UAE free zones compared
22 free zones across the UAE, with their published starting prices, the businesses they suit and the trade-offs to know before you choose.
Updated
| Free zone | Emirate | Starting from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative City | Fujairah | AED 4,900 | Freelancers, consultants and creators who want a low-cost UAE licence |
| JAFZA | Dubai | AED 5,000 | Importers, distributors and re-exporters moving physical goods |
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | AED 5,555 | Cost-conscious traders and small manufacturers in the northern emirates |
| Shams | Sharjah | AED 5,750 | Content creators, influencers and podcasters |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | Manufacturers and industrial projects that need land or warehouses |
| ADGM | Abu Dhabi | AED 6,600 | Fund managers, fintechs and other financial services firms |
| Dubai South | Dubai | AED 6,978 | Logistics, freight forwarding and third-party logistics firms |
| Dubai CommerCity | Dubai | AED 7,000 | Online retailers and direct-to-consumer brands |
| DWTC | Dubai | AED 8,000 | Event, exhibition and conference businesses |
| KEZAD | Abu Dhabi | AED 9,450 | Manufacturers and heavy industry needing large plots |
| SAIF Zone | Sharjah | AED 11,000 | Import, export and distribution businesses |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | Dubai | AED 12,000 | Technology, AI and R&D companies |
| DUQE | Dubai | AED 12,500 | Start-ups and solo founders wanting a memorable Dubai address |
| Meydan | Dubai | AED 12,500 | Remote founders who want to set up mostly online |
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 | SMEs and consultants who want a Dubai licence at a mid-range price |
| DIFC | Dubai | AED 15,000 | Banks, asset managers, brokers and other regulated financial firms |
| DAFZ | Dubai | AED 15,000 | Regional headquarters of multinational companies |
| d3 | Dubai | AED 15,000 | Fashion labels, designers and design studios |
| Dubai Internet City | Dubai | AED 15,000 | Software, cloud, AI and digital services companies |
| Dubai Knowledge Park | Dubai | AED 15,000 | Training institutes and professional development providers |
| Dubai Media City | Dubai | AED 15,000 | Broadcasters, TV channels and production houses |
| DMCC | Dubai | AED 35,484 | Commodity traders in gold, diamonds, tea, coffee and energy |
Starting prices are the lowest published package prices (October 2026) and rarely the final invoice: activity, visas, office type and renewals change the total. We are not affiliated with any free zone authority.
Free zones in Fujairah
Free zones in Dubai
JAFZA
From AED 5,000
Importers, distributors and re-exporters moving physical goods
Costs and details DubaiDubai South
From AED 6,978
Logistics, freight forwarding and third-party logistics firms
Costs and details DubaiDubai CommerCity
From AED 7,000
Online retailers and direct-to-consumer brands
Costs and details DubaiDWTC
From AED 8,000
Event, exhibition and conference businesses
Costs and details DubaiDubai Silicon Oasis
From AED 12,000
Technology, AI and R&D companies
Costs and details DubaiDUQE
From AED 12,500
Start-ups and solo founders wanting a memorable Dubai address
Costs and details DubaiMeydan
From AED 12,500
Remote founders who want to set up mostly online
Costs and details DubaiIFZA
From AED 12,900
SMEs and consultants who want a Dubai licence at a mid-range price
Costs and details DubaiDIFC
From AED 15,000
Banks, asset managers, brokers and other regulated financial firms
Costs and details DubaiDAFZ
From AED 15,000
Regional headquarters of multinational companies
Costs and details Dubaid3
From AED 15,000
Fashion labels, designers and design studios
Costs and details DubaiDubai Internet City
From AED 15,000
Software, cloud, AI and digital services companies
Costs and details DubaiDubai Knowledge Park
From AED 15,000
Training institutes and professional development providers
Costs and details DubaiDubai Media City
From AED 15,000
Broadcasters, TV channels and production houses
Costs and details DubaiDMCC
From AED 35,484
Commodity traders in gold, diamonds, tea, coffee and energy
Costs and detailsFree zones in Ajman
Free zones in Sharjah
Shams
From AED 5,750
Content creators, influencers and podcasters
Costs and details SharjahSAIF Zone
From AED 11,000
Import, export and distribution businesses
Costs and detailsFree zones in Ras Al Khaimah
Free zones in Abu Dhabi
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