Free Zone Compass

Which UAE free zone actually fits you — at the real price?

Name: UAE Free Zone License Cost Comparison 2026
Creator: Free Zone Compass
License: https://freezonecompass.com/

Headline prices hide visa fees, establishment cards, and deposits. Compare 16 zones on realistic first-year totals, filtered by what you'll actually do. Updated July 20, 2026.

Business activity

Visas needed

Remote-friendly only (no physical office)

Full comparison table — all 16 zones (July 2026)

Free zone	Emirate	Cheapest license (0 visas)	Est. year 1 with 1 visa	Max visas (base)	Remote setup	Typical setup time
Ajman Free Zone	Ajman	AED 4,888	~AED 12,000 (verify)	2	Yes	1–3 days
UAQ FTZ	Umm Al Quwain	AED 4,949 (START promo, incl. 1 visa — verify)	~AED 7,000	2	Yes	same day–3 days
SPC Free Zone	Sharjah	AED 5,750 (AED 4,999 e-publishing tier)	~AED 13,165	20	Yes	~45 min–2 days
RAKEZ	Ras Al Khaimah	AED 5,499	~AED 14,000	4	Yes	3–7 days
SHAMS	Sharjah	AED 5,750 (verify)	~AED 13,000 (verify)	3	Yes	1–3 days
Masdar City FZ	Abu Dhabi	AED 10,000 (women's package AED 6,000 incl. 1 visa)	~AED 14,000 (verify)	2	Yes	1–2 weeks
Meydan Free Zone	Dubai	AED 12,500	~AED 16,000	6	Yes	2–4 days
Dubai South	Dubai	AED 12,500	~AED 19,000	3	Flexi incl.	~1 week
DUQE	Dubai	AED 12,500	~AED 19,500	6	Yes	1–3 days
IFZA	Dubai	AED 12,900	~AED 21,500	6	Yes	2–5 days
DAFZA	Dubai	AED 19,500	~AED 26,000	2	No (smart desk)	1–2 weeks
ADGM	Abu Dhabi	USD 1,500/yr tech tier (~AED 5,500) + fees	~AED 20,000 (tech, incl. workspace)	2	No (ADGM office; co-working OK)	1–4 weeks
JAFZA	Dubai	AED 15,000	~AED 40,000	3	No	2–4 weeks
Dubai Internet City	Dubai	AED 15,010 (license only)	~AED 55,520 (incl. workstation)	tied to space	No	2–6 weeks
DMCC	Dubai	~AED 34,000	~AED 55,000	3	No (desk required)	2–4 weeks

“Est. year 1 with 1 visa” = license package + visa processing + establishment card, estimated from July 2026 public pricing; “verify” marks conflicting sources. Full methodology and caveats in the footer.

Zone guides: IFZA Meydan SHAMS RAKEZ SPC Ajman UAQ DMCC ADGM Golden Visa guide

Golden Visa — do you qualify?

UAE property ≥ AED 2M (or planning) AED 2M to invest / deposit Salary ≥ AED 30k/mo + degree Startup founder / SME owner Doctor, scientist, creative, athlete, nurse (15y+), teacher, e-sports pro, content creator

Real Estate Golden Visa (5–10 yr)

Property ≥ AED 2,000,000 on title deed. Since Feb 2026: mortgaged and off-plan properties qualify on DLD valuation alone — the old 50%-paid rule is gone. Developer/bank NOC required.

Investor Golden Visa (10 yr)

AED 2M capital investment or bank deposit held 2 years — or ownership of a company paying AED 250k+/yr in taxes.

Skilled Professional Golden Visa (10 yr)

Monthly salary AED 30,000+, attested degree, role in a designated category (STEM, medicine, IT, business).

Entrepreneur Golden Visa (5 yr)

Innovative/tech project — roughly SME revenue from AED 1M or project valued from AED 500k (verify current thresholds), plus nomination from an accredited incubator or emirate authority.

Specialized Talent Golden Visa (10 yr)

Nomination-based. The 2025–26 expansion added nurses (15+ yrs), educators, e-sports professionals, game developers, and digital content creators (via Dubai Creators HQ).

Read the full Golden Visa routes guide →

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