How do I compare UAE free zones?

Use uaefreezonecompare.com/compare to compare 52 UAE free zones on cost, visa options, activity type and renewal fees.

Which is the cheapest UAE free zone in 2026?

SHAMS and IFZA are among the most affordable, with licences from AED 5,750/year.

What is the difference between DMCC and IFZA?

DMCC is a premium free zone (AED 18,000-50,000+/year) for commodities and finance. IFZA starts from AED 11,900/year for broader activities.

Is a free zone or mainland better in UAE?

Free zones offer 100% foreign ownership and tax exemptions but restrict direct local trading. Mainland allows UAE-wide trading.

Partner Revenue Disclosure

UAE Freezone Compare may receive referral fees from selected business setup partners if a user chooses to proceed through them. These relationships may help us operate the platform, but they do not control editorial rankings.

How Partner Relationships Work

Partners may help fulfil quote requests submitted through the website.
Partner availability may affect quote fulfilment, not editorial scoring.
Rankings are not sold.
Sponsored or partner placements must be labelled where applicable.

Ranking Independence

Our scoring methodology considers cost, renewal exposure, activity fit, visa flexibility, banking difficulty, setup speed, hidden-cost risk, and overall suitability. Pricing is indicative unless marked as verified.

Near Quote Forms

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