Free Zone Comparison
IFZA vs AFZ
IFZA gives you a Dubai address for AED 12,900. Ajman gives you 38 years of credibility for AED 5,555. The price gap is real — but so is the emirate on your license.
IFZA
Dubai
AED 12,900
Year 1 from
AFZ
Ajman
AED 5,555
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
- ● 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 faster setup — 4 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
The AED 7,345 gap between IFZA at AED 12,900 and Ajman at AED 5,555 buys one thing: a Dubai address. For international clients and banking officers, 'Dubai' on a trade license carries more weight than 'Ajman.' Whether that perception justifies a 132% premium depends entirely on your client profile.
Operationally, Ajman competes surprisingly well. It processes visas in 4 days — the fastest in the UAE — versus IFZA's 21-day timeline. Ajman covers 3,500+ activities versus IFZA's 800+. Ajman doesn't require annual audits; IFZA introduced mandatory financial statements in September 2025. Ajman has operated since 1988 with 25,000 companies; IFZA since 2018 with 5,000. Where IFZA pulls ahead: it supports up to 15 visas versus Ajman's 8, and its B2B agent model often delivers effective pricing below AED 12,900. For budget-first founders who don't need a Dubai label, Ajman offers more activities, faster visas, and simpler compliance at less than half the price.
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 | ★ 4.1/5 🏆 |
| Max Visas | 15 🏆 | 8 |
| Processing Time | 21 days | 4 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2018 | 1988 |
| Companies | 5,000+ | 25,000+ |
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
4.1/5
Max Visas
IFZA
15
AFZ
8
Processing
IFZA
21 days
AFZ
4 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
Kickstarter (0 Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 5,555
Year 1
Renewal: AED 5,555/yr
1 Visa Package (Trading/Service)
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 13,451
Year 1
Renewal: AED 9,851/yr
2 Visa Package (Trading/Service)
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 21,852
Year 1
Renewal: AED 14,652/yr
Physical Office Package (3 Visas)
Up to 3 visas · Private Office
AED 30,710
Year 1
Renewal: AED 19,910/yr
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 | Not 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 budget startups
- ✓ Want trading
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want smes
- ✓ Want warehousing
- ✓ 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
- ✓ Among the UAE's cheapest free zone options — 0-visa starter licenses from AED 5,555
- ✓ Huge activity catalog with over 3,500 business activities
- ✓ Digital-first: fully digitized setup and customer portal
- ✓ All-inclusive packages covering license, lease, establishment card, visa, medical, and Emirates ID
Cons
- ✗ Visa quotas depend on business package and facility — cheapest options limit hiring flexibility
- ✗ Refundable deposits can affect cash flow: AED 20,000 office guarantee and AED 3,000 per person in some cases
- ✗ Medical reports accepted only from Al Hamidiya Health Center in Ajman
- ✗ Bank accounts facilitated but not guaranteed — standard vetting and compliance checks apply
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, 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 Budget Startups, Trading, E-commerce. 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 8 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 budget startups support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.