Which Free Zone? Finder
Start from what you need
| If you need | Compare first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The lowest cost, no visa yet | Ajman Free Zone, SPC Free Zone, Shams, RAKEZ | Published licences from AED 5,555 to AED 6,000 |
| A licence and your own visa in one package | Ajman Free Zone, RAKEZ, Masdar City | AED 13,131, AED 14,000 and AED 17,500 packages with one visa |
| Several visas on a small desk | Shams, SPC Free Zone | Up to 12 visas on a Shams shared desk; unlimited visas at SPC, paid per visa |
| Regulated financial services | DIFC and ADGM | Financial free zones with their own regulators and common law courts |
| Commodities and trading in Dubai | DMCC | Focus on commodities, trading and technology |
| A port, warehouses and logistics | Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai South | Trade, logistics and aviation zones |
| Technology | Dubai Internet City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Innovation City, Masdar City | Technology and innovation zones |
| Media and creative work | twofour54, Shams, Creative City | Media, gaming, publishing and creative zones |
| Healthcare | Dubai Healthcare City | Healthcare zone |
| Customers on the Dubai mainland | Any Dubai free zone, plus a DET permit | AED 5,000 for six months; mainland revenue is taxed at 9% |
| To set up from abroad | Shams, IFZA | Shareholders need not be in the UAE to incorporate; a visit is needed later only for a visa |
Source: Ajman Free Zone: All-inclusive packages; SPC Free Zone: Pay-as-you-go business setup; Shams: Cost calculator; RAKEZ: Instant licence; RAKEZ: All-inclusive business set-up; Masdar City Free Zone: Licence and registration; Sharjah Media City (Shams): Home; DIFC: Innovation Licence setup guide; ADGM Courts: The English common law system; UAE Government Portal: Starting a business in a free zone; Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism: Free zone companies can operate on the mainland; IFZA: Remote business setup1,2,3,5,6,7,4,9,10,8,11,12
This is a starting point, not advice. A zone has to license your exact activity, so check the activity list before anything else.
Then narrow it down
- Check that the zone licenses your exact activity.
- Count the visas you need in the first two years and the space each zone requires for them.
- Decide whether you will sell to mainland customers, and how that affects the 0% corporate tax rate.
- Ask two or three zones for a written first-year and renewal quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which free zone should I choose?
Start from your main need: lowest cost, a visa in the package, many visas, financial services, trading, logistics, technology, media or healthcare. Then check that the zone licenses your exact activity.
Sources
- Ajman Free Zone: All-inclusive packages
- SPC Free Zone: Pay-as-you-go business setup
- Shams: Cost calculator
- Sharjah Media City (Shams): Home
- RAKEZ: Instant licence
- RAKEZ: All-inclusive business set-up
- Masdar City Free Zone: Licence and registration
- UAE Government Portal: Starting a business in a free zone
- DIFC: Innovation Licence setup guide
- ADGM Courts: The English common law system
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism: Free zone companies can operate on the mainland
- IFZA: Remote business setup
Figures checked 21 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.