistics, warehouse or import-export | JAFZA, Dubai South, DAFZA, Dubai Industrial City | Port, airport, facility and industrial infrastructure | Facility lease, deposits, utilities, customs and employee capacity |
| Technology or software | Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Internet City, Meydan, IFZA | Specialist technology ecosystem versus flexible service routes | Company route versus freelancer route and exact activity wording |
| Media, design or creative work | Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City | Specialist districts and freelance/company options | Do not treat a GoFreelance permit as the same as an FZ-LLC package |
| Regulated finance or investment | DIFC | Specialist legal and regulatory framework | Regulatory permissions, capital, staffing, office and supervision are separate from registration |
| Manufacturing or industrial operation | Dubai Industrial City, JAFZA, Dubai South | Facility-led industrial and logistics options | Warehouse/land, Civil Defence, municipality, environment, customs and utilities |
Visa and Office Planning
A visa quota is not the same as an issued visa and is not necessarily included in the headline licence component. Ask for a line-by-line schedule covering establishment or immigration services, entry permit or status change, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, deposit, cancellation and renewal.
| Requirement | What to confirm | Why it changes the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Zero visas | Whether the package can remain zero-visa and whether an establishment/immigration file is optional | A lower entry component may not support later residence without an upgrade |
| One or more visas | Quota, office/facility linkage, issuance stages and renewal | Workspace size and immigration charges can change with headcount |
| Flexi or coworking | What is included, access rights, lease evidence and renewal amount | Banks, visas and authorities may require evidence matching the real operation |
| Private office | Annual rent, deposit, Ejari/lease registration, utilities and fit-out | Facility cost can exceed the licence component |
| Warehouse or industrial unit | Size, power, approvals, customs, storage class, deposit and employee quota | This becomes a facility-led decision rather than a licence-price decision |
Use the visa cost calculator and visa-cost guide to model immigration separately.
Banking Readiness
No Dubai free zone guarantees a business bank account. A bank usually assesses the owners and controllers, residency, activity, source of funds, contracts, invoices, website, expected counterparties, countries, currencies and transaction values. A credible operating file normally matters more than the phrase “Dubai free zone” on its own.
Prepare the KYC file before applying. Use the banking difficulty checker, document checklist and CBUAE-listed bank research hub.
Hidden Costs to Check Before Payment
| Cost area | Question for the written quote | Risk if omitted |
|---|---|---|
| Registration and legal documents | Are incorporation, AoA and certificate charges included? | The licence headline may exclude one-time entity costs |
| Establishment / immigration services | Is the file/card included initially and at renewal? | Visa processing may not start without it |
| Visa processing | Does the total include entry permit/status change, medical, Emirates ID and insurance? | A visa quota can be mistaken for a paid issued visa |
| Workspace or facility | What are rent, deposit, registration, utilities, fit-out and annual escalation? | The facility can be the largest recurring cost |
| Activity additions / external approval | Are extra activity groups and regulator approvals included? | The selected licence may not cover the real revenue model |
| Renewal, amendment and closure | What are the current licence, facility, visa, amendment and liquidation charges? | A low Year 1 promotion can create higher later exposure |
Review the full UAE free-zone hidden-cost guide.
A Practical Selection Process
- Write the exact revenue activities, including software, consulting, portal, marketplace, trading or manufacturing distinctions.
- Confirm which Dubai authorities permit the exact wording and whether external approval is required.
- Choose the legal form, shareholder structure and intended visa count.
- State the real workspace, warehouse, customs or client-location requirement.
- Collect itemised Year 1 and renewal quotes for the same configuration.
- Prepare banking evidence before incorporation rather than after the licence is issued.
- Compare three-year exposure, amendment and closure costs before paying.
Useful Dubai Comparisons
- IFZA vs Meydan
- IFZA vs DMCC
- Meydan vs DMCC
- DMCC vs DAFZA
- DMCC vs JAFZA
- JAFZA vs Dubai South
- DAFZA vs Dubai South
- Dubai Internet City vs Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai Free Zone FAQs
Which Dubai free zone has the lowest setup cost?
There is no universal lowest usable total. A low licence component may exclude registration, establishment or immigration services, visas, workspace and support. Compare the same package configuration and request the current itemised quote.
Are Meydan and IFZA mainland Dubai companies?
No. They are Dubai free-zone jurisdictions. Confirm how the company will serve or trade with mainland UAE and whether another permit, distributor or mainland structure is required.
Which Dubai free zone may suit a consulting company?
Meydan and IFZA are commonly assessed for consulting and service activities, while DMCC or DWTC may suit businesses that value a different location or commercial profile. Exact activity wording, visa needs, office requirements and budget decide the shortlist.
Which Dubai free zone may suit logistics or import-export?
JAFZA and Dubai South deserve closer review for port, airport, warehouse or logistics-led operations. DAFZA may suit airport-linked trading. Facility, customs, activity and visa requirements must be confirmed.
Does choosing a Dubai free zone guarantee a bank account?
No. Banks assess the owners, activity, residency, source of funds, website, contracts, expected counterparties and transaction profile. No free zone or adviser can guarantee approval.
Are the prices in this guide complete company-setup totals?
Only when the row explicitly says so. Several official sources publish licence, registration or establishment-card components rather than complete operating totals. Every row identifies exclusions and confidence so unlike packages are not compared as equivalents.
Request a Current Dubai Shortlist
Share the exact activity, visa count, shareholder profile, budget and facility need. UAE Freezone Compare can help shortlist suitable Dubai routes and request current itemised quotes without charging you a service fee.
Sources, Review and Corrections
Last reviewed: July 2026. Source approach: official authority schedules, package pages or guides are used where they establish the named component. Conflicting or incomplete rows remain indicative or quote-based.
Prepared by the UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team using the published methodology. Report outdated package details through the corrections process. For a broader shortlist, compare the Dubai ranking guide and lower-cost Dubai options.
Dubai business setup answer
For founders arriving from a Dubai business setup search, treat this page as a free-zone shortlist. The right route depends on activity approval, licence category, workspace need, visas, banking readiness and whether mainland market access is required.
Entity form note: Dubai free zones may describe company forms as FZE, FZ-LLC, FZCO or another authority-specific label. Do not treat the label alone as a cost, visa or bank-approval guarantee; verify shareholder rules, activity approval, office requirements and compliance documents with the authority before payment.
Can I use a Dubai free zone for business setup in Dubai?
A Dubai free zone can fit business setup in Dubai when the planned activity, ownership structure, workspace need and visa requirement match that free zone authority rules. Direct UAE mainland trading, regulated activities and bank onboarding can require separate checks before payment.
What should I compare before choosing a Dubai free zone?
Compare permitted activities, licence type, office or workspace requirement, visa allocation, renewal exposure, banking readiness and whether the business needs free-zone or mainland market access.
What is the difference between FZE, FZ-LLC and FZCO in Dubai free zones?
FZE usually describes a single-shareholder free zone establishment, while FZ-LLC or FZCO labels are commonly used for free zone limited liability companies with one or more shareholders. The exact legal form names, shareholder limits and document requirements vary by free zone, so confirm the final structure with the relevant authority before incorporation.
Where should I verify final Dubai free zone requirements?
Use UAE Freezone Compare for shortlisting, then verify final activity approval, fees, visa eligibility, office requirements and compliance steps with the relevant free zone authority or official UAE/Dubai government source.
Next step on UFZC: compare mainland vs free zone routes, check activity match, or estimate free-zone cost.
Official checks: UAE Government free-zone setup guidance and Dubai Free Zones Council.