https://freezoneguide.com/guides Plain-English guides to UAE free zones: costs, comparisons, visas, tax and setup, from official sources. en https://freezoneguide.com/guides/close-or-move-free-zone-companyhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/close-or-move-free-zone-companyTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTRunning a companyHow free zones describe winding up and deregistration, cancelling visas and the establishment card, FTA deregistration, and transferring a company elsewhere. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-annual-compliancehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-annual-complianceTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTRunning a companyWhat falls due every year for a UAE free zone company, from licence renewal and audits to beneficial owner records and FTA tax returns, and who sets each rule. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-consultants-and-agencieshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-consultants-and-agenciesTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBy industryLicence types, freelance permits, mainland clients, regulated professions and corporate tax on service income, from official UAE sources. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-tech-startupshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-tech-startupsTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBy industryLicences for software and IT, hiring a team, office space, IP registration and the free zone corporate tax rules on software income. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-trading-companieshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-trading-companiesTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBy industryGeneral and specialised trading licences, warehouses, customs duty in a free zone and on the mainland, and customs registration, from official sources. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/hiring-staff-in-a-free-zonehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/hiring-staff-in-a-free-zoneTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTRunning a companyWhich employment law applies in UAE free zones, plus work permits, the Wage Protection System, gratuity, unemployment insurance and leave. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/how-to-set-up-a-company-in-uaehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/how-to-set-up-a-company-in-uaeTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBasicsThe setup path in order, from choosing an activity and a free zone to the licence, establishment card, residence visa, bank account and tax registration. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/is-uae-company-right-for-your-businesshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/is-uae-company-right-for-your-businessTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBasicsThe questions official UAE sources make decisive for each business model: customers, substance, visas, tax and licensing. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/run-uae-company-from-abroadhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/run-uae-company-from-abroadTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBasicsWhether a non-resident can own a free zone company, what needs a UAE resident or presence, and how UAE tax residence is decided for people and companies. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-licence-for-content-creatorshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-licence-for-content-creatorsTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBy industryFree zone media and freelance licences for creators, the National Media Authority's advertiser permit, and the media law's rules and penalties. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-residence-visa-through-your-companyhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-residence-visa-through-your-companyTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVisasHow owners get UAE residence through their company, sponsor family and use visa quotas, and the official Golden Visa criteria for investors. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-vat-corporate-tax-registrationhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-vat-corporate-tax-registrationTue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTaxWhen a new UAE or free zone company must register for corporate tax and VAT, the rates and thresholds, and the late-registration penalties, from FTA sources. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/cheapest-free-zone-uaehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/cheapest-free-zone-uaeTue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCostsCompare the lowest packages free zones publish, what each includes, visa costs and renewal before you choose. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zones-no-office-requirementhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zones-no-office-requirementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCostsWhich UAE free zones list a flexi-desk or virtual office as their minimum facility, what that means for visas, and what to confirm with the zone. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/freelance-visa-cheapest-free-zonehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/freelance-visa-cheapest-free-zoneTue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVisasWhich free zones publish a freelancer permit or sole-practitioner licence, how it differs from a company licence, and how to compare packages with a visa. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-setup-timehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-setup-timeFri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBasicsLicence issuance can be quick, but a working company also needs an establishment card, visas and a bank account. Plan for each stage, not just the licence. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/best-free-zone-for-ecommercehttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/best-free-zone-for-ecommerceThu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBy industryWhich free zones publish an e-commerce licence, which list warehouses, and what to confirm about selling to UAE customers. From zones' own published information. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-renewal-costshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-renewal-costsSat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCostsYear-two free zone costs often differ from year one as discounts end and licence, lease, visa and audit costs recur. Budget for renewal before choosing. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/rakez-vs-shamshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/rakez-vs-shamsTue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTComparisonsRAKEZ and SHAMS side by side from their own published information: licence types, facilities, visas, packages and setup. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/dmcc-vs-ifzahttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/dmcc-vs-ifzaTue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTComparisonsDMCC and IFZA side by side from their own published information: who licenses each, packages, activities, visas, office options and setup. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-taxhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-taxTue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTaxWhat the FTA and Ministry of Finance publish about the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime: the conditions, qualifying and excluded activities, the de minimis limit and what happens if a condition is missed. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-vs-mainlandhttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-vs-mainlandWed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBasicsWhere a free zone company can trade, how it can reach mainland customers, and which rules are federal, from UAE Government and Dubai sources. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/vat-designated-zoneshttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/vat-designated-zonesSat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTTaxA VAT Designated Zone is a free zone listed by Cabinet Decision that meets conditions in the VAT Executive Regulation. Here is the FTA's list and what it means when comparing zones. https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-bank-accounthttps://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-bank-accountTue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTBankingBanks set their own onboarding requirements. Here is what free zones publish about bank-account help, and the questions to put to the bank and the zone.