# FreezoneGuide

> Independent comparison of UAE free zones (43 zones) from official sources only: published package prices in AED, visa quotas, office requirements, licence types, setup time and VAT designation, each with its source and the date it was checked. Rankings are calculated from the published data.

Every page has a Markdown version: append `.md` to the URL. Cite the page itself (without `.md`).

## Core pages

- [All UAE free zones compared](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/free-zones.md)
- [Free zones by industry](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/industries.md)
- [Cheapest free zones: solo, no visa](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/cheapest/solo-founder-no-visa.md) — one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity
- [Cheapest free zones: founder + 1 visa](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/cheapest/founder-with-one-visa.md) — one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office
- [Cheapest free zones: team, 3 visas](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/cheapest/team-with-three-visas.md) — three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office
- [Free zones in Dubai](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai.md)
- [Free zones in Abu Dhabi](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi.md)
- [Free zones in Sharjah](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah.md)
- [Free zones in Ajman](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman.md)
- [Free zones in Ras Al Khaimah](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah.md)
- [Free zones in Fujairah](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/fujairah.md)
- [Free zones in Umm Al Quwain](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/umm-al-quwain.md)
- [How we verify data](https://freezoneguide.com/how-we-verify.md)

## Zones

- [Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/adafz.md): Abu Dhabi, packages from AED 6,000
- [Abu Dhabi Global Market](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/adgm.md): Abu Dhabi, packages from AED 5,509, financial centre
- [Ajman Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman/afza.md): Ajman
- [Ajman Media City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman/ajman-media-city.md): Ajman, packages from AED 4,999
- [Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ajman/ancfz.md): Ajman, packages from AED 4,888
- [Creative Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/twofour54.md): Abu Dhabi
- [Dubai Airport Freezone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dafza.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/ducamz.md): Dubai
- [Dubai CommerCity](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dubai-commercity.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Design District](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/d3.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Healthcare City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dhcc.md): Dubai, packages from AED 16,550
- [Dubai Humanitarian](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/ihc.md): Dubai, packages from AED 20,800
- [Dubai International Academic City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/diac.md): Dubai
- [Dubai International Financial Centre](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/difc.md): Dubai, financial centre
- [Dubai Internet City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dic.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Knowledge Park](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dkp.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Media City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dmc.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dmcc.md): Dubai, packages from AED 31,000
- [Dubai Production City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dpc.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Science Park](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dsp.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Silicon Oasis](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dso.md): Dubai
- [Dubai South Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dubai-south.md): Dubai, packages from AED 11,375
- [Dubai Studio City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dsc.md): Dubai
- [Dubai Textile City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dubai-textile-city.md): Dubai
- [Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/dwtc.md): Dubai
- [Fujairah Creative City - Media Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/fujairah/fujairah-creative-city.md): Fujairah
- [Fujairah Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/fujairah/fujairah-free-zone.md): Fujairah
- [Fujairah Oil Industry Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/fujairah/foiz.md): Fujairah
- [Hamriyah Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/hfz.md): Sharjah
- [Innovation City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rak-innovation-city.md): Ras Al Khaimah, packages from AED 6,600
- [International Free Zone Authority (IFZA Dubai)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/ifza.md): Dubai
- [Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/jafza.md): Dubai
- [Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/kezad.md): Abu Dhabi, packages from AED 9,450
- [Masdar City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/abu-dhabi/masdar-city.md): Abu Dhabi, packages from AED 7,000
- [Meydan Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/meydan.md): Dubai, packages from AED 12,500
- [RAK Maritime City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rak-maritime-city.md): Ras Al Khaimah
- [Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/ras-al-khaimah/rakez.md): Ras Al Khaimah, packages from AED 6,000
- [Sharjah Airport International Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/saif-zone.md): Sharjah
- [Sharjah Healthcare City](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/shcc.md): Sharjah
- [Sharjah Media City Free Zone (Shams)](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/shams.md): Sharjah, packages from AED 5,760
- [Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/spc.md): Sharjah, packages from AED 13,175
- [Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/sharjah/srtip.md): Sharjah, packages from AED 3,999
- [Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/umm-al-quwain/uaq-ftz.md): Umm Al Quwain, packages from AED 12,500

## Guides

- [Closing or moving a free zone company: the official steps](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/close-or-move-free-zone-company.md): How free zones describe winding up and deregistration, cancelling visas and the establishment card, FTA deregistration, and transferring a company elsewhere.
- [The annual compliance calendar for a free zone company](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-annual-compliance.md): What 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.
- [Free zones for consultants, agencies and professional services](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-consultants-and-agencies.md): Licence types, freelance permits, mainland clients, regulated professions and corporate tax on service income, from official UAE sources.
- [Free zones for tech and software startups](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-tech-startups.md): Licences for software and IT, hiring a team, office space, IP registration and the free zone corporate tax rules on software income.
- [Free zones for import, export and re-export trading](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-for-trading-companies.md): General and specialised trading licences, warehouses, customs duty in a free zone and on the mainland, and customs registration, from official sources.
- [Hiring staff from a free zone: employment law and payroll rules](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/hiring-staff-in-a-free-zone.md): Which employment law applies in UAE free zones, plus work permits, the Wage Protection System, gratuity, unemployment insurance and leave.
- [Setting up a company in the UAE as a foreigner, step by step](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/how-to-set-up-a-company-in-uae.md): The setup path in order, from choosing an activity and a free zone to the licence, establishment card, residence visa, bank account and tax registration.
- [Is a UAE company right for your business? A suitability check by business model](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/is-uae-company-right-for-your-business.md): The questions official UAE sources make decisive for each business model: customers, substance, visas, tax and licensing.
- [Running a UAE company while living abroad](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/run-uae-company-from-abroad.md): Whether 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.
- [Licences for content creators and influencers in the UAE, and the advertiser permit](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-licence-for-content-creators.md): Free zone media and freelance licences for creators, the National Media Authority's advertiser permit, and the media law's rules and penalties.
- [Getting a UAE residence visa through your own company, and the Golden Visa](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-residence-visa-through-your-company.md): How owners get UAE residence through their company, sponsor family and use visa quotas, and the official Golden Visa criteria for investors.
- [VAT and corporate tax registration for new UAE companies](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/uae-vat-corporate-tax-registration.md): When 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.
- [Cheapest free zone in the UAE: how to compare first-year costs](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/cheapest-free-zone-uae.md): Compare the lowest packages free zones publish, what each includes, visa costs and renewal before you choose.
- [Free zones with a flexi-desk or virtual office option](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zones-no-office-requirement.md): 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.
- [Freelance permits in UAE free zones: which zones offer them](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/freelance-visa-cheapest-free-zone.md): Which 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.
- [How long does free zone company setup take?](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-setup-time.md): Licence 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.
- [Free zones for e-commerce in the UAE: how to choose](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/best-free-zone-for-ecommerce.md): Which free zones publish an e-commerce licence, which list warehouses, and what to confirm about selling to UAE customers. From zones' own published information.
- [Free zone renewal costs: why year two can differ from year one](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-renewal-costs.md): Year-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.
- [RAKEZ vs SHAMS: comparing two northern emirate free zones](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/rakez-vs-shams.md): RAKEZ and SHAMS side by side from their own published information: licence types, facilities, visas, packages and setup.
- [DMCC vs IFZA: how the two Dubai free zones compare](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/dmcc-vs-ifza.md): DMCC and IFZA side by side from their own published information: who licenses each, packages, activities, visas, office options and setup.
- [Free zone corporate tax: the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-tax.md): What 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.
- [Free zone vs mainland company in the UAE: what the official sources say](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-vs-mainland.md): Where a free zone company can trade, how it can reach mainland customers, and which rules are federal, from UAE Government and Dubai sources.
- [VAT Designated Zones: which free zones are on the FTA list](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/vat-designated-zones.md): A 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.
- [Bank accounts for free zone companies: what zones publish and what to ask](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-bank-account.md): Banks 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.

## Optional

- [ADAFZ vs KEZAD](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/adafz-vs-kezad.md)
- [ADGM vs DIFC](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/adgm-vs-difc.md)
- [AFZ vs AMCFZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/afza-vs-ajman-media-city.md)
- [AFZ vs RAKEZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/afza-vs-rakez.md)
- [AFZ vs SHAMS](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/afza-vs-shams.md)
- [AFZ vs UAQ FTZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/afza-vs-uaq-ftz.md)
- [DAFZ vs DMCC](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dafza-vs-dmcc.md)
- [DAFZ vs Jafza](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dafza-vs-jafza.md)
- [DIC vs DMC](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dic-vs-dmc.md)
- [DMCC vs IFZA](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dmcc-vs-ifza.md)
- [DMCC vs Jafza](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dmcc-vs-jafza.md)
- [DMCC vs Meydan Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dmcc-vs-meydan.md)
- [DMCC vs RAKEZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dmcc-vs-rakez.md)
- [Dubai South Free Zone vs Jafza](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/dubai-south-vs-jafza.md)
- [Hamriyah Free Zone vs SAIF Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/hfz-vs-saif-zone.md)
- [IFZA vs Meydan Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/ifza-vs-meydan.md)
- [IFZA vs RAKEZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/ifza-vs-rakez.md)
- [IFZA vs SHAMS](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/ifza-vs-shams.md)
- [IFZA vs SPC Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/ifza-vs-spc.md)
- [IFZA vs UAQ FTZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/ifza-vs-uaq-ftz.md)
- [Jafza vs KEZAD](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/jafza-vs-kezad.md)
- [Jafza vs SAIF Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/jafza-vs-saif-zone.md)
- [KEZAD vs SAIF Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/kezad-vs-saif-zone.md)
- [Meydan Free Zone vs RAKEZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/meydan-vs-rakez.md)
- [Meydan Free Zone vs SHAMS](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/meydan-vs-shams.md)
- [RAKEZ vs SHAMS](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/rakez-vs-shams.md)
- [RAKEZ vs UAQ FTZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/rakez-vs-uaq-ftz.md)
- [SHAMS vs SPC Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/shams-vs-spc.md)
- [SHAMS vs UAQ FTZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/shams-vs-uaq-ftz.md)
- [SPC Free Zone vs UAQ FTZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/spc-vs-uaq-ftz.md)