About these figures: Costs and timelines on this page are indicative planning figures compiled from public free zone fee information. They have not been individually verified for this page, may be out of date, and must be confirmed with the free zone before you pay. How we source prices · How we compile data.
Use this guide to calculate the full annual maintenance cost of keeping a UAE free zone company active in 2026 — beyond just the headline licence fee.
In this guide:
Annual Cost Categories
- Licence renewal: The base annual renewal fee for your free zone licence
- Visa renewal: Investor visa + any employee visas renewed each year
- Health insurance: Mandatory for visa holders in UAE
- Accounting: Bookkeeping and CT return preparation
- Bank fees: Monthly or annual bank service charges
- Miscellaneous: PRO fees, courier, notarisation, etc.
Annual Cost by Free Zone (All-In Estimate)
| Free Zone | Licence | Investor Visa | Insurance | Accounting | Bank | Total (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPC | AED 7,000 | AED 4,500 | AED 800 | AED 3,000 | AED 1,200 | AED 16,500 |
| SHAMS | AED 8,500 | AED 4,500 | AED 800 | AED 3,000 | AED 1,200 | AED 18,000 |
| RAKEZ | AED 12,000 | AED 4,500 | AED 800 | AED 3,000 | AED 1,200 | AED 21,500 |
| IFZA | AED 13,900 | AED 4,500 | AED 800 | AED 3,000 | AED 1,200 | AED 23,400 |
| DMCC | AED 18,000 | AED 4,500 | AED 800 | AED 5,000 | AED 1,500 | AED 29,800 |
| DIFC | USD 12,000 | AED 4,500 | AED 800 | AED 8,000 | AED 2,000 | USD 15,000+ |
Hidden Costs to Budget For
- CT return preparation: AED 2,000-8,000/year depending on complexity
- Audit (if required): AED 5,000-20,000 if statutory audit needed
- VAT return filing: AED 1,000-3,000/year if VAT-registered
- Visa renewal for dependants: AED 3,000-5,000 per dependant per renewal cycle
Disclosure: UAE Free Zone Compare is an independent research platform. We may receive partner commissions if you request a quote through our forms — this is disclosed on every page where it applies. Our research and recommendations are independent.