Editorial & Methodology Policy

Last updated: June 2026

FreeZoneCompare is an independent UAE free zone comparison platform. We exist to help entrepreneurs choose a free zone using transparent pricing and plain-English analysis — not to sell setup services. This page explains how we research our data, how we score zones, how we stay independent, and how we make money.

How we research and verify pricing

Every price on this site is independently researched, not supplied by the free zones. For each zone we work from the authority's official website and published fee schedules where available, then cross-check the figures against quotations from authorised setup agents. Where official and agent figures disagree, we note the discrepancy rather than hide it.

Treat our figures as planning estimates, not quotes. Free zone pricing changes often and varies by activity, visa count, and office type — always confirm the exact cost with the authority or a licensed agent before you commit. We show a "Last verified" date on every data-driven page, and you can see our sourcing note directly under the pricing on each zone profile and price index.

How we score and rate zones

Our zone ratings combine five weighted dimensions, each scored from the same underlying data so ratings stay comparable across zones:

• Value for money — total Year 1 and renewal cost relative to what you get.
• Setup speed — how fast a licence and visa can realistically be issued.
• Banking ease — how readily licensees open a UAE corporate account.
• Customer service — responsiveness and clarity of the authority and its agents.
• Flexibility — activity range, visa scalability, and mainland-trading options.

Our "best for" rankings (for example freelancers or cheapest) apply a use-case-specific weighting on top of these, and each ranking page states the exact weights and the standardised scenario used.

Editorial independence

No free zone, authority, or agent can pay for a higher rating, a better ranking, or placement on this site. Ratings and rankings are decided solely by our own assessment of the data. We are not affiliated with, owned by, or operated by any free zone authority.

How we make money

FreeZoneCompare is free to use and reader-first. When you ask us to connect you with a vetted UAE business setup partner, that partner may pay us a referral fee if you go on to work with them. This never changes our pricing data, ratings, or rankings, and it never costs you more. Partner links and quote requests are always clearly labelled. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle the details you share.

Who runs FreeZoneCompare

FreeZoneCompare is independently owned and operated. Editorial work — research, verification, and analysis — is led by our editor, Daniel Harmon. We are a small, focused team rather than a large newsroom, and we say so plainly: our authority comes from transparent, auditable data, not from claiming credentials we do not have.

Corrections and contact

Spotted a figure that looks wrong or out of date? We want to know. Read our Corrections Policy or email hello@freezonecompare.com and we will verify and fix it.