Free zones in UAE

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.

LIST OF FREE ZONES

DUBAI FREE ZONES
FREE ZONE NAME LICENSES ISSUED REGISTRATION
TIME
SHARE CAPITAL AUDIT
REQUIREMENTS
Jebel Ali Free Zone, (JAFZA) trading, service, industrial 15-25 days Not required uae consultants
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 uae consultants
Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA) trading, industrial, professionalе 10-20 days Minimum AED 1000 / $ 274 uae consultants
Dubai Internet City (DIC) service 20 – 25 days Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698 uae consultants
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) service, trading 20 – 25 days Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698 uae consultants
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) service 28 – 42 days Minimum AED 185 000 / $ 50 000 uae consultants
Dubai Media City (DMC) service 20 – 25 days Minimum AED 50 000 / 13 698$ uae consultants
Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) service 20 – 25 days Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 698$ uae consultants
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 uae consultants
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) service, trading, industrial 15 – 20 days Minimum AED 100 000 / $ 27 397 uae consultants
Sharjah
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 uae consultants
Hamriyah Free Zone (HAFZA) trading, service, industrial 7-10 days Minimum AED 150 000 / $ 41 096. Depositing into a bank account is not required uae consultants
Ras-al-khaimah
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 uae consultants
RAK Free Zone (RAK FTZ) trading, service, industrial 10 days No minimum share capital is required uae consultants
Fujairah
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 uae consultants
Fujairah Creative City (FCC) service 6-7 days Minimum AED 150 000 / 41 096$. Depositing into a bank account is not required uae consultants
Ajman
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 uae consultants
Umm-al-quwain
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 uae consultants
Abu dhabi
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 uae consultants
DUBAI FREE ZONES
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 uae consultants
Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (DTEC)
service 20 – 25 days Minimum AED 10 000 / $2 740 uae consultants
Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ) trading, service 30 – 40 дней Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 700 uae consultants
Dubai Production City (DPC) service, trading, industrial 15 – 20 days Minimum AED 10 000 / $ 2 740 uae consultants
Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC)
trading 21 – 30 days Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 uae consultants
Dubai Outsource City (DOC) trading 21 – 30 days Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 uae consultants
Dubai Gold and Diamond Park (DGDP)
trading, industrial 21 – 30 days Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 uae consultants
Dubai Science Park (DSP) trading, industrial 21 – 30 days Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 uae consultants
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)
trading, industrial 21 – 30 days Minimum AED 300 000 / $ 82 192 uae consultants
Dubai Design District D3 trading, industrial 21 – 30 days Minimum AED 50 000 / $ 13 700 uae consultants
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 uae consultants
SHARJAH
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 uae consultants
RAS AL-KHAIMAH
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
uae consultants
FUJAIRAH
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 uae consultants
AJMAN
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 uae consultants
ABU DHABI FREE ZONES
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 uae consultants
TwoFour54 Media and Entertainment Hub service, freelance 10-15 days No minimum share capital is required uae consultants
Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) trading, service 3-4 weeks Minimum AED 150 000  / $ 41 000$. Depositing into a bank account is required. uae consultants