# Free zones with a flexi-desk or virtual office option

> Which 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.

Category: Costs · Reviewed 2026-10-14 · https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zones-no-office-requirement

## Key takeaways

- Most zones require some facility as part of the licence; the lightest options zones publish are flexi-desks and virtual offices.
- Zones commonly link the visa quota to the space leased; DMCC, for example, states up to 3 visas on a flexi-desk.
- Some zones state that certain structures, such as special purpose vehicles, need only a registered address.
- The Qualifying Free Zone Person regime includes an adequate-substance condition; take advice on what it means for you.
- Each zone page shows the minimum facility and facility types the zone publishes.

Most UAE free zones require some facility as part of the licence, but many publish a **flexi-desk** or **virtual office** as the lightest option instead of a dedicated office. This is often the lowest-cost route into a free zone. What you give up depends on the zone: zones commonly link the visa quota to the space you lease, and the Qualifying Free Zone Person corporate tax regime includes a condition of adequate substance in the free zone. This guide shows which zones publish these options and what to confirm.

## What zones mean by flexi-desk and virtual office

- **Flexi-desk:** shared workspace that gives the company a registered address in the zone, with set access to desks or meeting rooms.
- **Virtual office:** a registered address, sometimes with mail handling, without regular desk use.

The licence still lists an address in the zone, and the zone still issues a lease or service agreement. Terms differ between zones: ask for the exact facility type on your agreement, what access it gives and how many visas it allows.

## Zones that list a flexi-desk

The table below lists zones that offer a flexi-desk, sorted by the lowest package each publishes.


_Live data · figures as published by each zone · Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae, rakez.com and 11 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 |
| [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 |
| [Masdar City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/masdar-city) | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 | AED 7,000 | 3 | Virtual office | Not published |

## Zones that list a virtual office


_Live data · figures as published by each zone · Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae, dwtc.com and 6 more official sources_

| Free zone | Emirate | Lowest package (yr 1) | Licence fee from | Max visa quota | Min. office | Incorporation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [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 |
| [Masdar City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/masdar-city) | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 | AED 7,000 | 3 | Virtual office | Not published |
| [Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dwtc) | Dubai | Not published | AED 12,000 | 7 | Virtual office | 3 days |
| [Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/spc) | Sharjah | AED 13,175 | AED 5,750 | 1 | Not published | 1 day |
| [Fujairah Creative City - Media Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/fujairah/fujairah-creative-city) | Fujairah | Not published | Not published | 15 | Flexi-desk | Not published |
| [Fujairah Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/fujairah/fujairah-free-zone) | Fujairah | Not published | Not published | 1 | Virtual office | 5 days |

## Comparing visa quotas


_IFZA vs Meydan Free Zone vs SHAMS vs RAKEZ · live data · Verified on 2026-10-24 from rakez.com, meydanfz.ae and 3 more official sources_

|  | IFZA | Meydan Free Zone | SHAMS | RAKEZ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Solo, no visa (year 1) | Not published | AED 12,500 | AED 5,760 | AED 6,000 |
| Founder + 1 visa (year 1) | Not published | AED 14,350 | Not published | AED 12,000 |
| Team, 3 visas (year 1) | Not published | AED 18,050 | Not published | Not published |
| Lowest package of any size (year 1) | Not published | AED 12,500 (Regular LLC-FZ licence - 0 visa) | AED 5,760 (Media Package) | AED 6,000 (Biz Starter Package) |
| Lowest licence fee | Not published | AED 12,500 | AED 5,385 | AED 6,000 |
| Largest visa quota in a published package | Not published | 3 | Not published | 1 |
| Minimum office | Not published | Flexi-desk | Flexi-desk | Flexi-desk |
| Minimum share capital | AED 1 | Not published | Not published | AED 10,000 |
| Incorporation time (stated by the zone) | Not published | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day |
| On the FTA VAT Designated Zone list | No | No | No | Yes |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai | Sharjah | Ras Al Khaimah |

[Full comparison](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=ifza&z=meydan&z=rakez&z=shams)

For example, Sharjah Media City Free Zone (Shams) and Meydan Free Zone both list a minimum facility of flexi-desk; the largest visa quota in a package Meydan publishes is 3.

Zones publish their own quota rules. DMCC states up to 3 visas on a flexi-desk, 4 or 5 in a serviced office and 1 per 9 sqm of physical space. RAKEZ states that a shared workstation is limited to one visa. Check each zone page for the rule it publishes.


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

## Corporate tax substance

The FTA's Free Zone Persons guide lists maintaining adequate substance in a free zone as one of the conditions of the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime. What counts as adequate depends on your activity, so take advice before relying on a flexi-desk alone. See our guide to [the Qualifying Free Zone Person rules](/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-tax).

## Questions to ask the zone

- How many visas does the package allow, and can it be increased without upgrading the facility?
- Can the licence stage be completed online?
- What does the flexi-desk include in practice (desk access, meeting rooms, mail)?
- What does it cost to upgrade to an office later?
- Does the renewal price include the flexi-desk? See our guide to [renewal costs](/guides/free-zone-renewal-costs).

## Making the choice

A flexi-desk or virtual office can be enough if your team is small and does not need a workplace in the zone. If you need several visas, storage or premises that regulators must inspect, compare zones by office or warehouse options instead. Our [questionnaire](/uae/find) can shortlist zones by facility, visas and budget, and [how we verify](/how-we-verify) explains where the data comes from.


> Compare side by side: https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/ifza-vs-shams

## FAQ

### Is there any free zone with no office at all?

Most zones require at least a flexi-desk or a registered address as part of the licence. A few state that specific structures need only a registered address; for example, DMCC's October 2024 rules let a special purpose vehicle use a registered office address.

### What is a flexi-desk?

Zones use the term for shared workspace that gives the company a registered address in the zone, with set access to desks or meeting rooms. IFZA, for example, states 10 hours of shared workstation access a week and one hour of meeting room a month for its Flexi Desk.

### How many visas can I get with a flexi-desk?

It depends on the zone. DMCC states up to 3 visas on a flexi-desk; RAKEZ states that a shared workstation is limited to one visa. Check the zone page or ask the zone.

### Can I set up without visiting the UAE?

Ask the zone whether the licence stage can be completed online with remote signing. The medical test and Emirates ID biometrics for a residence visa take place in the UAE.

### Does a flexi-desk meet the corporate tax substance condition?

The FTA lists adequate substance in a free zone as a condition of the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime. What is adequate depends on your activity, so take advice from a tax adviser.

## Sources

- [Zone pages](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/free-zones) — Minimum facility, facility types and visa quota rules as published by each zone, with sources.
- [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) — Adequate substance as a Qualifying Free Zone Person condition.

## 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.

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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.