Free Zone Comparison
IFZA vs AFZ 2026
Ajman is older, cheaper, faster and broader — IFZA's entire case rests on the word 'Dubai' costing AED 7,345 more.
By Daniel Harmon, Senior Editor
IFZA
Dubai
AED 12,900
Year 1 from
AFZ
Ajman
AED 5,555
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
Choose Ajman for the cheapest fast setup; choose IFZA only if a Dubai address earns you business.
- ● Choose AFZ if cost is your priority — AED 7,345 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose IFZA if you need more visas — up to 15
- ● Choose AFZ for overall quality — rated 4.4/5
- ● Choose AFZ for faster setup — 5 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
Strip away the address and Ajman Free Zone arguably out-specs IFZA on paper — which makes the AED 7,345 gap between them one of the more revealing in the UAE. IFZA's zero-visa license is AED 12,900; Ajman's is AED 5,555, a 132% premium for IFZA before you've added a single visa. With one, IFZA runs AED 28,790 against Ajman's AED 13,159, so the gap doesn't close, it widens past AED 15,000.
What does Ajman give up for that price? Surprisingly little on the fundamentals. It has operated since 1988 with around 20,000 companies (IFZA since 2018, ~5,000), processes visas in roughly 4-5 days against IFZA's ~21, advertises 3,500+ activities to IFZA's 800+, and doesn't impose a blanket audit requirement, whereas IFZA began mandating tiered financial statements in September 2025. Both rate 'Moderate' for banking, and Ajman lists a respectable bank roster (Ajman Bank, RAKBANK, Mashreq, ruya and others).
So IFZA's real product is the Dubai postcode — genuinely valuable if your clients or banking officers weight it, and worth little if they never check. The honest caveats: Ajman publishes no clean 2026 package table, so you'll depend on quotes, and banking is still its slowest practical step; IFZA, meanwhile, routes sales through a reseller channel that inflates direct pricing, and its Dubai Silicon Oasis home sits well outside the central districts clients picture. Where IFZA does pull ahead is headroom — up to 15 visas versus Ajman's 8-to-10 practical cap. Our read: budget-first founders who don't need a Dubai label should take Ajman and save more than half; pay IFZA's premium only when the address itself wins work.
IFZA vs AFZ at a Glance
| Metric | IFZA | AFZ |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Ajman |
| Year 1 From | AED 12,900 | AED 5,555 🏆 |
| Renewal From | AED 12,900 | AED 5,555 🏆 |
| Rating | ★ 4.0/5 | ★ 4.4/5 🏆 |
| Max Visas | 15 🏆 | 10 |
| Processing Time | 21 days | 5 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2018 | 1988 |
| Companies | 5,000+ | 20,000+ |
Year 1 From
IFZA
AED 12,900
AFZ
AED 5,555
Renewal From
IFZA
AED 12,900
AFZ
AED 5,555
Rating
IFZA
4.0/5
AFZ
4.4/5
Max Visas
IFZA
15
AFZ
10
Processing
IFZA
21 days
AFZ
5 days
Banking
IFZA
Moderate
AFZ
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
IFZA Packages
Dubai · 4 packages
Zero Visa Package
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 12,900
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,900/yr
1 Visa Package
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 28,790
Year 1
Renewal: AED 24,400/yr
2 Visa Package
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 36,380
Year 1
Renewal: AED 27,400/yr
3 Visa Package
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 43,970
Year 1
Renewal: AED 29,400/yr
AFZ Packages
Ajman · 4 packages
Starter No Visa Package
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 5,555
Year 1
Renewal: AED 5,555/yr
Starter 1 Visa Package
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,159
Year 1
Renewal: AED 7,759/yr
Growth 2 Visa Package
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 17,713
Year 1
Renewal: AED 8,113/yr
Team 3 Visa Package
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 22,267
Year 1
Renewal: AED 8,467/yr
How we source these prices: figures for IFZA and AFZ are independently researched from their official sites (IFZA · AFZ) and published fee schedules, then cross-checked against authorized-agent quotations. Treat them as planning estimates and confirm exact costs before you commit — we never accept payment for placement or ratings. Last verified: IFZA June 2026 · AFZ June 2026.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | IFZA | AFZ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required | Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose IFZA if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want startups
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want consulting
- ✓ Want digital nomads
Choose AFZ if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want trading smes
- ✓ Want cost-sensitive startups
- ✓ Want light manufacturing
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 7,345 less)
Pros & Cons
IFZA
Pros
- ✓ Lowest all-in Dubai free zone option — Year 1 with 1 visa achievable under AED 25,000 through agents
- ✓ No physical office requirement — virtual/flexi desk options available
- ✓ Fast license issuance: 2–5 business days
- ✓ Up to 7 business activities per license (first 3 included free, extras AED 1,000 each)
Cons
- ✗ B2B-only model — must work through intermediary agents, direct pricing significantly inflated
- ✗ Relatively young (Dubai presence since 2020) with weaker brand recognition than DMCC
- ✗ Only ~5,000 companies — smaller networking ecosystem
- ✗ Limited crypto licensing (no exchange/custody activities)
AFZ
Pros
- ✓ Official AFZ marketing for the e-commerce package starts at AED 5,555, and Virtuzone lists the same AFZ starting price, keeping AFZ among the cheapest mainstream UAE free zones.
- ✓ AFZ publicly advertises 3,500+ activities, which is broader than many low-cost free zones and useful if you need multiple activities on one license.
- ✓ Setup is genuinely fast for simple cases: multiple 2026 consultancies put license issuance at about 1–3 business days or 2–5 working days, and AFZ runs a fully digital customer portal and One-Click flow.
- ✓ Flexi/co-working formats make entry easier: market tables commonly show virtual/flexi packages for 0, 1, 2, and 3 visas, while AFZ’s freelancer hub officially allows up to 2 visas and family sponsorship.
Cons
- ✗ Public data transparency is uneven. AFZ has a cost calculator, but it does not publish a simple official 2026 package table, so buyers still depend on quotes, consultants, or portal flows to see full costs.
- ✗ Banking is easier than in some small northern-emirate setups because AFZ has partners, but it is still the longest step in practice; 2026 market sources commonly say 2–4 weeks after license issuance, with more friction for higher-risk profiles.
- ✗ Visa-related charges are not cleanly standardized in the market. Recent sources disagree on what is bundled, what excludes health insurance, and whether establishment/e-channel/security items are quoted separately.
- ✗ AFZ’s own FAQ says e-commerce license holders must add a different import/export activity or different license if they want to import goods, so the cheapest e-commerce package is not the same thing as a full trading/import setup.
Still not sure?
Try our calculator to find the cheapest free zone for your specific requirements, or get a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cheaper is Ajman than IFZA?
A lot. Ajman's zero-visa license is AED 5,555 versus IFZA's AED 12,900 — a 132% premium for IFZA. With one visa, Ajman is AED 13,159 against IFZA's AED 28,790, so you save over AED 15,000 in Year 1.
Is IFZA worth the extra cost?
Only if a Dubai address earns you business. That's essentially what the premium buys, since Ajman matches or beats IFZA on price, visa speed, activity count and compliance. If clients or banks never check your emirate, Ajman is the smarter spend.
Which processes visas faster?
Ajman — about 4-5 days for post-license immigration steps, among the fastest in the UAE. IFZA's full visa cycle runs roughly 21 days including medical and Emirates ID, though it issues the license itself in 2-5 days.
Which scales to a larger team?
IFZA. It supports up to 15 visas with office upgrades, while Ajman's practical quota sits nearer 8-10 depending on facility. For a growing team that's the one clear structural advantage IFZA holds over Ajman.
Which is cheaper, IFZA or AFZ?
AFZ is cheaper by AED 7,345 in Year 1. AFZ starts from AED 5,555 while IFZA starts from AED 12,900. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between IFZA and AFZ?
IFZA is based in Dubai and is best for Freelancers, Startups, E-commerce. AFZ is based in Ajman and is best for Freelancers, E-commerce, Trading SMEs. IFZA starts from AED 12,900 while AFZ starts from AED 5,555.
Which has easier banking, IFZA or AFZ?
Both IFZA and AFZ 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 IFZA vs AFZ?
IFZA supports up to 15 visas, while AFZ supports up to 10 visas. IFZA offers more visa capacity.
Is IFZA or AFZ better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose IFZA if you want freelancers focus and a Dubai address. Choose AFZ if you need freelancers support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.
Related Comparisons
Get a free quote for