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 They have not been individually verified for this page, may be out of date, and must be confirmed with the free zone before you pay.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.
UAE Free Zone Cost Estimator — All-In Year 1 and Year 2 Costs 2026
Calculating the true cost of a UAE free zone company requires adding up: licence fee, office/desk, visas, medical tests, Emirates ID, health insurance, audit, and CT filing. This tool breaks down the realistic all-in costs for Year 1 and Year 2 for the most popular UAE free zones in 2026.
In this guide:
- UAE Free Zone Cost Estimator — All-In Year 1 and Year 2 Costs 2026
- How to Read This Cost Estimator
- IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) — 2 Visas, Flexi-Desk
- Shams (Sharjah Media City) — 2 Visas, Virtual Office
- RAKEZ — 2 Visas, Flexi-Desk
- DMCC — 2 Visas, Flexi-Desk
- Fujairah Creative City — 1 Visa Freelancer Permit
- What the Cost Estimator Does Not Include
How to Read This Cost Estimator
Year 1 is always higher due to company formation fees. Year 2 is the renewal cost (typically lower). All costs in AED. Assumes 2 visas (yourself + 1 employee or family member) and flexi-desk/virtual office. Upgrade or downgrade based on your specific package.
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) — 2 Visas, Flexi-Desk
- Licence + flexi-desk: AED 14,900
- 2 investor visas (medical + Emirates ID + residence stamp): AED 6,000
- Health insurance (basic, 2 people): AED 3,000
- Audit (Year 1): AED 4,000
- UAE CT registration + filing: AED 2,000
- Year 1 total: AED 29,900
- Year 2 renewal (licence + 2 visa renewal): AED 20,900
Shams (Sharjah Media City) — 2 Visas, Virtual Office
- Licence: AED 7,500
- Virtual office: AED 3,000
- 2 investor visas: AED 6,000
- Health insurance (2 people): AED 3,000
- Audit: AED 3,500
- CT filing: AED 2,000
- Year 1 total: AED 25,000
- Year 2 renewal: AED 16,500
RAKEZ — 2 Visas, Flexi-Desk
- Licence + flexi-desk: AED 10,500
- 2 investor visas: AED 6,000
- Health insurance (2 people): AED 3,000
- Audit: AED 3,500
- CT filing: AED 2,000
- Year 1 total: AED 25,000
- Year 2 renewal: AED 16,500
DMCC — 2 Visas, Flexi-Desk
- Licence: AED 20,000
- Flexi-desk: AED 15,000
- 2 investor visas: AED 6,000
- Health insurance (2 people): AED 3,500
- Audit: AED 5,000
- CT filing: AED 2,000
- Year 1 total: AED 51,500
- Year 2 renewal: AED 43,500
Fujairah Creative City — 1 Visa Freelancer Permit
- Freelancer permit: AED 6,000
- 1 visa: AED 3,000
- Health insurance (1 person): AED 1,500
- CT filing (if applicable): AED 1,500
- Year 1 total: AED 12,000
- Year 2 renewal: AED 10,500
What the Cost Estimator Does Not Include
- UAE bank account opening (WIO: AED 149/month = AED 1,788/year; traditional banks: minimum balance cost)
- Accountancy fees (bookkeeping: AED 3,000–8,000/year)
- UAE residence costs (apartment rent; car; living expenses)
- Government fees that change annually
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.