Foreign business owner does not require a local business partner or a local service agent
0% corporate and personal taxes for 50 years and more
Each free trade zone in the UAE caters to specific business needs of entrepreneurs and enterprises
Many international businessmen and entrepreneurs, when deciding to relocate a business in Dubai, often wonder what a free zone is and how to start a free zone company in Dubai. We receive these questions regularly and we are often asked to recommend the best free zone in the UAE.
Free zones in Dubai and UAE are geographical areas that provide certain benefits to businessmen, if they wish to set up a business there. Among the key advantages are 0% corporate and personal tax for 50 years, 100% foreign ownership, a simple set up process, full assistance with sponsorship of employees, state-of-the-art infrastructure and many other business and government related services.
There are more than thirty (30) free zones in Dubai alone and there are also a number of free zones in other emirates across the country.
To set up a company in a UAE free zone, there is neither requirement for a local business partner nor a local service agent. However, UAE and Dubai free trade zone companies are allowed to conduct business activity only within the free zone, where they are registered (with a few exceptions). Each free trade zone in UAE caters to specific business needs of entrepreneurs and enterprises. While certain free zones in Dubai, for example, have a very strong logistics base are preferred by trading and logistic companies, other areas are more oriented towards specific industries, such as IT, education, healthcare and others.
We understand how difficult it is to navigate through the abundance of options. This is exactly why we are glad to present an easy-to-use comparison list of free zones in Dubai and other emirates.
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jebel Ali Free Zone, (JAFZA) | trading, service, industrial | 15-25 days | Not required | |
Dubai South Free Zone / DWC | trading, service, industrial | 15 – 20 days | Minimum AED 300 000/ $ 82 190. Depositing into a bank account is not required | |
Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA) | trading, industrial, professionalе | 10-20 days | Minimum AED 1000 / $ 274 | |
Dubai Internet City (DIC) | service | 20 – 25 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698 | |
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) | service, trading | 20 – 25 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698 | |
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | service | 28 – 42 days | Minimum AED 185 000 / $ 50 000 | |
Dubai Media City (DMC) | service | 20 – 25 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / 13 698$ | |
Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) | service | 20 – 25 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698$ | |
Dubai HealthCare City (DHCC) | service, private clinic license | 20 – 35 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698 for service license Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 for private clinic license | |
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) | service, trading, industrial | 15 – 20 days | Minimum AED 100 000 / $ 27 397 |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF) | trading, service, industrial | 6-7 days | Minimum AED 150 000 / $ 41 096 | |
Hamriyah Free Zone (HAFZA) | trading, service, industrial | 7-10 days | Minimum AED 150 000 / $ 41 096. Depositing into a bank account is not required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA) | trading, service, industrial | 7-10 days | Minimum AED 100 000 / $ 27 397. Depositing into a bank account is not required | |
RAK Free Zone (RAK FTZ) | trading, service, industrial | 10 days | No minimum share capital is required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) | trading, service, industrial | 6-7 days | Minimum AED 150 000 / $ 41 096 | |
Fujairah Creative City (FCC) | service | 6-7 days | Minimum AED 150 000 / 41 096$. Depositing into a bank account is not required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) | trading, service, e-commerce, industrial | 10-12 days | Minimum AED 185 000 / $ 50 000. Depositing into a bank account is not required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) | trade, service, freelance, industrial | 6-7 days | Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192. Depositing into a bank account is not required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Masdar City Free Zone | trading, service | 14-20 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698 |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Meydan Free Zone (MFZ) | trading, industrial, professional | 2 – 5 days | Minimum AED 100 000 / $ 27 397. Depositing into a bank ccount is not required | |
Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (DTEC)
|
service | 20 – 25 days | Minimum AED 10 000 / $2 740 | |
Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ) | trading, service | 30 – 40 дней | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 700 | |
Dubai Production City (DPC) | service, trading, industrial | 15 – 20 days | Minimum AED 10 000 / $ 2 740 | |
Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC)
|
trading | 21 – 30 days | Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 | |
Dubai Outsource City (DOC) | trading | 21 – 30 days | Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 | |
Dubai Gold and Diamond Park (DGDP)
|
trading, industrial | 21 – 30 days | Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 | |
Dubai Science Park (DSP) | trading, industrial | 21 – 30 days | Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 | |
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)
|
trading, industrial | 21 – 30 days | Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 | |
Dubai Design District D3 | trading, industrial | 21 – 30 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 700 | |
Dubai International Humanitarian City (DIHC)
|
humanitarian organization, commercial company with a humanitarian focus
|
30-90 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 700. Depositing into a bank account is required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sharjah Publishing Free Zone (SPFZ) | trading, service, industrial | 2 – 5 days | Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 612 |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) | trading, service, industrial | 2 – 4 days |
Minimum AED 100 000 / $ 27 397. Depositing into a bank account is not required
|
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) | trading, service, industrial | 2 - 3 days | Minimum AED 150 000/$ 41 096. Depositing into a bank account is not required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ajman Media City (AMC) | trading, service, e-commerce, industrial | 5 – 7 days | Minimum AED 100 000 / $ 27 397. Depositing into a bank account is not required |
FREE ZONE NAME | LICENSES ISSUED | REGISTRATION TIME |
SHARE CAPITAL | AUDIT REQUIREMENTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) | trading, service, finance, cryptocurrency | 5 days | Minimum AED 185 000 / $ 50 000. Depositing is not required for certain licenses | |
TwoFour54 Media and Entertainment Hub | service, freelance | 10-15 days | No minimum share capital is required | |
Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) | trading, service | 3-4 weeks | Minimum AED 150 000 / $ 41 000$. Depositing into a bank account is required. |
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