UAE Free-Zone Cost Index 2026
Published 3 June 2026 · Updated 4 June 2026 · By Formenzo (FZE)
Setting up a company in a UAE free zone starts from AED 4,888 all-in in 2026, with a median starting price of about AED 6,000. The cheapest is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888; eight of the nine zones fall between AED 4,888 and AED 12,900, while DMCC — Dubai's flagship zone — is the premium exception, with bundled packages from AED 35,484. This index ranks all 9 UAE free zones Formenzo tracks by their all-in starting price — every figure includes the government/authority fee, the service fee and the residence-visa block.
UAE free zones ranked by all-in price (2026)
| Rank | Free zone | Emirate | From (all-in) | Packages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ajman NuVentures Centre · cheapest | Ajman | AED 4,888 | 77 |
| #2 | Fujairah Creative City | Fujairah | AED 4,900 | 5 |
| #3 | SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 5,500 | 60 |
| #4 | SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 5,750 | 2 |
| #5 | RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | — |
| #6 | Masdar City Free Zone | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 | 4 |
| #7 | Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | AED 12,500 | 2 |
| #8 | IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 | 10 |
| #9 | DMCC · premium · bundled | Dubai | AED 35,484 | 7 |
What is the cheapest UAE free zone in 2026?
The cheapest UAE free-zone company licence is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 all-in, followed by Fujairah Creative City (AED 4,900) and SRTIP in Sharjah (AED 5,500). All three are well below the 9-zone median of about AED 6,000. These starting prices are for a licence with no residence visa; adding visas increases the total (see the visa breakdown below).
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
Among Dubai free zones, the cheapest all-in starting price is Meydan Free Zone at AED 12,500, followed by IFZA (AED 12,900); DMCC, Dubai's flagship zone, is the premium option with bundled packages from AED 35,484. Dubai free zones generally start higher than the northern emirates and Sharjah — a Dubai licence typically begins around AED 12,500+, versus under AED 6,000 in Ajman, Fujairah or Sharjah.
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Cheapest free zone in each emirate
| Emirate | Cheapest free zone | From (all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Meydan Free Zone | AED 12,500 |
| Abu Dhabi | Masdar City Free Zone | AED 7,000 |
| Sharjah | SRTIP | AED 5,500 |
| Ajman | Ajman NuVentures Centre | AED 4,888 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAKEZ | AED 6,000 |
| Fujairah | Fujairah Creative City | AED 4,900 |
How much do residence visas add to the cost?
Free-zone pricing rises with the number of residence visas you include. Below is the all-in cost by visa count for three zones that publish clear visa tiers. Several zones (DMCC, Meydan) use flexible-visa packages priced individually rather than fixed tiers.
| Free zone | 0 visas | 1 visa | 2 visas | 3 visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures Centre | AED 4,888 | AED 10,800 | AED 16,200 | AED 20,700 |
| SRTIP | AED 5,500 | AED 12,500 | AED 17,795 | AED 26,035 |
| IFZA | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 | AED 24,080 | AED 30,545 |
Why are Dubai free zones more expensive?
Dubai free zones (Meydan, IFZA, DMCC) command a premium for the Dubai address, prestige and ecosystem — Meydan and IFZA start around AED 12,500–12,900, while DMCC's bundled packages (licence + workspace + visa allowance) start at AED 35,484. Free zones in Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah offer the same 100% foreign ownership and 0% personal income tax, with licences starting under AED 6,000, which is why cost-sensitive founders often choose them.
What is a UAE free zone?
A UAE free zone is a designated economic area where a foreign founder can register a company with 100% foreign ownership, 0% personal income tax and full profit repatriation — with no local Emirati partner or sponsor required. There are more than 40 free zones across the UAE’s seven emirates, each run by its own authority with its own licence types, permitted activities and pricing. A free-zone company can hold contracts, invoice clients worldwide, open a UAE corporate bank account and sponsor residence visas for its owners and staff. Free zones differ from a mainland licence, which is regulated by each emirate’s Department of Economic Development. Under the UAE’s 2023 corporate tax, qualifying free-zone businesses can still benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income. Formenzo compares nine of the most popular free zones for company formation, with all-in prices starting from AED 4,888.
What does an “all-in” free-zone price include?
An all-in price is the real one-time cost to get your licence and be operational — not a teaser “from” figure that leaves out fees you cannot avoid. It covers three things: the government or free-zone authority licence and registration fee; the company-setup service (trade-name reservation, application filing and a bank-account introduction); and your residence-visa block — the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping for each visa you take. Many providers advertise only the bare licence and add visas, establishment cards and processing later, so two quotes for the same zone can differ by thousands of dirhams. On Formenzo every figure is genuinely all-in for the visa count you choose, confirmed in writing and locked for 14 days before any filing, with annual renewal quoted separately and shared upfront.
How we calculate these prices
Every figure is an all-in indicative price: the government/free-zone authority fee, Formenzo's service fee, and the residence-visa block where included. Prices are sourced from current free-zone packages and verified before publication; we confirm your exact figure in writing and lock it for 14 days before any filing. Figures are in UAE dirham (AED) and were last verified in June 2026. UAE free zones offer 100% foreign ownership and 0% personal income tax.
Sources & verification
Every figure is cross-checked against each free zone’s official authority and UAE government sources before we confirm it in writing. Primary sources include the UAE Government Portal and the UAE Ministry of Economy, plus the official free-zone authorities: DMCC, IFZA, Meydan Free Zone, RAKEZ, SPC Free Zone, SRTIP, Masdar City Free Zone and Fujairah Creative City. Prices are indicative and updated as authorities revise their fees.
Compare all 9 free zones live — by your visa count
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Compare UAE free zones →FAQ
Q: What is the cheapest free zone in the UAE?
Ajman NuVentures Centre, from AED 4,888 all-in (2026).
Q: What is the cheapest free zone in Dubai?
Meydan Free Zone, from AED 12,500 all-in. DMCC, the flagship zone, is premium with bundled packages from AED 35,484.
Q: How long does it take to get a UAE free-zone licence?
Typically 3 to 8 working days, depending on the zone.
Q: Are these the final prices?
They are all-in indicative figures (authority fee + service fee + visa block). We confirm the exact price in writing and lock it for 14 days before filing.