All 46 UAE free zones, compared

The prestige address. Expensive, demanding, and the one that makes banking straightforward.

From

AED 34,000

Setup

5–15 d

Max visas

∞

An English common-law jurisdiction inside Dubai, for regulated finance and family offices.

From

AED 73,450

Setup

20–90 d

Max visas

∞

Licence in 24h

A central Dubai address with instant licensing — the strongest all-rounder for a first company.

From

AED 12,500

Setup

1–4 d

Max visas

7

100% remote setup

The original UAE free zone, built around the region's largest port. For physical goods at scale.

From

AED 10,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

The region's established tech cluster — Microsoft, Google, Meta and the startups around them.

From

AED 28,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

The default choice for consultants and small trading companies that want speed and a low entry price.

From

AED 12,900

Setup

2–5 d

Max visas

6

100% remote setup

Airside logistics for high-value, low-volume goods — pharma, electronics, aviation parts.

From

AED 35,000

Setup

7–20 d

Max visas

∞

Broadcasters, agencies and production houses — the regional media cluster.

From

AED 26,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

Logistics economics without JAFZA pricing, next to Al Maktoum International and Expo City.

From

AED 15,500

Setup

5–12 d

Max visas

∞

100% remote setup

A central address with an early, pragmatic stance on digital assets.

From

AED 25,000

Setup

7–20 d

Max visas

∞

The regulated healthcare cluster — clinics, medical services and health education.

From

AED 30,000

Setup

20–60 d

Max visas

∞

A self-contained tech park with housing, schools and offices — now part of DIEZ.

From

AED 18,500

Setup

5–15 d

Max visas

∞

100% remote setup

The region's only free zone built exclusively for e-commerce.

From

AED 24,000

Setup

7–18 d

Max visas

∞

Fashion, design and luxury creative businesses.

From

AED 25,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

Sound stages and production infrastructure for film and television.

From

AED 24,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and laboratory-based businesses.

From

AED 26,000

Setup

10–30 d

Max visas

∞

Training providers, HR consultancies and professional development.

From

AED 22,000

Setup

10–30 d

Max visas

∞

Ship management, marine services and yacht businesses.

From

AED 28,000

Setup

10–30 d

Max visas

∞

Contact centres, BPO and shared-services operations.

From

AED 22,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

A holding vehicle for Dubai property — no visas, no office, no trading.

From

AED 14,000

Setup

5–15 d

Max visas

0

Printing, publishing and packaging — the industrial side of media.

From

AED 23,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

Jewellery manufacturing and precious-stone trading.

From

AED 26,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

Degree-granting institutions and international university branch campuses.

From

AED 28,000

Setup

30–90 d

Max visas

∞

Vehicle trading, spare parts and automotive services.

From

AED 24,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

Heavy industrial plots between Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International.

From

AED 35,000

Setup

20–45 d

Max visas

∞

The cheapest credible route to a UAE licence — and the one most freelancers actually need.

From

AED 5,760

Setup

1–4 d

Max visas

6

100% remote setup

Licence in 24h

Instant licensing with an unusually generous visa quota for the price.

From

AED 5,750

Setup

1–3 d

Max visas

20

100% remote setup

An established trading and light-industrial zone at Sharjah Airport.

From

AED 14,500

Setup

5–15 d

Max visas

∞

Heavy industry, oil and gas, and deepwater port access.

From

AED 14,000

Setup

7–20 d

Max visas

∞

R&D, advanced manufacturing and university-linked innovation.

From

AED 13,000

Setup

7–20 d

Max visas

∞

100% remote setup

The best balance of price, breadth and credibility outside Dubai.

From

AED 6,000

Setup

2–7 d

Max visas

∞

100% remote setup

The world's first free zone built only for Web3 and digital assets.

From

AED 20,000

Setup

5–20 d

Max visas

∞

100% remote setup

The UAE's most-used offshore registry — holding only, no visas.

From

AED 9,000

Setup

2–7 d

Max visas

0

100% remote setup

Port-side industrial land for bulk commodities and marine industry.

From

AED 16,000

Setup

10–25 d

Max visas

∞

The UAE's only Indian Ocean port — bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

From

AED 12,000

Setup

5–15 d

Max visas

∞

100% remote setup

A long-running budget media licence, popular with consultants and creators.

From

AED 7,500

Setup

2–7 d

Max visas

6

100% remote setup

Oil storage and bunkering infrastructure on the Gulf of Oman.

From

AED 30,000

Setup

20–60 d

Max visas

∞