Free zone · UAE
Free zone company setup in the UAE, matched to your business.
The UAE has more than 40 free zones, and the cheapest is rarely the right one. We match you to the free zone that fits your activity, visa needs, and banking, then handle the licence and setup.
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor
- Cost
- From around AED 15,000 in the first year
- Choice
- 40+ UAE free zones, matched to your activity
What we do
Free zones offer 100% foreign ownership, fast setup, and simple compliance, which makes them the default for international and remote businesses. But each free zone has its own activities, costs, visa allocations, and standing with banks, and choosing on price alone causes problems later.
Ezeebiz selects the free zone that fits your activity and banking, not just your budget, then handles licensing, visa allocation, and the corporate account so you are operational quickly.
What is included
Free zone selection
We match your activity, visa count, and banking needs to the right free zone among 40 or more, not the cheapest by default.
Licence and workspace
Activity approval, trade name, licence issue, and your flexi-desk or office.
Visa allocation
Investor and employee visas within your free zone's quota, with Emirates ID.
Banking-ready setup
We structure the company so your corporate account application is accepted, not rejected.
When a free zone is the right choice
Free zones suit businesses that sell internationally, operate online, or provide services, because they offer 100% foreign ownership, fast setup, and simple compliance. Mainland suits companies that trade directly across the UAE market or work with government. The honest test is where your customers are and how you will bank, not the headline licence price.
If most of your revenue comes from outside the UAE or from other free-zone and international clients, a free zone is usually the cleaner base. If you need to invoice UAE mainland customers directly or hold a government contract, mainland is often the better fit, which is the first thing we settle in the consultation.
Choosing the right free zone
The UAE has more than 40 free zones, and they are not interchangeable. They differ in the activities they licence, the number of visas they allow, their cost, their setup speed, and, importantly, how readily banks open accounts for companies registered there. Choosing on price alone is the common mistake, because a cheap licence in a zone your bank does not favour can cost you the account.
The table below sets out how some of the most-used zones compare. We match you to the one that fits your activity, your visa needs, and your banking, rather than defaulting to the most advertised.
| Free zone | Known for | Banking | Setup speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC | Trading and commodities; premium reputation | Strongest bank acceptance | About 2 to 3 weeks |
| IFZA | Cost-effective Dubai licence, many activities | Approves well, including digital banks | About 7 to 10 days |
| Meydan | Widest activity range, Dubai licence | Approves well, including digital banks | About 7 to 10 days |
| RAKEZ | E-commerce and light industrial, low cost | Easier with RAKBANK and digital banks | About 1 to 2 weeks |
| SHAMS, Ajman | Creative, freelance, lowest entry cost | Better with digital banks | About 1 week |
Free zone costs and the 0% tax question
First-year cost depends on the zone, your visa count, and your office. A lean single-visa licence in a low-cost zone can start near AED 15,000, while a premium zone with an office and several visas runs higher. The cheapest entry is rarely the right one once banking and activity fit are taken into account, so we give you a complete schedule for the zones that suit you before you commit.
On tax, a free-zone company that meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions pays 0% corporate tax on its qualifying income, with non-qualifying income taxed at 9%. The 0% rate is not automatic, it depends on meeting substance and income conditions, which is part of how we structure the company.
Visas, banking, and substance
Each free zone sets its own visa quota, often tied to your package or office size, so your visa needs should shape the choice from the start. Banking reputation also varies by zone: some are widely accepted by local banks, others sit more easily with digital banks. And keeping the 0% tax treatment, and a healthy banking relationship, depends on real substance in the UAE. We set the company up so the zone, the visas, the bank, and the tax position all fit together.
How an engagement runs
- Step 1
Match
We recommend the free zone that fits your activity, visa needs, and banking.
- Step 2
Licence
Activity approval, trade name, and licence issue with your workspace.
- Step 3
Visas and banking
Visa allocation, Emirates ID, and corporate account, through to operational.
Questions, answered
Should I choose mainland or a free zone?
Free zone suits international and remote business, with 100% ownership and simpler compliance. Mainland suits trading directly in the UAE market and government work. The decision should follow your banking and three-year plan, not the headline price, which is what the consultation works through.
What are the best free zones in the UAE?
There is no single best free zone. The right one depends on your activity, your visa needs, and which banks accept that free zone for your profile. We match you to the free zone that fits, among more than 40, rather than defaulting to the most advertised.
Is a free zone cheaper than mainland?
Free zone setup is often lower cost upfront, but the right comparison is total cost against what your business actually needs to do. We give you a complete schedule for both so the decision is made on the full picture.
Which is the cheapest free zone in the UAE?
The lowest-cost licences sit in zones such as Ajman, SHAMS, and RAKEZ, where a freelancer or single-activity licence can start around AED 6,000. The cheapest zone is not always the right one, because a low-cost licence in a zone your bank does not favour can cost you the account. We weigh cost against activity and banking fit.
Can a free zone company do business in the UAE mainland?
Not directly. A free-zone company serves the mainland market through a distributor, a branch, or a dual licence, rather than invoicing mainland customers directly. If most of your customers are in the UAE market, we will tell you when mainland is the better base.
Do free zone companies pay corporate tax?
A free-zone company that meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions pays 0% corporate tax on its qualifying income, and 9% on non-qualifying income. The 0% rate depends on meeting substance and income conditions, which we factor into the setup.
Available now
Meet River.
Your AI business setup expert.
Ask River anything about UAE structures, free zones, visa categories, costs, and timelines.
Prefer to talk it through first? Book a call with Rachana.