About FreeZoneCompare
Setting up a business in a UAE free zone is a five-figure commitment. We believe you shouldn't have to fill out a contact form or call a sales team just to see the price.
Edited by Daniel Harmon, Senior Editor · Last updated June 2026
What we do
FreeZoneCompare is an independent comparison platform for UAE free zones. We research, verify, and publish pricing data, visa costs, and editorial reviews for 42 free zones across all seven emirates — so entrepreneurs can compare options before committing.
Every free zone profile on this site includes Year 1 total costs in AED, package breakdowns, visa processing details, banking difficulty ratings, and an honest editorial assessment of pros and cons. No hidden fees behind "Contact us" buttons. No rankings influenced by commissions.
What we are — and what we're not
We are
- ✓ An independent data platform — we research and publish, not sell
- ✓ Transparent about pricing — every cost shown in AED with breakdowns
- ✓ Opinionated — we state what we like and what we don't about each zone
- ✓ Free to read — all comparisons, data, and tools are open, with no paywalls or registration to browse
We are not
- ✗ A consultancy — we don't process licenses or sell setup packages
- ✗ Affiliated with any single free zone or setup agency
- ✗ A lead-gen site disguised as a comparison tool
- ✗ Paid by free zones to rank higher or hide negative reviews
Our methodology
Research
We collect pricing data from official free zone portals, published fee schedules, TECOM/DCCA/RAKEZ authority documents, and verified agent quotations. We cross-reference multiple sources for each data point.
Verify
Every price on this site is verified against at least two sources. We calculate Year 1 totals by adding every required component: license, office, establishment card, visa fees, medical, Emirates ID, and insurance. No hidden costs.
Review
Each free zone gets an editorial review scored across five dimensions: value for money, setup speed, banking ease, customer service, and flexibility. We state our opinions clearly — this is editorial, not advertising.
How our ratings work
Every free zone is rated 1–5 across five equally weighted dimensions. The overall score is the average. Ratings are based on published data, reported timelines, banking partner feedback, and available user experiences.
Value
Cost relative to what you get
Speed
License and visa processing time
Banking
Corporate account opening ease
Service
Support and responsiveness
Flexibility
Activity scope and visa options
How we make money
Transparency about our business model is central to our credibility. Here is exactly how FreeZoneCompare generates revenue:
- 1. Referral fees. When you request a quote — through a "Get Official Quote" button or our free zone finder quiz — we pass your details to one vetted setup partner who may contact you with a free, no-obligation quote. If you proceed with them, we may earn a referral fee. This never changes your recommendations, which come only from our independent pricing data, and we always tell you before sharing your details.
- 2. Sponsored placements. In the future, free zones or agencies may pay for featured placement on directory pages. Sponsored content will always be clearly disclosed.
What we guarantee: referral relationships never influence our ratings, rankings, or editorial opinions. A free zone with a partner link gets the same honest review as one without.
Our coverage
42
Free zones reviewed
7
Emirates covered
100+
Packages compared
2026
Data verified
Who we are
Daniel Harmon
Senior Editor
Daniel has spent four years researching UAE free zone pricing, visa processes, and banking access across all seven emirates. He verifies every data point against official fee schedules and cross-checks costs with licensed setup consultants before publishing.
Contact
Found a pricing error? Have data we should update? Want to suggest a free zone we haven't covered? We take corrections seriously — our value depends on accuracy.
Email us at hello@freezonecompare.com