Full foreign ownership
No local partner, no service agent, no nominee arrangements. Complete control of shares, profits and decision-making.
Free Zone Company Formation in the UAE
Free zone company formation across IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, SHAMS, RAKEZ or DIFC — we match the zone to your activity, visa count and banking reality, then handle the incorporation end to end.
100% foreign ownershipLicence in 3–7 working days0% qualifying income, conditions applyRemote incorporation available
The right free zone is a decision, not a default
There are more than forty free zones across the UAE — from DMCC and IFZA in Dubai to Hamriyah and SAIF Zone in Sharjah, RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah Free Zone and Creative City on the east coast — and the packages look interchangeable in a brochure. They are not. The differences that matter — whether audited accounts are mandatory, how banks view the zone, whether your exact activity is on the list, how visa tiers scale — only surface after you have paid.
AONE BIZ shortlists zones against four practical filters: does the activity list cover what you will actually invoice for; will the visa tier carry you through the next eighteen months; will your target bank open an account for a company registered there; and what will annual renewal plus audit genuinely cost in year two.
We are equally direct about when a free zone is the wrong answer. If most of your revenue will come from UAE-based customers, a free zone licence will restrict you and we will say so on the first call rather than after the invoice.
- 100% foreign ownership with no local partner requirement.
- Potential 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, subject to substance and activity conditions.
- Packaged office solutions from flexi-desk to full commercial units.
- Incorporation completed remotely; travel only to activate residency.
Included in our free zone service
- Zone shortlisting against your activity
- Package and visa tier sizing
- Name reservation and application
- Incorporation documents and MOA
- Licence and establishment card
- Visa guidance and Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account preparation
- Corporate tax and VAT registration
The upside
What a free zone gives you
Real advantages — each with a condition worth understanding before you rely on it.
0% on qualifying income
A Qualifying Free Zone Person can access a 0% corporate tax rate — provided substance, activity and de minimis conditions are met and maintained.
Fast incorporation
Licences commonly issued in three to seven working days, because the free zone is a single authority rather than a chain of them.
Office included
Flexi-desk, shared desk or private office bundled into the package — satisfying the address requirement without a separate lease.
Full capital repatriation
Profits and capital can be repatriated without restriction, with no currency controls on outbound transfers.
Residency for your team
Visa allocations for you, employees and dependants, scaled to the package and facility you select.
How we deliver
How we form your free zone company
Zone selection is the step that determines everything after it — so it is where we spend the most time.
01
Zone and package selection
We shortlist zones against your activity list, visa requirement, budget and banking plan, then explain the trade-offs of each in plain terms.
02
Application and name approval
Trade name reserved, application submitted, shareholder KYC prepared and any activity-specific approvals initiated.
03
Incorporation and licence
MOA and incorporation documents executed, licence issued, establishment card and immigration file opened.
04
Visas, banking and compliance
Entry permits, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. Corporate account application, FTA registrations and your accounting setup.
Realistic timeline
Free zone company formation timeline
Typical schedule with complete documents. Some zones move faster; regulated activities move slower.
What slows a free zone application
Usually the activity list. A zone will approve four of your five activities and query the fifth, and the file waits. We check every code against the approved catalogue for that zone first, and flag anything that will trigger a secondary approval.
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Zone shortlist and quotation
Two or three zones compared against your specific activity and visa requirement, with itemised costs for each.
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Name reservation and application
Trade name reserved and the incorporation application filed with the selected authority.
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Documentation and KYC
Shareholder documents, attestations and MOA prepared and executed — digitally in most zones.
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Licence issued
Trade licence and lease agreement issued. Establishment card application submitted.
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Residency processing
Entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics and residence visa stamping.
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Bank account and registrations
Corporate account application and compliance review, plus corporate tax registration and VAT where applicable.
Investment
Free zone package costs
Indicative year-one totals. The right package is the one that carries you through year two without a forced upgrade.
Solo Founder
From AED 12,500
One shareholder, one or two activities, no visa or a single visa allocation.
- Free zone trade licence
- Flexi-desk registered address
- 0–1 visa allocation
- Establishment card
- Bank account introduction
Small Team
From AED 19,000
Two to four visas with room to add staff without changing package tier.
- Multi-activity licence
- Shared or serviced desk
- 2–4 visa allocation
- Immigration file setup
- VAT and corporate tax registration
Established Trading
From AED 34,000
Premium zones such as DMCC where banking credibility and recognition matter.
- Premium zone licence
- Private office facility
- 5+ visa allocation
- Annual audit included
- Dedicated compliance manager
Free zone authorities revise fee schedules periodically and package inclusions differ significantly between zones. These are indicative planning ranges from recent engagements, not a binding offer. Visa costs, medical testing and Emirates ID fees are additional.
Before you start
Free zone requirements and documents
Most zones accept digital submission, which is why remote incorporation is realistic.
Requirements & eligibility
- One or more shareholders aged 18 or over — individuals or corporate entities.
- Activities that appear on the selected free zone's approved list.
- A package that includes a registered address — flexi-desk, shared desk or office.
- A trade name compliant with UAE naming rules and available in that zone.
- Share capital as specified by the zone; most do not require it to be deposited.
- For a Qualifying Free Zone Person claim: adequate substance maintained within the zone.
Documents you will need
- Passport copies for all shareholders and directors, valid six months or more.
- Passport-size photographs on a white background.
- Curriculum vitae or professional profile — required by several zones.
- Proof of residential address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement.
- Bank reference letter — requested by premium zones such as DMCC and DIFC.
- For corporate shareholders: attested certificate of incorporation, MOA, board resolution and register of directors.
- A short business plan where the activity is regulated or the zone requests one.
Side by side
Compare the free zones we set up in most often
There is no universally best free zone — only the one that fits your activity, budget, visa count and banking needs.
| Free zone | Indicative year 1 | Audit required | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA (Dubai) | From AED 12,500 | Not mandatory | Consultancies and service businesses |
| Meydan (Dubai) | From AED 14,000 | Not mandatory | Startups and e-commerce |
| SHAMS (Sharjah) | From AED 12,500 | Yes | Media, creative and marketing |
| RAKEZ (RAK) | From AED 13,000 | Varies by licence | Industrial, warehousing, trading |
| DMCC (Dubai) | From AED 34,000 | Yes | Commodities and established trading groups |
| DIFC (Dubai) | From AED 60,000 | Yes | Financial services, funds and fintech |
Figures are indicative planning ranges observed across recent AONE BIZ engagements and exclude visa costs, office upgrades and external approvals. Free zone authorities revise their fee schedules periodically — always request a current written quotation before budgeting.
Zone profiles
Which free zone fits your business?
A short, honest read on each zone — including the drawbacks most agencies leave out.
IFZA — Dubai
Best for: Consultancies, agencies and service businesses on a budget
- Among the most competitive packages in Dubai
- Multiple activities permitted on one licence
- No physical office mandatory at entry tier
- Fast issuance, commonly 3–5 working days
Meydan Free Zone
Best for: Startups wanting a Dubai city address without Dubai city rent
- Central Dubai registered address
- Strong e-commerce and digital activity list
- Straightforward visa allocation tiers
- Popular with first-time founders
DMCC
Best for: Commodities, trading groups and credibility-sensitive businesses
- Globally recognised free zone brand
- JLT location with genuine business ecosystem
- Audited financial statements mandatory annually
- Higher cost, materially higher standing with banks
SHAMS — Sharjah Media City
Best for: Media, creative, marketing and content businesses
- Low-cost entry with real activity flexibility
- Sharjah base, straightforward Dubai access
- Audit required for licence renewal
- Strong option for solo founders and small teams
RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah
Best for: Light manufacturing, industrial and cost-sensitive trading
- Warehousing and industrial facilities on site
- Among the lowest total cost of ownership
- Broad activity catalogue including industrial
- Good fit for operations that do not need a Dubai address
DIFC
Best for: Financial services, funds, fintech and holding structures
- Independent common-law jurisdiction and courts
- DFSA regulation for financial activities
- Premium positioning, premium cost
- Preferred by institutional investors and family offices
Why AONE BIZ
Why choose AONE BIZ for free zone setup
We are not an agent for any single zone, which means our recommendation is not driven by commission.
Zone-neutral advice
We work across every major UAE free zone and hold no exclusivity with any of them. The recommendation follows your business, not a partner agreement.
Qualifying status assessed properly
We test your income streams against the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions before you plan around a 0% rate that may not apply.
Banking factored in early
Some zones open accounts easily; others create friction with compliance teams. We factor real bank acceptance into the shortlist.
Audit handled in-house
Where the zone requires audited accounts, our licensed auditors deliver them — no scramble for a third-party firm at renewal.
Renewal cost transparency
We show year two and year three costs at the start, including audit and visa renewals, so the cheap year one does not surprise you.
One team throughout
Formation, visas, accounting, tax and audit under one roof with a single named point of contact.
Free zones we set up and audit in
We form and audit companies across IFZA, Meydan, DMCC and DWTC in Dubai; SHAMS and SPC in Sharjah; RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah; Ajman Media City; UAQ Free Zone; and Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. Each page sets out the licence cost, the activity list, the banking reality and the audit requirement for that specific zone, because those four things differ far more between zones than the marketing suggests.
If you are still deciding, the honest short version is this: Dubai zones cost more and buy you address and banking credibility; the northern emirates and Sharjah zones cost less and ask more of your bank application. Which is right depends on whether anyone in your business chain will ever look at your address. We will tell you what we actually think, including when the cheap option is the correct one.
Free zone or freezone? And how many are there?
Both spellings are in common use. The authorities write it as two words — free zone — and so do we throughout this site. In everyday use, and in a great many company names, freezone as one word is just as common. They mean exactly the same thing, and nothing turns on which you type.
There are more than 40 free zones across the UAE, with over 20 in Dubai alone. That number is the source of most of the confusion, because a great many of them are broadly interchangeable for a service business and the marketing does not tell you which.
Freezone company formation: what actually differs between them
Strip away the brochures and only four things vary in a way that should affect your decision:
- Freezone licence cost — genuinely wide, from a few thousand dirhams in Ajman or UAQ to multiples of that in DIFC or DWTC
- Activity list — whether your specific activity is available, and whether you can hold several on one licence
- Premises — flexi-desk only, or real offices, warehouses and land
- Banking perception — the single most underestimated factor, and the one that costs founders months
The corporate tax outcome does not vary between zones. Every free zone company faces the same Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions for the 0% rate, and every one must register for corporate tax and file. Anyone selling you a zone on the basis that it is more tax-efficient than another is selling you something that is not true.
Freezone company setup cost, honestly
Advertised freezone licence prices almost always exclude the establishment card and residence visas. A licence quoted at AED 5,750 becomes a working company at three to four times that once you add the card and one visa. We quote the full first-year cost with government fees shown separately, and our guide to what setup really costs lists the omissions.
Before choosing a zone, see types of companies in the UAE and check whether an audit applies in is audit mandatory in the UAE.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, with the caveats that actually matter.
A free zone company is licensed by a designated free zone authority rather than by an emirate's Department of Economic Development. Free zones were created to attract foreign investment and offer 100% foreign ownership, streamlined incorporation, packaged office solutions and, subject to meeting conditions, a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income. The trade-off is a restriction on trading directly inside the UAE mainland market.
Not directly, in most cases. Free zone entities can trade freely with other free zone companies and internationally, but selling goods or services into the UAE domestic market generally requires a mainland distributor, a mainland branch or a dual-licence arrangement where the free zone offers one. If a meaningful share of your revenue will come from UAE-based customers, we will usually steer you towards mainland instead.
Only if they qualify. The 0% rate applies to a Qualifying Free Zone Person earning qualifying income, which requires adequate substance in the free zone, income falling within prescribed qualifying categories, compliance with transfer pricing rules and de minimis limits on non-qualifying revenue. Fail any condition and the entity is taxed at 9% on all taxable income above the threshold. Every free zone company must still register with the FTA and file a return. We assess your qualifying status before you rely on the 0% rate.
RAKEZ, SHAMS and IFZA consistently sit at the affordable end, with entry packages that can start near AED 12,500 in year one. But cheapest by licence fee is not always cheapest overall: consider your visa needs, whether audited accounts are mandatory, banking acceptance for that zone, and whether the activity list actually covers what you will invoice for. A cheap licence you have to replace in year two is the expensive option.
Many free zones require audited financial statements for annual licence renewal — DMCC, DAFZA, JAFZA and SHAMS among them. Others do not mandate it but banks, investors and the FTA increasingly expect it. AONE BIZ includes licensed auditors in-house, so your bookkeeping and audit are handled by one firm working from one set of records.
It depends on the package and facility. A flexi-desk or shared desk typically supports one to three visas; a private office scales further based on square metres. Most zones let you upgrade mid-term, though usually at a cost premium over buying the right tier at the start. Tell us your eighteen-month hiring plan and we will select the tier that avoids a mid-year upgrade.
For most zones, yes. Incorporation can be completed with attested documents and digital signatures without you entering the UAE. You will need to travel once to activate your residence visa — for the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — but the licence itself can be issued while you are abroad.
Yes. Migration is possible, and it is a regular part of our work: founders outgrow a low-cost zone, need a mainland presence to serve UAE clients, or want a better-recognised zone for banking. It involves careful sequencing to avoid a gap in licensing, visa validity or bank account status. We plan the transition so the business keeps operating throughout.
Keep exploring
Related services
Most clients pair this service with one or more of the following.
Mainland Company Formation
If your customers are UAE businesses or government entities, a DED licence removes the free zone trading restriction.
UAE Corporate Tax
Qualifying Free Zone Person analysis, FTA registration and annual filing — even at a 0% rate.
Free Zone Audit Services
DMCC, DAFZA, JAFZA, SHAMS and IFZA each want something slightly different at renewal. We file in these zones every month and sign ahead of the deadline.
Not sure which free zone is right?
Send us your activity list and visa requirement. We will come back with a shortlist of two or three zones and the honest trade-offs between them.
Talk to us
Start with a free, no-obligation consultation
Tell us what you do, how many visas you need and where your customers are. We will shortlist the right zones and quote each one properly.
- One business hour response during working days.
- Fixed, itemised quotations — government fees shown separately from our fee.
- One named consultant from first call through to licence, visa and first filing.
- No obligation. If the UAE is not right for you yet, we will say so.
Request your free consultation
Takes under a minute. No obligation, no sales script.