UAE Free Zones List 2026: Costs, Benefits & Comparison

There are roughly 40 to 45 active free zones across the seven emirates, depending on how sub-zones are counted. ZoneWise covers 36 of the most-used ones with a dedicated page each.

Published government fees put the entry point at roughly AED 5,000–7,000 in the northern emirates — Ajman Free Zone (about AED 5,565), RAKEZ (about AED 6,010) and SHAMS or SPC in Sharjah (about AED 6,875) — with Ajman NuVentures advertised even lower. The cheapest Dubai-issued licences are Meydan (about AED 12,500) and IFZA (about AED 12,900). Figures as of July 2026.

It depends on your activity, customers and budget. DMCC suits commodities and crypto, JAFZA suits logistics, DIFC and ADGM suit regulated finance, Meydan and IFZA suit value-focused Dubai businesses, and Ajman, RAKEZ and SHAMS suit budget-first founders.

Free zone companies get 100% foreign ownership, faster setup and lower cost, but cannot freely trade onshore in the UAE. Mainland companies can trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government work but need a physical office lease.

The UAE applies 9% corporate tax above AED 375,000 of taxable income. Qualifying Free Zone Persons can access 0% on qualifying income if strict conditions are met. VAT of 5% applies where registration is required.

Yes for most zones — incorporation is largely digital. You only need to be in the UAE for medical testing and Emirates ID biometrics if you take a residence visa; some banks also want an in-person meeting.

Yes. Most free zones let you sponsor residence visas for yourself and staff, with the quota tied to your package or office size. Zero-visa packages are cheaper but do not include residency.

A free zone such as Meydan, IFZA or Dubai CommerCity is usually cheaper for online selling, but delivering physical goods to UAE consumers can be simpler with a mainland licence. See our free zone vs mainland guide.

From about AED 12,500 (Meydan) and AED 12,900 (IFZA) for a zero-visa licence, to about AED 46,780 for DMCC and about AED 104,079 for DIFC. Visas, office and professional fees are extra.