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Free Zone Company Setup

A UAE free zone license with full foreign ownership, chosen against the activity you actually intend to trade rather than against a brochure price.

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There is no single best free zone, only the zone that fits the activity you intend to trade, the visas you need, and where your customers and suppliers sit. That is the decision most founders get wrong, because they compare headline license prices across zones whose activity lists, visa allocations, office obligations and banking reputations are not comparable in the first place. We start from the activity and work outward from it. Entityz is a direct authorized partner to IFZA, RAKEZ, Meydan, Shams, Sharjah Publishing City and Ajman Free Zone, so the application reaches the authority through us rather than through a reseller, and we stay on the file after the license issues. This is for first time founders, holding and consultancy structures, and foreign companies opening a UAE arm.

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Key Features

  • Activity selected first and matched against each zone's own approved activity list, because an activity the zone does not license is the most common reason a file stalls
  • Zone shortlist set against your real requirements: visa allocation, office or flexi desk obligation, what you may trade inside and outside the zone, and how banks treat that zone at onboarding
  • Trade name reservation, initial approval, incorporation documents and license issue filed with the authority, then the establishment card
  • Visa quota applied for, and each shareholder or employee residence file run through medical, Emirates ID and stamping
  • You supply passport copies, three trade name options, your intended activity in plain words, and proof of address, which is what the authority asks for before anything else

Benefits for Your Business

  • The zone is chosen against your activity and your visa need, not against a headline price that excludes what you will actually pay for.
  • A direct authorized channel to the free zone, so no reseller sits between your file and the authority.
  • Bank introduction handled inside the same engagement, because a license with no operating account is not a working company.
  • One point of contact from the activity decision through to the residence visa, instead of a separate desk at every step.
General information, not legal advice. Permitted activities, visa allocations, office obligations and all official fees are set by each free zone authority and change from time to time. What applies to your company depends on the activity and the zone you choose, and we confirm the current position with the authority before you commit.

Free zone company setup cost by zone (2026)

Free zoneEmirateLicense from aboutGuide
Ajman Free ZoneAjmanAED 5,555Ajman guide
SPCSharjahAED 5,750SPC guide
ShamsSharjahAED 5,750Shams guide
RAKEZRas Al KhaimahAED 6,000RAKEZ guide
MeydanDubaiAED 12,500Meydan guide
IFZADubaiAED 12,900IFZA guide

All prices are without a visa. Compare the totals with visas in our cheapest free zone guide.

How free zone company setup works

  1. Activity check against each zone's approved list.
  2. Zone choice by activity, visas and where your customers are.
  3. Name reservation and initial approval.
  4. License issued, often within days, then the establishment card.
  5. Visas (see our investor visa guide) and a bank account.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does free zone company setup cost in the UAE?

Licenses start from about AED 5,555 to 6,000 in Ajman, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and from AED 12,500 in Dubai (Meydan) with no visa. Visas, the establishment card and insurance are extra.

Which is the best free zone in the UAE?

There is no single best one. It depends on your activity, how many visas you need, whether you want a Dubai address, and where your customers are.

How long does free zone company setup take?

The license is often issued within a few working days once documents are complete; visas take one to two weeks more.

Can a free zone company trade in the UAE mainland?

Only with extra arrangements, such as a distributor or a mainland branch. If most customers are in the UAE, a mainland license may fit better.

Can I own 100% of a free zone company?

Yes. Free zones allow 100% foreign ownership.

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Free Zone Company Setup UAE: Costs by Zone | Entityz