Free Zone Comparison
Creative City vs AMC
Ajman Media City starts at AED 4,999 — half of Creative City Fujairah's AED 10,000. Both target media freelancers, but Ajman's banking relationships are smoother. The catch: Fujairah gives you more activity flexibility.
Creative City
Fujairah
AED 10,000
Year 1 from
AMC
Ajman
AED 4,999
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
- ● Choose AMC if cost is your priority — AED 5,001 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose Creative City if you need more visas — up to 15
- ● Choose AMC for overall quality — rated 4.4/5
- ● Choose AMC for faster setup — 3 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
Ajman Media City at AED 4,999 undercuts Creative City Fujairah's AED 10,000 by half — the lowest media license entry in the UAE. With one visa, AMC's Visionary totals AED 13,999; Creative City's FZE is AED 17,000 before adding separate visa processing fees. Renewals reinforce AMC's lead: AED 9,999 versus AED 10,000 for the base tier, but AMC's 1-visa Visionary renews at AED 9,999 including insurance.
Both skip audit requirements and physical office mandates — rare features that keep ongoing costs low. AMC processes licenses in 2-5 working days and visas in 3 days. Creative City takes 4-6 weeks for end-to-end visa completion — the slowest of any budget zone. AMC covers 1,500+ activities; Creative City covers 2,000+ with a stronger focus on media and publishing. AMC lists six banking partners; Creative City provides introduction letters to four banks. Fujairah-based licenses face more scrutiny at Dubai branches. For pure media licensing at the lowest cost with fast processing, AMC is the stronger pick. Creative City's wider activity range matters only if your business falls outside AMC's catalog.
Creative City vs AMC at a Glance
| Metric | Creative City | AMC |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Fujairah | Ajman |
| Year 1 From | AED 10,000 | AED 4,999 🏆 |
| Renewal From | AED 10,000 | AED 4,999 🏆 |
| Rating | ★ 3.6/5 | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 |
| Max Visas | 15 🏆 | 10 |
| Processing Time | 30 days | 3 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2007 | 2018 |
| Companies | 5,000+ | 12,000+ |
Year 1 From
Creative City
AED 10,000
AMC
AED 4,999
Renewal From
Creative City
AED 10,000
AMC
AED 4,999
Rating
Creative City
3.6/5
AMC
4.4/5
Max Visas
Creative City
15
AMC
10
Processing
Creative City
30 days
AMC
3 days
Banking
Creative City
Moderate
AMC
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
Creative City Packages
Fujairah · 5 packages
Freelancer License (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 10,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 10,000/yr
Commercial License — Single Owner (FZE)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 17,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 15,000/yr
Commercial License — Multiple Owners (FZ-LLC)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 21,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 18,000/yr
Freelancer Company + 3 Visa Package
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 44,220
Year 1
Renewal: AED 30,000/yr
AMC Packages
Ajman · 4 packages
Business Club Package (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 4,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 4,999/yr
Visionary Package (1 Visa)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 9,999/yr
Pioneer Package (2 Visas)
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 19,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,999/yr
Prime Package (5 Visas)
Up to 5 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 39,999
Year 1
Renewal: AED 23,500/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Creative City | AMC |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Physical Office Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Dual License | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audit Required | Not Required | Not Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Creative City if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want media & creative
- ✓ Want consultants
- ✓ Want it & technology
- ✓ Want small service businesses
Choose AMC if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want content creators
- ✓ Want digital agencies
- ✓ Want bootstrapped startups
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 5,001 less)
Pros & Cons
Creative City
Pros
- ✓ One of the cheapest UAE free zones — freelancer license from AED 10,000/year all-in
- ✓ Company licenses from AED 17,000 (FZE) including establishment card, flexi desk, and government fees
- ✓ Up to 15 visas per license depending on package — strong for scaling small teams
- ✓ No physical office required — flexi desk included in all packages
Cons
- ✗ Fujairah location means limited networking compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi free zones
- ✗ Banking can be challenging — Fujairah-based licenses face more scrutiny from Dubai banks
- ✗ No crypto or fintech licensing framework
- ✗ Visa processing slower than Dubai zones — 4-6 weeks typical for full visa completion
AMC
Pros
- ✓ Extremely low entry pricing: Business Club (0 visa) is AED 4,999/year on AMC's official packages page
- ✓ Visa packages explicitly include establishment card, residency, medical, Emirates ID, status change, and e-channel registration
- ✓ Published renewal pricing: Visionary AED 8,999; Pioneer AED 10,999; Innovator AED 14,999; Prime AED 18,500
- ✓ Up to 10 shareholders per license and over 1,500+ licensed activities
Cons
- ✗ Add-ons (extra visas, activities, regulated approvals) can materially change totals beyond published package prices
- ✗ Medical and Emirates ID coverage boundaries not priced line-by-line — variance vs. agent quotes possible
- ✗ Banking can be challenging for low-substance setups — banks may request proof of operations and invoices
- ✗ Mainland onshore trading restricted without a mainland route-to-market or dual license
Still not sure?
Try our calculator to find the cheapest free zone for your specific requirements, or get a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Creative City or AMC?
AMC is cheaper by AED 5,001 in Year 1. AMC starts from AED 4,999 while Creative City starts from AED 10,000. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between Creative City and AMC?
Creative City is based in Fujairah and is best for Freelancers, Media & Creative, Consultants. AMC is based in Ajman and is best for Freelancers, Content Creators, Digital Agencies. Creative City starts from AED 10,000 while AMC starts from AED 4,999.
Which has easier banking, Creative City or AMC?
Both Creative City and AMC are rated "Moderate" for banking difficulty, meaning there is no significant difference in how easily you can open a corporate bank account.
How many visas can I get with Creative City vs AMC?
Creative City supports up to 15 visas, while AMC supports up to 10 visas. Creative City offers more visa capacity.
Is Creative City or AMC better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose Creative City if you want freelancers focus and a Fujairah address. Choose AMC if you need freelancers support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.