UAE Free Zone Visa Quota Comparison 2026 — How Many Visas Can You Get?
Your UAE free zone visa quota — the maximum number of visas your company can hold — depends on your free zone and office type. Here is the 2026 comparison guide.
In this guide:
Visa Quota by Office Type (General Rule)
| Office Type | Typical Visa Quota |
|---|---|
| Virtual office / registered address only | 0-1 |
| Flexi-desk (shared) | 1-3 |
| Executive desk / small dedicated office | 3-6 |
| Private office 100-200 sq ft | 6-10 |
| Private office 200-500 sq ft | 10-20 |
| Large office 500+ sq ft | 20-50+ |
Free Zone-Specific Visa Quota Rules
- IFZA: 1 visa with standard flexi-desk package; additional visas at AED 2,500-4,000 each up to quota
- SHAMS: 1-3 visas with different packages; clear upgrade path
- RAKEZ: 3 visas with standard executive office; up to 6-10 with physical office
- DMCC: Up to 3 visas with flexi-desk; more with dedicated office
- JAFZA: Visa quota based on warehouse or office size; industrial companies can have large quotas
How to Increase Your Visa Quota
- Upgrade office: Move from flexi-desk to executive office or private office
- Request quota increase: Some free zones allow quota increase via application + additional fee
- Additional activity: Some free zones allow quota increase with additional business activities
Visa Quota vs. Actual Visas Held
- Quota: Maximum allowed; you do not need to fill all quota slots
- Cancel before adding: To add a new visa when at quota, first cancel an existing visa