UAE Free Zone Cost Comparison 2026

Setup costs for 52 free zones across 7 emirates, side by side. Sort by any column to find the cheapest licence, the lowest first-year all-in, or the fastest setup.

Across 52 UAE free zones, starting licence fees for 2026 range from about AED 8,000 (RAK Media City, Ras Al Khaimah) to around AED 25,000 (Sharjah Healthcare City). The headline licence fee is only part of the picture: residence visas, office or flexi-desk, and annual renewal drive the real first-year cost. The table below compares all of them on the same basis so you can sort by what matters to you.

UAE free zone cost comparison: starting licence fee, estimated first-year all-in cost, per-visa cost, annual renewal, and setup time for each zone. Sortable by column. Figures are indicative 2026 ranges.
					Annual renewal	Setup time
RAK Media CityRAK Media City Authority	Ras Al Khaimah	AED 8,000	AED 25,000 to 65,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Ajman Media CityAjman Media City Free Zone Authority	Ajman	AED 8,000	AED 20,000 to 45,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	3-5 working days
Fujairah Creative CityFujairah Creative City Authority	Fujairah	AED 8,000	AED 20,000 to 45,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
ADGMAbu Dhabi Global Market Authority	Abu Dhabi	AED 10,000	AED 75,000 to 200,000	AED 8,000	Same as initial license fee	4-8 weeks for standard applications
Hamriyah Free ZoneHamriyah Free Zone Authority	Sharjah	AED 10,000	AED 25,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
RAKEZRas Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA)	Ras Al Khaimah	AED 10,000	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Ajman China MallAjman Free Zone Authority	Ajman	AED 10,000	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 3,500	Starting from AED 8,000	5-7 working days
DUQEUmm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority	Umm Al Quwain	AED 10,000	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 3,500	Starting from AED 8,000	3-5 working days
UAQ FTZUAQ FTZ Authority	Umm Al Quwain	AED 10,000	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	3-5 working days
COMTECHSharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD)	Sharjah	AED 12,000	AED 25,000 to 65,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Ajman Free ZoneAjman Free Zone Authority	Ajman	AED 12,000	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	3-5 working days
Fujairah Free ZoneFujairah Free Zone Authority	Fujairah	AED 12,000	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
IFZAInternational Free Zone Authority	Dubai	AED 12,500	AED 25,000 to 45,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	3-5 working days
DMCCGovernment of Dubai	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 15,000	5-7 working days
DAZDubai Auto Zone Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	7-10 working days
Dubai CommerCityDubai CommerCity Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 8,000	3-5 working days
d3Dubai Design District Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 55,000 to 120,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 8,000 depending on license type	5-7 working days
Gold & Diamond ParkDubai Gold and Diamond Park Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 12,000	5-7 working days
Dubai Knowledge ParkDubai Development Authority (DDA)	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai Science ParkDubai Science Park Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
DSODubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA)	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai Studio CityDubai Development Authority (DDA)	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai Textile CityDubai Development Authority (DDA)	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 12,000	5-7 working days
DWTCDubai World Trade Centre Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 55,000 to 120,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 8,000	5-7 working days
Meydan Free ZoneMeydan Free Zone Authority	Dubai	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 65,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
SAIF ZoneSAIF Zone Authority	Sharjah	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	3-5 working days
ShamsSharjah Media City Authority	Sharjah	AED 15,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai Maritime CityDubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA)	Dubai	AED 16,000	AED 35,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Expo City DubaiExpo City Dubai Authority	Dubai	AED 16,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
ADAFZAbu Dhabi Airports Company	Abu Dhabi	AED 16,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
SRTIPSharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Authority	Sharjah	AED 16,000	AED 35,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
SPCSharjah Publishing City Free Zone Authority	Sharjah	AED 16,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
DAFZADubai Airport Free Zone Authority	Dubai	AED 16,500	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 12,000	3-5 working days
Dubai Media CityTECOM Group	Dubai	AED 16,500	AED 35,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai SouthDubai South Authority	Dubai	AED 16,500	AED 35,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai Industrial CityDubai Industrial City Authority	Dubai	AED 18,000	AED 65,000 to 150,000	AED 4,500	15,000 - 25,000 AED depending on license type	5-7 working days
Dubai Outsource CityDubai Development Authority (DDA)	Dubai	AED 18,000	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 12,000	5-7 working days
Dubai Production CityDubai Production City Authority	Dubai	AED 18,000	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 15,000 depending on license type	5-7 working days
ICADAbu Dhabi Department of Economic Development	Abu Dhabi	AED 18,000	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 3,500	15,000 - 25,000 AED depending on license type	7-14 working days
KEZADAbu Dhabi Ports Group	Abu Dhabi	AED 18,000	AED 45,000 to 120,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	7-10 working days
twofour54Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority	Abu Dhabi	AED 18,000	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-10 working days
Innovation CityRas Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)	Ras Al Khaimah	AED 18,000	AED 35,000 to 65,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 business days
Dubai Internet CityDubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (DTEC)	Dubai	AED 18,500	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
JAFZADubai Ports World (DP World)	Dubai	AED 18,500	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
IHCDubai South	Dubai	AED 20,000	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	Starting from AED 15,000	4-6 weeks
Masdar CityMasdar City Authority	Abu Dhabi	AED 20,000	AED 45,000 to 85,000	AED 4,500	10% of initial license fee	5-7 working days
RAK Maritime CityRAK Maritime City Authority	Ras Al Khaimah	AED 20,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 4,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
FOIZFujairah Free Zone Authority	Fujairah	AED 20,000	AED 35,000 to 75,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	5-7 working days
Dubai Healthcare CityDubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA)	Dubai	AED 25,000	AED 50,000 to 150,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	4-6 weeks
Academic CityDubai International Academic City Authority	Dubai	AED 25,000	AED 55,000 to 120,000	AED 8,500	10% of initial license fee	15-20 working days
DIFCDubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)	Dubai	AED 25,000	AED 85,000 to 250,000	AED 8,500	Same as initial license fee	4-8 weeks
Sharjah Healthcare CitySharjah Healthcare City Authority	Sharjah	AED 25,000	AED 75,000 to 150,000	AED 3,500	Same as initial license fee	10-15 working days

Note: Costs are indicative and may change with your requirements and regulations. Contact us for a tailored quote.

How to read this comparison

Licence from is the lowest advertised starting fee, typically zero-visa and licence-only. It is the headline number, not the amount you will actually pay once visas and office are added.
Est. 1st year is an indicative all-in range for a solo founder with one residence visa and a flexi-desk, a more realistic budgeting figure than the licence fee alone. To size your own setup, use the UAE business setup cost calculator.
Per visa is the approximate cost to add one residence visa (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, establishment card), on top of the licence.
Annual renewal and setup time come from each zone's published guidance and vary with activity, office type, and promotions.

Methodology and sources

Figures are compiled by Aurne, a licensed UAE corporate service provider, from free zone rate cards and current package pricing, and are expressed as indicative 2026 ranges rather than quotes. Most published free zone figures come from consultancy price lists rather than official rate cards and change with promotions, so treat every number as a range and confirm a current quote before you rely on it. This page is updated as pricing changes; the last-updated date is carried in the page metadata.

Choosing a zone on price alone is the classic trap: the cheapest licence in a zone that does not fit your activity, market access, or visa needs costs more to unwind later. For the full decision, see our business setup in Dubai and UAE business setup overviews, or browse the full UAE free zones directory for the detail behind each zone in the table.

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