The real all-in price to set up a company in every UAE free zone — what's included, what each visa adds, and which zone is cheapest. No hidden charges.
A UAE free-zone company costs from AED 4,888 all-in for a zero-visa licence in 2026, at Ajman NuVentures Centre — the cheapest free zone on Formenzo. Most emirates sit between AED 5,000 and AED 7,000 for a licence without a visa. Dubai's popular zones start higher: Meydan from AED 12,500 and IFZA from AED 12,900, while premium DMCC begins at AED 35,484 for its bundled packages.
✓ Real published "from" prices · cheapest first · all 9 zones| UAE free zone | Emirate | From (all-in, 0 visa) |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures Centre | Ajman | AED 4,888 |
| Fujairah Creative City | Fujairah | AED 4,900 |
| SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 5,500 |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 5,750 |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 |
| Masdar City | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 |
| Meydan | Dubai | AED 12,500 |
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 |
| DMCC | Dubai | AED 35,484 |
Live "from" prices from the Formenzo catalogue · last reviewed · every figure confirmed in writing before filing.
On Formenzo, "all-in" means the price you see already contains every mandatory fee to get a working licence — not a stripped-down "from" number you build on later. It covers:
The headline number assumes zero residence visas. The moment you add visas, the cost rises — which is the single biggest reason two quotes for "the same" company can differ by thousands.
A residence visa is a separate, priced add-on in almost every free zone — a licence does not automatically include one. Adding your first visa typically takes the all-in figure up by roughly AED 6,000–11,000, depending on the zone, because it bundles the immigration establishment card, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping. For example, an IFZA 1-visa package is around AED 17,615 all-in, and SPC around AED 13,165 — versus their ~AED 12,900 and ~AED 5,750 zero-visa licences. Each additional visa then adds a further per-visa cost.
Because the visa count drives the bill, we show the real all-in price for 0, 1, 2 and 3+ visas on every zone cost page — so you compare like for like.
The cheapest UAE free-zone licence overall is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 all-in, narrowly ahead of Fujairah Creative City (AED 4,900). In Sharjah the entry point is SRTIP from AED 5,500; in Ras Al Khaimah, RAKEZ from AED 6,000; in Abu Dhabi, Masdar City from AED 7,000. In Dubai specifically, the cheapest mainstream options are Meydan and IFZA from around AED 12,500–12,900. Cheapest isn't always best, though — the right zone depends on your activity, how many visas you need and whether you want a Dubai address.
If a quote balloons after you say yes, it's usually because the advertised figure left out mandatory items — establishment card, e-channel registration, medical and Emirates ID, or per-visa stamping. These are real costs, but an honest quote includes them up front. We break down exactly what tends to get hidden in our guide to the hidden costs of UAE company formation.
Most UAE free-zone licences are issued in about 3–8 working days once your trade name and documents are approved. Residence-visa processing follows, at roughly 5–7 days per visa. You'll need a passport copy and photo for each shareholder, 2–3 proposed company names, and your chosen business activity — that's usually enough to start.
See your exact all-in number in writing, locked for 14 days. No callback, no pressure.
A UAE free-zone company costs from AED 4,888 all-in for a zero-visa licence in 2026 (Ajman NuVentures Centre, the cheapest). Most zones run AED 5,000–7,000, while Dubai's Meydan and IFZA start around AED 12,500–12,900 and premium DMCC from AED 35,484. The all-in price includes the authority licence, registration, our setup service and an optional residence-visa block.
The cheapest UAE free-zone licence is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 all-in, just ahead of Fujairah Creative City at AED 4,900. The cheapest in Dubai specifically is Meydan or IFZA from around AED 12,500–12,900.
Adding your first residence visa typically raises the all-in cost by about AED 6,000–11,000, depending on the zone, because it bundles the establishment card, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. Each extra visa then adds a further per-visa fee.
On Formenzo the published price is all-in — it includes the government licence, registration, our service fee and your chosen visa block, with no separate or hidden charge. We confirm the exact figure in writing and lock it for 14 days before filing.
Most UAE free-zone licences are issued in about 3–8 working days once your trade name and documents are approved. Residence-visa processing follows at roughly 5–7 days per visa.
