Compare 42 UAE
Free Zones by
real cost
Transparent prices, renewal fees, visas, banking difficulty, and hidden costs across 42 UAE free zones.
Real costs. No surprises.
42
free zones Free zones compared
All prices in AED
License, visa, office incl.
Prices verified
Official schedules Against official schedules
Hidden costs to watch
- Office security deposit
- Ejari / tenancy contract
- PRO & document attestation
- Bank account charges
Cheapest free zones
Total cost in AED • Year 1 (license, visa, office included)
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Top-rated free zones
Scored on value, banking ease, setup speed, and flexibility
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Cost Calculator
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Pick 2-3 zones and compare pricing, visas, banking, features, and pros/cons in a single view.
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Best free zones by cost, overall quality, and category — freelancers, e-commerce, trading, crypto.
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The most-viewed pages in our UAE free zones comparison — each a head-to-head on Year 1 cost, visa quotas, and banking difficulty.
Why our data is different
Independent
Not sponsored by any free zone or setup agent. We show every price — even when it's ugly.
Verified June 2026
Every price checked against official fee schedules and government portals. Updated monthly.
Apples-to-apples
Year 1 totals include license, office, visas, and insurance. No hidden costs, no surprises.
Popular Free Zones
View all 42 zones →IFZA
From AED 12,900
DubaiDMCC
From AED 27,049
RAKRAKEZ
From AED 6,000
DubaiMeydan FZ
From AED 12,500
DubaiJAFZA
From AED 40,211
DubaiDubai South
From AED 12,500
DubaiDAFZA
From AED 22,040
SharjahSHAMS
From AED 5,750
DubaiDSO
From AED 18,500
DubaiDIC
From AED 30,000
DubaiDUQE
From AED 12,500
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How many free zones are there in the UAE?
We track and compare 42 of the UAE's major free zones across all seven emirates — 22 in Dubai, 6 in Sharjah, 5 in Abu Dhabi, 3 in Ajman, 3 in Fujairah, 2 in RAK, 1 in UAQ. This is our verified coverage, not an exhaustive national count, and we add zones as we confirm their pricing. Each zone specialises in different industries and price points.
What is the cheapest free zone in the UAE?
The cheapest UAE free zone is twofour54 (Abu Dhabi) at AED 3,539/year for a zero-visa license. Among mainstream Dubai company licenses, IFZA is the value leader at AED 12,900. Prices exclude visa processing, which adds AED 4,000-6,000 per person.
How do I compare UAE free zones?
Use our free comparison tools: the Cost Calculator estimates your total Year 1 cost across all 42 zones, the side-by-side comparison tool lets you compare any two zones on cost, visas, banking, and features, and our Best-For rankings filter by business type.
How much does it cost to set up a business in a UAE free zone?
Year 1 costs range from AED 3,539 to AED 85,000+ depending on the zone, visa needs, and office requirements. Budget zones like RAKEZ and Ajman Free Zone start under AED 15,000 with one visa. Premium zones like DMCC and JAFZA cost AED 40,000-50,000+.
Which UAE free zone is best for startups?
RAKEZ (AED 14,320 with 1 visa), Dubai South (AED 19,000), and IFZA (AED 12,900 zero-visa) are the most popular for startups. RAKEZ offers the best value with mainland trading rights. DSO is best for tech startups with its Dtec incubator. ADGM suits fintech startups with its common-law framework.