Free zone licence.
Fastest route to a licence.

Over sixty zones, each with its own registrar and activity list. Full foreign ownership, no customs duty on re-export, and packages that bundle the licence, a desk and visa allocation.

Foreign ownership: 100%
Office: Flexi desk is usually enough
Visa cap: Tied to the package
Typical first year: AED 5,500 to 26,000

Calculate my cost Talk to an advisor

Where you can register

Indicative first-year licence fees. The right choice depends on your activity far more than on the headline price.

IFZA Dubai

from AED 11,500

Dubai

The volume leader for consultants and small trading firms. Fast issuance and a broad activity list.

Quick issuance
Wide activity list
No office required

Meydan Free Zone

from AED 11,000

Dubai

The lowest entry point inside Dubai city limits, with a Dubai address on the licence.

Lowest Dubai entry
Dubai address
Digital process

Sharjah Media City

from AED 5,500

Sharjah

Built for media, creative and consulting work. The cheapest credible licence in the country.

Lowest cost overall
Media and creative
Fast setup

RAKEZ

from AED 5,500

Ras Al Khaimah

Strong for light industrial, manufacturing and warehousing, with land and facilities on site.

Industrial and warehouse
Land available
Low visa cost

DMCC

from AED 15,000

Dubai

The prestige address in JLT for commodities, crypto and finance. Banks recognise it instantly.

Best banking access
Commodities and crypto
Prime JLT

DIFC

from AED 30,000

Dubai

Common-law financial centre with its own courts and regulator. For funds, advisory and fintech.

Common law courts
Regulated finance
Institutional trust

How the filing runs

1
Pick the zone against your activity
The cheapest zone that actually covers what you do, not the cheapest zone advertised.
2
Reserve the name and apply
Most zones accept passport copies and a short application. Some ask for a business plan.
3
Pay the package
Licence, registration and the desk or flexi facility settle together in one invoice.
4
Collect the licence
Issued in as little as three working days for straightforward service activities.
5
Establishment card, then visas
The card unlocks the visa quota. Medical, Emirates ID and stamping follow.

What catches people out

Selling directly to the UAE mainland usually needs a distributor, an agent or a branch.
Visa allocation is capped by the package, not by ambition. Upgrading means changing facility.
Each zone has its own activity list. The same business can be licensed in one and refused in another.
Cheap headline packages often exclude the establishment card and the visa costs entirely.