Quick verdict: RAKEZ, DMCC and JAFZA publish useful visa-service figures, but the amounts are not directly interchangeable. RAKEZ publishes packaged employee visa processing figures, DMCC lists visa, medical and Emirates ID services as separate fee lines, and JAFZA publishes entry-permit and renewal packages with additional charges for some applicant situations. Compare the exact applicant status, validity period, included services, facility requirement and company setup cost before choosing a route.
Do not compare a visa fee without its scope
A low visa-service fee does not show the total cost of operating a company. The licence, registration, establishment card, office or facility, immigration file, entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance and renewal may be separate. This page keeps the official fee lines separate and does not manufacture an all-in total where the authorities publish different inclusions.
RAKEZ vs DMCC vs JAFZA visa comparison at a glance
| Decision factor | RAKEZ | DMCC | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai | Dubai |
| Typical company profile | SMEs, service businesses, trading, light industry and facility-led operations | Premium trading, commodities, consultancy and JLT address-led businesses | Trading, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing and port-linked operations |
| How visa pricing is published | Packaged end-to-end employee and investor/partner services | Separate visa, medical, Emirates ID and related service lines | Entry-permit and renewal packages with listed situational additions |
| Visa allocation | Depends on the licence package, facility and authority approval | Depends on the qualifying office or facility and DMCC approval | Depends on the workstation, office, warehouse or other facility and JAFZA approval |
| Office or facility | Co-working, office, warehouse and industrial facility options vary by package | A qualifying JLT/DMCC office or approved facility is required | A qualifying workstation, office, warehouse, showroom or other facility is required |
| Banking difficulty | Medium | Medium to high | Medium to high |
| Main comparison risk | Mixing a visa-inclusive licence offer with a visa-service-only fee | Omitting separately published medical, Emirates ID, insurance or office charges | Treating an entry-permit fee as the complete company and immigration cost |
Official employee visa fee evidence
The table below uses official authority sources checked in July 2026. It compares published two-year or standard employee-service references where possible. It does not claim that the rows have identical inclusions. Read the scope and exclusions before using any figure for budgeting.
| Fee factor | RAKEZ | DMCC | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|---|
| New employee reference | AED 3,800 on the official employee visa service page; the page says the published charges apply to licence packages with visa inclusion | AED 2,972.50 for a two-year employment residence permit requested while the applicant is outside the UAE | AED 2,678 for the normal two-year Employment Visa Entry Permit package |
| Inside-country addition or route | AED 985 additional visa-activation charge for an applicant inside the UAE | AED 3,407.50 for a two-year inside-country request without amendment; AED 4,220 with amendment | AED 780 additional when the applicant is inside the UAE; transfer of sponsorship is listed separately at AED 920 where applicable |
| Employee renewal reference | AED 3,500 Standard employee renewal; AED 5,964 for the faster Best service | AED 2,790 for a two-year employee residence-permit renewal | AED 2,082.50 for the normal two-year employee residence-permit renewal package |
| Medical and Emirates ID | The service page describes end-to-end visa and Emirates ID issuance; confirm the selected package and any optional health-insurance item | Emirates ID typing is AED 451.40 for two years; published medical typing options include AED 770 and AED 800 | The official workflow includes medical and Emirates ID steps; confirm which service-package items and external charges apply to the applicant |
| Insurance | Health insurance is shown as an optional selected service; Work Protection Insurance applies to employee processing | Valid health insurance is required; insurance and employee-protection premiums are separate fee lines | The official page publishes employee-insurance premiums by salary band and validity period |
| Confidence and source | Verified official price. Official RAKEZ employee visa and renewal service cards. Last checked July 2026. | Verified official price. Official DMCC Schedule of Charges. Last checked July 2026. | Verified official price. Official JAFZA employment entry-permit and renewal guides. Last checked July 2026. |
Important: These are published visa-service references, not guaranteed final invoices and not complete company setup totals. Authority fees and service scope can change. Applicant nationality, current UAE status, job title, age, qualification requirements, facility, insurance and immigration approval can affect the process and cost.
Official references: RAKEZ new employee visa service, RAKEZ employee visa renewal, DMCC Schedule of Charges, JAFZA employment entry-permit guide, and JAFZA employee residence-permit renewal guide. See our methodology or report an outdated figure through corrections.
Company cost sits outside the visa comparison
A visa application requires a suitable licensed company and enough approved visa allocation. The company-package figures below help explain the wider budget, but each row has a different scope and must not be added blindly to a visa line without checking inclusions.
| Free zone and planning package | Year 1 evidence | Renewal evidence | What remains outside | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ Instant Licence Basic or separate all-inclusive offer |
AED 6,000 Basic or AED 14,000 all-inclusive | Quote-based renewal; request the current selected-package amount | Package-dependent facility, extra activities, additional visas, insurance and regulated approvals | Verified official price for the named offers; renewal requires confirmation. Official authority offer page, reviewed June 2026. |
| DMCC Standard company setup components |
AED 34,185 published core components before office and add-ons | AED 22,090 standard annual licence and establishment-card components before office and add-ons | Office, deposit, visas, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, applicable VAT or levies, activity surcharges and advisory support | Verified official price for the stated fee components. Official DMCC Schedule of Charges, checked July 2026. |
| JAFZA FZCo registration and service-licence components |
AED 10,000 registration plus annual service-licence components before facility and add-ons | AED 5,000 annual service-licence component before facility and add-ons | Workstation or other facility, establishment card, visas, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, customs and activity approvals | Verified official price for the stated partial components. Official JAFZA Investor Guide, checked July 2026. |
The DMCC and JAFZA values above are component totals, not complete occupancy or immigration invoices. RAKEZ’s Basic and all-inclusive offers have different inclusions. Use the UAE free-zone cost calculator for broader planning and request an itemised written quote before paying.
Which route may fit your company?
Consider RAKEZ for an SME or facility-led growth path
RAKEZ can suit cost-sensitive service companies, trading businesses, light industry and founders who may need an office, warehouse or industrial facility. Its official service cards provide clearer packaged visa-service references than a generic market estimate. Confirm whether the selected licence package includes a visa allocation, which visa service is being quoted, the inside-country status and the renewal amount.
Consider DMCC for a premium JLT operating base
DMCC can fit trading, commodities, consultancy and companies that value a JLT business address and a premium Dubai ecosystem. Its schedule separates many fee lines, making it easier to see which items are not part of the headline residence-permit charge. The company setup and facility cost is materially higher than a low-cost licence route, so compare the complete operating budget rather than the visa line alone.
Consider JAFZA for logistics, trade and port-linked operations
JAFZA can fit import-export, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing and larger trading operations that need port and facility infrastructure. The official visa guides publish normal, urgent and VIP service options, but the company also needs an appropriate facility and approved allocation. A service-licence component is not representative of every JAFZA trading, logistics or industrial setup.
Visa allocation and office requirements
There is no safe universal visa-quota number for these free zones. Allocation depends on the selected licence, premises, facility size, authority rules, activity, employee role and immigration approval. A low-cost licence with no visa should not be compared with a facility-led package that supports a larger team.
| Question to confirm | Why it changes the result |
|---|---|
| How many visas are approved for this exact facility? | Visa allocation can be linked to the workstation, office, warehouse or other premises. |
| Is the establishment card or immigration file included? | A licence alone may not include the immigration layer needed to sponsor applicants. |
| Is the applicant inside or outside the UAE? | Status change or in-country activation can create an additional charge and process step. |
| Does the fee cover medical, Emirates ID and insurance? | Authorities publish these as included, optional or separate depending on the service. |
| Is the applicant an employee, investor or partner? | Service fees, documents, job-title rules and company requirements can differ. |
| What is the renewal amount for the same validity period? | A cheaper first application does not prove a lower recurring cost. |
Processing timelines: compare the same service stage
Published timelines are not automatically comparable. RAKEZ lists three working days for its Best Value VIP employee service and six working days for the Standard route on the current service card. DMCC’s employee guideline says processing is 20 working days or less for its full guideline workflow. JAFZA lists two working days for the employee residence-permit renewal service. These are different packages or stages, not proof that one authority always completes every visa faster.
Immigration review, nationality-specific checks, medical results, missing documents, qualification attestation, insurance and facility or quota approvals can affect timing. No visa approval or completion date can be guaranteed by UAE Freezone Compare.
Documents to prepare
- Passport copy with sufficient remaining validity.
- Recent passport photograph meeting the authority format.
- Current UAE visa, cancellation document or entry-status evidence where applicable.
- Attested qualification certificate for roles that require it.
- Signed offer letter or employment contract where required.
- Valid health insurance from an accepted provider.
- Medical fitness result and Emirates ID application at the applicable stage.
- Additional nationality, good-conduct or attestation documents where requested.
- Company licence, establishment card and approved visa allocation.
The official checklist for one applicant may differ from another. Confirm the required documents in the authority portal before submission.
Hidden visa and immigration costs
- Establishment card, immigration file or company employment card.
- Inside-country activation, status change or transfer of sponsorship.
- Medical fitness testing and premium processing options.
- Emirates ID typing, biometrics and courier services.
- Health insurance and employee-protection insurance.
- Qualification attestation, translation and good-conduct documents.
- Age, job-title or nationality-specific additions where officially applicable.
- Facility upgrade required to support the requested allocation.
- Renewal, amendment, cancellation and overstay or late penalties.
- Dependent sponsorship after the sponsor’s own residence status is valid.
Use the UAE free-zone visa cost calculator for a structured planning estimate and review the visa-cost guide before comparing proposals.
Bank account implications
A residence visa may help establish the applicant’s UAE operating profile, but it does not guarantee a business bank account. Banks assess the activity, ownership, source of funds, expected transactions, customer and supplier geography, office substance, contracts, invoices, website and compliance risk. DMCC or JAFZA registration does not guarantee approval, and a lower-cost RAKEZ route is not automatically harder or easier.
Check the likely profile with the banking difficulty checker and prepare the documents in the business bank-account document guide.
Decision table by use case
| Use case | Option to examine first | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-sensitive SME with one employee or shareholder | RAKEZ | Licence package inclusion, visa allocation, applicant status and renewal |
| Premium trading or consultancy with a JLT base | DMCC | Office cost, separate immigration lines, activity surcharge and full annual budget |
| Port-linked logistics, warehouse or manufacturing team | JAFZA | Facility, visa allocation, licence type, customs requirements and employee guarantees or insurance |
| Applicant already inside the UAE | Compare all three | Inside-country activation, status change, sponsorship transfer and current visa status |
| Growing team | Compare facility-led proposals | Approved quota, workspace cost, establishment card, per-employee fees and renewal |
Common comparison mistakes
- Comparing a visa-entry fee with an end-to-end package.
- Adding a visa to a licence package that has no approved allocation.
- Ignoring office or facility costs when estimating team capacity.
- Assuming medical, Emirates ID and insurance are included everywhere.
- Using an employee fee for an investor, partner or dependent application.
- Assuming renewal equals the new-visa fee.
- Choosing by processing-time marketing without comparing the same service stage.
- Treating a residence visa as a guarantee of bank-account approval.
Alternatives worth comparing
These three routes solve different operating needs. Founders focused on a lower-cost service setup may also compare SHAMS, SPC Free Zone, IFZA or Meydan Free Zone. Logistics and industrial applicants may compare Dubai South, KEZAD or Hamriyah Free Zone. Use the free-zone finder to shortlist by activity, visa count, location, budget and facility need.
Frequently asked questions
Which of RAKEZ, DMCC and JAFZA has the lowest employee visa fee?
There is no reliable single winner because the published fees have different inclusions. JAFZA lists AED 2,678 for a normal two-year employment entry-permit package, DMCC lists AED 2,972.50 for a two-year outside-country residence-permit request, and RAKEZ lists AED 3,800 on its employee service page for licence packages with visa inclusion. Medical, Emirates ID, insurance, inside-country status and the company package must be compared before deciding.
How much is a two-year DMCC employee visa?
The official DMCC schedule lists AED 2,972.50 for a new two-year employment residence permit requested while the applicant is outside the UAE. It lists AED 3,407.50 for an inside-country request without amendment and AED 4,220 with amendment. Emirates ID typing, medical, insurance and other applicable services must be checked separately.
Does the RAKEZ employee visa price include Emirates ID?
The current RAKEZ service card describes end-to-end visa and Emirates ID issuance and lists AED 3,800, with an additional AED 985 for inside-country activation. It also states that the published charges apply only to licence packages with visa inclusion. Confirm the selected package, insurance and every included service in the written proposal.
How much is JAFZA employee visa renewal?
The official JAFZA renewal guide lists AED 2,082.50 for the normal two-year employee residence-permit renewal package. It publishes separate urgent and VIP rates, employee-insurance premiums by salary band and possible additional charges. The company employment-card renewal charge depends on its existing validity.
How many visas can a RAKEZ, DMCC or JAFZA company obtain?
There is no universal number. The approved allocation depends on the licence, activity, facility, workspace size, authority rules and immigration approval. Obtain written confirmation for the exact office or facility before paying for a package intended to support a team.
Does a free-zone residence visa guarantee a business bank account?
No. A visa may support the overall UAE profile, but banks independently assess the activity, ownership, source of funds, transaction plan, customer and supplier geography, documents and compliance risk. Neither the free zone nor UAE Freezone Compare can guarantee approval.
Request a current visa and company-cost breakdown
Tell us your business activity, shareholder status, number of employee and investor visas, preferred emirate, applicant location and facility need. We will help shortlist suitable routes and request a current itemised quote without charging you a comparison service fee.
Methodology and review status
Last reviewed: July 2026. Visa-service figures were checked against official RAKEZ, DMCC and JAFZA pages. Company-package figures use the site’s structured cost evidence and retain their stated scope. Prices, service inclusions and immigration rules can change. Read the research and price-confidence methodology and send corrections through the corrections page.
UAE Freezone Compare is an independent private comparison platform. It is not a UAE government entity, free zone authority, bank, law firm or immigration authority. A vetted setup partner may contact users who request a quote. No company licence, visa or bank-account approval is guaranteed.