UAE Free Zone Licence Renewal Cost Comparison 2026
Annual licence renewal is a recurring cost for all UAE free zone companies. Renewal costs can differ from the initial setup costs, and understanding what to expect each year is important for business financial planning. This guide compares annual renewal costs across major UAE free zones for 2026.
Annual Renewal Costs by Free Zone 2026
- IFZA (flexi-desk package, 2 visas): AED 17,000–22,000/year renewal
- Shams (Sharjah): AED 5,750–9,000/year renewal
- Ajman Media City: AED 5,500–8,500/year renewal
- Meydan (flexi-desk): AED 14,000–19,000/year renewal
- RAKEZ (flexi-desk): AED 12,000–18,000/year renewal
- SAIF Zone (flexi-desk): AED 12,000–17,000/year renewal
- DMCC (flexi-desk): AED 22,000–35,000/year renewal
- JAFZA (FZE, no space): AED 18,000–28,000/year renewal
- DIFC (commercial): AED 25,000–60,000/year renewal
- ADGM (commercial): AED 20,000–50,000/year renewal
What Is Included in Free Zone Renewal
- Trade licence renewal fee
- Office space rental (if applicable)
- Establishment card renewal
- Visa quota renewal (not the visas themselves — just the quota)
Note: individual UAE visa renewals are separate costs (AED 2,000–4,000 per visa) paid when the visa expires, not necessarily aligned with the annual licence renewal date.
Renewal vs First Year — What Changes?
First-year costs typically include one-time registration fees (AED 2,000–5,000) that are NOT charged on renewal. Therefore, renewal year 2+ is often CHEAPER than year 1 by AED 2,000–5,000. However, some free zones have annual fee increases (CPI-linked adjustments) — typically 3–5% per year in established zones. Budget for modest annual increases in renewal costs.
Documents Required for Licence Renewal
- Valid passport copies of all shareholders (updated if passport renewed)
- Updated Emirates IDs of shareholders/officers
- Audited financial statements (for zones requiring audit)
- ESR notification confirmation
- No-objection certificates (if required by specific zone)
- Renewal application form (typically submitted via zone online portal)
Late Renewal Penalties
Renewing after the expiry date incurs penalties:
- Most free zones: AED 250–1,000 per month overdue
- DMCC: AED 500–2,000 for late renewal
- DIFC: USD 500–2,000 for late renewal
- Operating after licence expiry: potential business suspension + individual visa implications
Set a calendar reminder 60–90 days before licence expiry to begin renewal paperwork and avoid penalties.