# Cheapest free zone in the UAE: how to compare first-year costs

> Compare the lowest packages free zones publish, what each includes, visa costs and renewal before you choose.

Category: Costs · Reviewed 2026-10-20 · https://freezoneguide.com/guides/cheapest-free-zone-uae

## Key takeaways

- Compare year-one cost with a visa included, not the headline licence price.
- Packages change often; the table on this page ranks zones by the lowest package each publishes, with the date checked.
- Renewal cost matters as much as the setup fee if you plan to stay more than a year.
- Visa fees, medical tests and Emirates ID are paid on top of most zone packages.
- Figures are as published by each zone with the date checked; confirm with the zone before you pay.

The cheapest free zone in the UAE is the one with the lowest **total first-year cost for your situation**, not the lowest advertised licence fee. If you need a visa, add the establishment card, visa allocation, medical test and Emirates ID to the package price, because zones bundle these differently and the ranking can change. The table below ranks zones by the lowest package each one publishes; use it as a starting point and then work through the costs the headline figure leaves out.


_Live data · figures as published by each zone · Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae, rakez.com and 9 more official sources_

| Free zone | Emirate | Lowest package (yr 1) | Licence fee from | Max visa quota | Min. office | Incorporation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/srtip) | Sharjah | AED 3,999 | AED 3,999 | 2 | Not published | 7 days |
| [Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman/ancfz) | Ajman | AED 4,888 | AED 4,888 | 0 | Flexi-desk | 1 day |
| [Ajman Media City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman/ajman-media-city) | Ajman | AED 4,999 | AED 4,999 | 3 | Flexi-desk | Not published |
| [Dubai Silicon Oasis](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dso) | Dubai | Not published | AED 5,000 | 3 | Flexi-desk | Not published |
| [Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/jafza) | Dubai | Not published | AED 5,000 | Not published | Flexi-desk | 3 days |
| [Sharjah Media City Free Zone (Shams)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/shams) | Sharjah | AED 5,760 | AED 5,385 | Not published | Flexi-desk | 1 day |
| [Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/adafz) | Abu Dhabi | AED 6,000 | AED 6,000 | 2 | Not published | 4 days |
| [Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rakez) | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | AED 6,000 | 1 | Flexi-desk | 1 day |

Prices are as published on each zone's own website, with the date we checked them; packages with stated conditions (for example offers limited to certain applicants) are left out of the ranking. Confirm the current price with the zone before you pay. You can read how we check figures on [how we verify](/how-we-verify).

## What the headline price leaves out

Most zones advertise a licence package. That package is real, but it is rarely the full cost of getting a company running with a resident owner.

**Items commonly priced separately:**

- **Establishment or immigration card**, which you need before any visa can be issued.
- **Visa allocation or quota**, which some zones charge per visa slot.
- **Entry permit and status change**, depending on whether you are inside or outside the UAE.
- **Medical fitness test and Emirates ID**, which are government fees paid on top of zone fees.
- **Office upgrade**, if the cheapest package is a no-visa or flexi-desk option and you later need more visas.
- **Registration extras** such as share certificates, attested documents or courier fees.

None of these are unusual. The problem is only that they make headline prices hard to compare. Ask every zone you are considering for an itemised quote that includes one visa, and compare like with like.

## Compare year one with a visa

If you plan to live in the UAE on your company's visa, compare packages that include at least one visa. Here is how some zones with published packages look on that basis:

- **SHAMS:** lowest published package AED 5,760 (Media Package).
- **UAQ FTZ:** entry from AED 12,500, lowest published package with a visa AED 12,500.
- **SPC Free Zone:** entry from AED 13,175, lowest published package with a visa AED 13,175.
- **RAKEZ:** entry from AED 6,000, lowest published package with a visa AED 12,000.


_SHAMS vs AFZ vs UAQ FTZ vs RAKEZ · live data · Verified on 2026-10-24 from rakez.com, uaqftz.gov.ae and 3 more official sources_

|  | SHAMS | AFZ | UAQ FTZ | RAKEZ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Solo, no visa (year 1) | AED 5,760 | Not published | AED 12,500 | AED 6,000 |
| Founder + 1 visa (year 1) | Not published | Not published | AED 12,500 | AED 12,000 |
| Team, 3 visas (year 1) | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Lowest package of any size (year 1) | AED 5,760 (Media Package) | Not published | AED 12,500 (UAQ START (all-inclusive one visa)) | AED 6,000 (Biz Starter Package) |
| Lowest licence fee | AED 5,385 | Not published | AED 5,500 | AED 6,000 |
| Largest visa quota in a published package | Not published | Not published | 1 | 1 |
| Minimum office | Flexi-desk | Flexi-desk | Flexi-desk | Flexi-desk |
| Minimum share capital | Not published | Not published | AED 300,000 | AED 10,000 |
| Incorporation time (stated by the zone) | 1 day | Not published | 1 day | 1 day |
| On the FTA VAT Designated Zone list | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Emirate | Sharjah | Ajman | Umm Al Quwain | Ras Al Khaimah |

[Full comparison](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=afza&z=rakez&z=shams&z=uaq-ftz)

“—” means the zone does not publish that figure; some zones, such as IFZA, do not publish a price list, so ask them for a quote. Beyond price, weigh location, the activity list and the facilities each zone offers.

## Do not ignore renewal

Setup is a one-off cost. Renewal recurs every year you keep the company. Some zones offer discounted first-year packages and renew at a higher standard rate, while others renew at roughly the same level.

**Before you commit, check:**

- The renewal fee for the same package; several zones do not publish it, so ask for it in writing.
- Whether the renewal includes the establishment card and visa quota, or bills them separately.
- Whether multi-year licences are available and what they cost in total.

If you expect to run the company for several years, add the renewal fees to the setup price before comparing.


> Get a personalised shortlist in 2 minutes: https://freezoneguide.com/uae/find

## When the cheapest zone is the wrong choice

Low price is a sensible priority, but it should not override fit. The cheapest option can cost you more if:

- **Your activity is not on its list.** Activity lists differ between zones, and regulated activities such as financial services, healthcare or education may be unavailable or require extra approvals.
- **You need more visas than the package allows.** The largest visa quota in a published package is 1 at RAKEZ and 1 at UAQ FTZ; ask any zone what an upgrade costs.
- **You need a physical office or warehouse.** Desk packages do not include dedicated space; check which facility types each zone lists.
- **You plan to trade with the UAE mainland.** The UAE Government portal states that a free zone company selling locally must work through a licensed mainland distributor or set up a mainland branch or company, and that direct mainland sales generally need mainland licences or approvals. If most of your clients are onshore, look at [free zone vs mainland](/guides/free-zone-vs-mainland) before choosing on price.

## Decision table

| If you need… | How to compare |
|---|---|
| No visa, lowest outlay | Sort the [free zones list](/uae/free-zones) by lowest package |
| One visa | Filter the list for 1+ visas and compare packages with a visa |
| A zone in a particular emirate | Use the emirate pages, for example [Dubai](/uae/dubai) or [Sharjah](/uae/sharjah) |
| Several visas within a few years | Compare the largest visa quota and the upgrade cost |
| A regulated or specialised activity | Check activity lists first, then compare price |

## Tax is set federally, not by the price list

Corporate tax is a federal law. The FTA's Free Zone Persons guide lists the conditions a company must meet to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person, including adequate substance in a free zone, qualifying income, audited financial statements, transfer-pricing compliance and the de minimis limit on non-qualifying revenue. The FTA also advises confirming with the free zone authority whether a zone is a Free Zone for corporate-tax purposes. A cheaper package does not change these conditions. The [Qualifying Free Zone Person guide](/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-tax) summarises them with links to the official documents; for your own position, speak to a tax adviser.

## How to shortlist in practice

**A simple process that works for most founders:**

1. Decide how many visas you need now and in two years.
2. Confirm your activity is permitted in each candidate zone.
3. Request an itemised quote with one visa from three zones.
4. Add renewal for at least two years.
5. Compare the totals, then weigh location and what each zone offers for your activity.

If you want a shortlist built from your answers, use the [free zone finder](/uae/find). You can also browse cheaper options by emirate, for example [Sharjah zones](/uae/sharjah) or individual profiles such as [SHAMS](/uae/sharjah/shams) and [Ajman Free Zone](/uae/ajman/afza).


_Live data · figures as published by each zone · Verified on 2026-10-24 from rakez.com, tax.gov.ae and 7 more official sources_

| Free zone | Emirate | Lowest package (yr 1) | Licence fee from | Max visa quota | Min. office | Incorporation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/srtip) | Sharjah | AED 3,999 | AED 3,999 | 2 | Not published | 7 days |
| [Ajman Media City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman/ajman-media-city) | Ajman | AED 4,999 | AED 4,999 | 3 | Flexi-desk | Not published |
| [Dubai Silicon Oasis](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dso) | Dubai | Not published | AED 5,000 | 3 | Flexi-desk | Not published |
| [Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/adafz) | Abu Dhabi | AED 6,000 | AED 6,000 | 2 | Not published | 4 days |
| [Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rakez) | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | AED 6,000 | 1 | Flexi-desk | 1 day |
| [Innovation City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rak-innovation-city) | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,600 | AED 6,600 | 4 | Flexi-desk | 5 days |

The right answer is the zone whose full cost you understand before you sign. A slightly higher figure you can verify is better than a lower one that grows after payment.

## FAQ

### What is the cheapest free zone in the UAE?

It depends on whether you need a residence visa and what each package includes. The table on this page ranks zones by the lowest package each publishes; with one visa, the ranking can change, so compare packages that include a visa.

### Is a cheap free zone licence accepted by banks?

A licence from any recognised UAE free zone is a valid legal entity, but each bank sets its own onboarding criteria. Ask the bank directly about your activity and ownership structure before you commit.

### Do cheaper free zones have hidden fees?

Most costs are not hidden so much as listed separately: establishment card, immigration file, visa allocation, medical test and Emirates ID. Ask for a full itemised quote that includes one visa.

### Can I upgrade from a no-visa package later?

Most zones let you add visa allocation later, sometimes by upgrading the office type. Check the upgrade cost before choosing the cheapest no-visa package.

### Does the price of a free zone affect corporate tax?

Corporate tax is a federal law, and the conditions for the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime are set federally, not by a zone's price list. Whether a company qualifies depends on its own activities, income and substance, and on its zone being a Free Zone for corporate-tax purposes, which the FTA advises confirming with the free zone authority. See the Qualifying Free Zone Person guide for the official sources.

## Sources

- [UAE Government portal: running a business in a free zone](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business/Doing-business/doing-business-in-free-zones/running-a-business-in-a-free-zone-) — Customs treatment and mainland access for free-zone companies.
- [FTA guide: Free Zone Persons (CTGFZP1, May 2024)](https://tax.gov.ae/Datafolder/Files/Guides/CT/Free%20Zone%20Persons%20-%2020%2005%202024%20final%20for%20GCD.pdf) — Conditions to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person.
- [Zone package prices](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/free-zones) — Each zone page links every package to the zone's own published source and date.

## General information, not advice

This guide is general information about UAE rules and free zone requirements, based on official sources on the dates shown. It is not legal, tax, immigration, employment or financial advice, and reading it does not create an adviser relationship. Rules change and their effect depends on your circumstances: before you act, confirm with the relevant authority (the free zone, the Federal Tax Authority, ICP or GDRFA, or the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) or a professional licensed in the UAE.

---
Source: FreezoneGuide (https://freezoneguide.com/). AED, as published by each zone on its official channels. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.