Executive summary
This index compares the total first-year cost of setting up a UAE free zone licence with one visa across 22 reviewed zones, grouped by confidence tier. Figures cover the licence, establishment card, one investor residence visa, Emirates ID and health insurance where these are confirmed in the source. All rows carry a confidence label — verified official, 1+2-source, indicative or quote-based. Do not compare rows from different tiers without reading the scope notes: a zero-visa licence and a 1-visa all-in package are not the same product.
Key findings — August 2026
- Cheapest confirmed 1-visa setup: Creative City Fujairah (AED 12,500, 1+2-source) and SAIF Zone (AED 10,800 for a 3-visa bundle — per-visa ~AED 3,600, 3-source).
- IFZA renewal spike now disclosed: IFZA Year 1 (1-visa) is AED 14,900 but renewal rises to AED 17,100 — 15% higher. Budget AED 17,100 for Year 2+.
- DMCC entry point confirmed: Freelance-permit route AED 27,049 (1+2-source). Full-company 1-visa: AED 49,004. JLT flexi-desk (AED 16,000) is mandatory — no virtual office option.
- twofour54 waiver: Licence fee waiver active July 2026 (official). Effective Year 1 with workspace and visa ~AED 5,000-7,000. Verify waiver status before budgeting.
- JAFZA minimum: AED 40,000-55,000 with mandatory physical facility. The AED 5,500 licence-only figure is not an all-in total.
Visa Cost Index — 1-visa Year 1 total (August 2026)
| Zone | Emirate | Year 1 (1-visa) | Renewal cost | Confidence | Key scope note | Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative City Fujairah | Fujairah | AED 12,500 | Quote-based | 1+2-source verified | No physical office required. Media and creative activities. | Jul 2026 |
| UAQ FTZ | Umm Al Quwain | AED 12,500 (UAQ Start) | Quote-based | Verified official Year 1 | General trading and service. UAQ address. | Jul 2026 |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 13,165 (standard, 1-visa) | AED 11,720 — lower than Year 1 | Official + 2-source | Publishing tier: AED 5,750 (0-visa). 3-year total: AED 36,605. | Jul 2026 |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 14,000 (1-visa named package) | AED 12,000-14,320 (indicative) | Verified official Year 1 | Year 1 discount may not apply at renewal. Multiple activities available. | Jul 2026 |
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 14,900 (1-visa); AED 12,900 (0-visa) | AED 17,100 (1-visa) — higher than Year 1 | 1+2-source verified | Renewal spike. Budget AED 17,100 for Year 2+, not AED 14,900. | Jul 2026 |
| SAIF Zone | Sharjah | AED 10,800 (3-visa bundle) | Quote-based | Indicative (3-source) | 3-visa bundle — not a 1-visa package. Per-visa ~AED 3,600. | Jul 2026 |
| twofour54 | Abu Dhabi | ~AED 5,000-7,000 effective (licence fee waiver Jul 2026) | Quote-based | Official (waiver); indicative total | Verify waiver status. Media sector only. Workspace + visa are additional. | Jul 2026 |
| Hamriyah Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 15,000-25,000 (1-visa, indicative) | AED 12,000-18,000 (indicative) | Indicative (3-source) | Range varies by activity and facility. Sharjah industrial base. | Jul 2026 |
| Dubai South | Dubai | AED 20,000-35,000 (1-visa, indicative) | Quote-based | Indicative (3-source) | Varies by cluster: Business Park, Aviation, Logistics. Not general-purpose. | Jul 2026 |
| Dubai Internet City | Dubai | AED 25,000-40,000 (1-visa, indicative) | Quote-based | Indicative (3-source) | Tech and IT only. Activity-restricted. Premium Dubai tech zone. | Jul 2026 |
| Dubai Media City | Dubai | AED 25,000-50,000 (1-visa, indicative) | Quote-based | Indicative (3-source) | Media/entertainment only. Activity-restricted. Wide price range. | Jul 2026 |
| DMCC | Dubai | AED 27,049 (freelance permit); AED 49,004 (full company) | Quote-based (JLT flexi-desk AED 16,000+ annual) | 1+2-source verified | JLT flexi-desk mandatory. No virtual office. Premium zone. | Jul 2026 |
| Dubai CommerCity | Dubai | AED 27,545 (2-visa minimum, 25sqm office) | Quote-based | Indicative (1-source) | 2-visa minimum. No single-visa option confirmed. E-commerce focus. | Jul 2026 |
| Masdar City | Abu Dhabi | AED 28,000-48,000 (sector-restricted, indicative) | Quote-based | Indicative (4-source) | Clean energy/CleanTech ONLY. Confirm admissibility first. | Jul 2026 |
| JAFZA | Dubai | AED 40,000-55,000 minimum (1-visa, indicative) | Quote-based | Indicative (3-source) | Physical facility mandatory. AED 5,500 licence-only is NOT an all-in figure. | Jul 2026 |
| Meydan | Dubai | Quote-based - confirm current package | Current quote required | Quote-based | Dubai address. Current quote required. | Jul 2026 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | Dubai | Quote-based - confirm current package | Current quote required | Quote-based | Tech and R&D focus. Current DSO quote required. | Jul 2026 |
| RAK Innovation City | Ras Al Khaimah | Quote-based (RAKEZ framework) | Quote-based - confirm current package | Current quote required | No confirmed separate pricing. RAKEZ quote applies. | Jul 2026 |
Full 22-zone table including zero-visa configurations: UAE Free Zone Visa Cost 2026.
What is and is not included in a 1-visa Year 1 total
| Usually included | Licence fee, authority processing, one investor residence visa, establishment card (if bundled), Emirates ID (if bundled), health insurance (if required). |
|---|---|
| Often excluded | Medical exam (~AED 300-400), Emirates ID if not bundled (~AED 800-1,000), additional visa quotas, office or desk upgrades, amendment fees, dependent visas, cancellation fees. |
| Never included in licence-fee-only quotes | Any visa, immigration file, medical exam, Emirates ID, health insurance or establishment card. Never compare a licence-fee-only quote with a 1-visa all-in package. |
Confidence tiers
- Verified official: Direct from the zone authority’s website, calculator or fee schedule.
- 1+2-source: One official/near-official source plus two independent UAE consultant confirmations for the same configuration.
- Indicative (3-source): Three or more independent sources in broad agreement. Use as a planning estimate — request a current written quote before payment.
- Quote-based: No reliable public figure. Do not estimate from other zones.
Version and citation
Version date: August 2026. Cite as: UAE Freezone Compare, UAE Free Zone Visa Cost Index 2026, August 2026. Include zone name, configuration and confidence tier when quoting a figure. Send corrections to info@uaefreezonecompare.com.
Visa Cost Index FAQs
Why is IFZA’s renewal higher than Year 1?
The IFZA Year 1 price (AED 14,900 for 1 visa) includes a first-year pricing structure that does not carry over to renewal. The renewal figure (AED 17,100, 1+2-source verified) is the standard recurring cost. Budget AED 17,100 for Year 2 and beyond, not AED 14,900.
Why does DMCC cost so much more than other Dubai zones?
DMCC requires a mandatory JLT flexi-desk (minimum AED 16,000 per year) — no virtual office option exists at DMCC. This desk cost alone is why the freelance permit reaches AED 27,049 total. Other zones allow virtual licences with no desk requirement.
Is the twofour54 waiver guaranteed?
The licence fee waiver was confirmed active as of July 2026 (official twofour54.ae). Waiver terms can change. Verify directly with twofour54 before budgeting. Workspace and visa costs are additional regardless of waiver status.
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Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Research Team | Content reviewed: August 2026 | Price evidence reviewed: July 2026
Download the Visa Cost Index Dataset
The CSV includes free zone, visa option, establishment card, medical and Emirates ID, insurance, renewal status, confidence and source type fields. Use these files with the visible confidence labels and methodology notes on this page; do not treat quote-based rows as verified prices.
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