Dubai Free Zone Company Formation

How to choose a Dubai free zone

Every Dubai free zone offers 100% foreign ownership and access to UAE residence visas, so the right choice comes down to fit rather than headline benefits. Work through these factors in order and the shortlist usually narrows to two or three zones:

• Business activity. Some activities are tied to a specific ecosystem (commodities and crypto in DMCC, regulated finance in DIFC), while general trading, consultancy, and e-commerce are available across most zones. Confirm your exact activity is licensable before comparing price.

• Where you sell. A free zone company trades freely internationally and within its own zone, but selling directly into the UAE mainland generally needs a mainland distributor or a dual-licence arrangement.

• Budget. Entry-level Dubai licences start from roughly AED 12,500 to AED 12,900 per year for a zero-visa package (Meydan and IFZA). Sector-specific zones such as DMCC sit higher once workspace and visas are added.

• Visa needs. Visa quota is tied to your workspace package, so a flexi-desk covering one or two visas may suit a solo founder, while a larger team needs a higher tier or a physical office.

• Workspace and ecosystem. Most new companies begin on a bundled flexi-desk or virtual office. Zones run by TECOM Group, DP World, and the Dubai Development Authority are each built around particular industries, which can matter as much as price.

Still weighing a free zone against a mainland licence? Read our free zone vs mainland Dubai guide, or compare the three most popular zones in our DMCC vs IFZA vs Meydan comparison.

Dubai free zone cost comparison (2026)

An indicative 2026 snapshot for three of the most popular Dubai free zones. Licence prices are the published or widely cited starting points for a zero-visa package; the first-year figure reflects a realistic all-in cost once workspace, an establishment card, and one residence visa are added. Treat every number as a guide, not a quote.

Meydan and IFZA are consistently the lowest-cost Dubai licences; the genuinely cheapest UAE zones sit in the Northern Emirates (Ajman, Sharjah, RAK, and Fujairah) from roughly AED 5,000, though those are licence-only teaser rates without a Dubai address. Across every zone, adding one residence visa typically adds AED 3,500 to AED 5,000 or more per person, so the advertised "from" price is never the all-in cost.

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