Free Zone Company Formation in the UAE
100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation, 0% personal income tax, and a UAE residence visa for you and your family. We set up Free Zone companies across 7 of the most relevant zones — IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, RAKEZ, JAFZA, ADGM and DIFC — and pick the one that fits your activity, budget and visa needs. Trade license typically issued in 2 to 3 working days from KYC clearance.
What Is a UAE Free Zone Company?
A Free Zone company is a UAE legal entity incorporated inside a designated economic zone — DMCC in Dubai, ADGM in Abu Dhabi, RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah, and dozens of others across the seven emirates. Each Free Zone is overseen by its own regulator, has its own list of permitted business activities, its own license fees, and its own visa quotas.
The core advantages over a Mainland (DED) license: 100% foreign ownership with no UAE national sponsor, full profit repatriation, customs duty exemption on imports for re-export, and a streamlined incorporation process that typically completes in 2 to 5 working days. The trade-off is that Free Zone companies can only invoice UAE Mainland clients through a local distributor or via specific authorised activities — something we walk you through before you commit.
Free Zone companies are now subject to the 9% UAE corporate tax (from financial years starting 1 June 2023), but most qualify for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person regime on qualifying income — provided substance requirements are met. We register your entity for corporate tax, advise on whether the 0% regime applies, and handle the annual filing.
7 UAE Free Zones We Work With
There are more than 45 Free Zones in the UAE — but most are either niche, geographically inconvenient, or have weaker banking access. We focus on 7 zones that cover 95% of founder use cases.
IFZA
Dubai’s most affordable Free Zone. Flexible activity list, packages Starting from 12,500 AED (license only, no visa). Good fit for consultants, e-commerce, and bootstrapped founders.
Meydan
Premium Dubai address (Nad Al Sheba) with no physical office requirement. Strong for consulting, marketing, holding structures, and founders who want a recognisable Dubai trade license.
DMCC
World’s #1 Free Zone (FDi Magazine). JLT-based, top-tier infrastructure, best banking access. Ideal for trading, commodities, crypto, fintech and serious tech startups.
RAKEZ
Ras Al Khaimah’s all-purpose Free Zone. Low cost, industrial & warehousing options, strong for e-commerce, manufacturing, and budget-conscious founders.
JAFZA
Jebel Ali Free Zone — the UAE’s largest, adjacent to the world’s biggest container port. Built for logistics, manufacturing, heavy industry, and trading at scale.
ADGM
Abu Dhabi Global Market. English Common Law jurisdiction, ideal for financial services, family offices, holding companies, SPVs and fund structures.
DIFC
Dubai International Financial Centre. English Common Law, DIFC Courts, top-tier financial Free Zone — banks, asset managers, family offices, fintech. Gold-standard reputation.
Not sure which Free Zone is right for you? Tell us your activity, where your clients are, and how many visas you need — we’ll send a 2-zone shortlist with fixed quotes within 24 working hours.
Free Zone vs Mainland — Quick Comparison
Not every business is a Free Zone fit. Here’s how the two structures compare on the dimensions that actually matter when you’re starting out.
| Dimension | Free Zone | Mainland (DED) |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% on most activities (since 2021) |
| Where you can invoice | Outside UAE, same Free Zone, B2B export to Mainland via distributor | Anywhere in the UAE + abroad |
| Government contracts | Generally not eligible | Eligible |
| Setup time | 2 to 5 working days | 5 to 10 working days |
| Office requirement | Flexi-desk acceptable in most zones | Ejari-registered physical office required |
| 9% Corporate tax | 0% on Qualifying Income (subject to substance), 9% otherwise | 9% above AED 375,000 net profit |
Read our Mainland Company Formation guide if you need to invoice UAE clients directly or bid for government contracts.
What’s Included in Our Free Zone Setup
End-to-end Free Zone incorporation — license to active bank account, in a single engagement.
- Free Zone selection. Shortlist of 2 to 3 zones matching your activity, budget and visa needs — with written comparison.
- Name reservation & activity approval. Trade name filing and confirmation your activity is permitted under the chosen license.
- Memorandum of Association (MoA). Shareholder structure, share capital, signatory authority — drafted to the Free Zone template.
- License issuance. Filed with the Free Zone authority, daily follow-up until in your hands.
- Registered address / flexi-desk. Included in most packages; physical office upgrades available.
- Establishment card & immigration file. Required before any visa application can start.
- Residence visa (you + family). Medical, Emirates ID, biometric, visa stamping — end-to-end.
- Corporate bank account introduction. Pre-vetted compliance file, KYC briefing, bank meeting attendance.
- corporate tax registration. Mandatory within 3 months of incorporation — we file it with the FTA.
- Ongoing PRO support (optional). License renewals, immigration follow-ups, document attestation under monthly retainer.
Our Process — From First Email to Trade License
Most clients are operational within 30 working days. Here is the path.
- Discovery call (day 0). 30 minutes. We listen to your activity, target market, visa needs and budget. No upfront fee.
- Recommendation & quote (day 1). shortlist of 2 to 3 Free Zones with fixed quotes — government fees, our service fees, optional add-ons broken out line by line.
- KYC & payment (day 2). Passport, photo, signature, source-of-funds statement. Full Payment to start.
- License application (day 2-3). Filed with the Free Zone authority. Most licenses issue within 24 to 48 hours.
- Establishment card & visa launch (day 4-5). Immigration file opened, visa applications submitted.
- Bank account opening (After you get your original Emirates ID). Coordinated with our pre-vetted banking partners; we attend the bank meeting with you.
How Much Does a Free Zone Company Cost?
Total all-in cost depends on four variables: the Free Zone, the number of visas, the office requirement (flexi-desk vs physical), and add-ons like trademark or VAT setup. Rough guide:
- Budget tier (IFZA, RAKEZ, no visa): Starting from 12,500 AED all-in.
- Mid tier (Meydan, IFZA with 1-2 visas): Starting from 22,000 AED all-in.
- Premium tier (DMCC, ADGM, DIFC): Starting from 35,000 AED depending on activity and visas.
Ranges include government fees but exclude bank account opening fee (AED 1,000–1,500 ). Get a fixed quote tailored to your activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a UAE residence visa with a Free Zone company?
Yes. Most Free Zone packages include 1 to 6 visas depending on tier and office type. Investor / partner visa is issued for 2 years, renewable while the trade license is active. Family (spouse, children, parents) sponsored once your own residence visa is stamped.
Can a Free Zone company invoice clients in the UAE Mainland?
Free Zone companies freely invoice clients outside the UAE and inside the same Free Zone. Invoicing UAE Mainland clients directly is restricted: B2B services often fine subject to activity, but physical goods to Mainland typically require a local distributor or Dual License. We assess this before recommending a structure.
How long does it actually take?
From KYC clearance + payment: trade license in 2 to 3 working days for most zones. Add 5 to 10 working days for establishment card and first visa. Bank account: 3 to 5 working days for ENBD/Mashreq in a straightforward case, longer if compliance has follow-up questions on source of funds.
Do I need to be in the UAE to start?
No. Trade license, MoA and establishment card can be issued remotely. You will need to fly in for residence visa medical, Emirates ID biometric, and the bank account opening — typically a single 5 to 7 days trip. We coordinate appointments to fit your visit.
What is the minimum share capital?
Most Free Zones (IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ): AED 10,000 to AED 50,000, declared on the MoA but no longer required to be deposited. Financial services zones (ADGM, DIFC) have higher capital requirements starting at USD 50,000 for a Category 4 license in ADGM. We confirm exact requirement before incorporation.
Will my Free Zone company pay 9% corporate tax?
9% corporate tax applies to all UAE entities from financial years starting 1 June 2023. Free Zone companies meeting the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) conditions can apply the 0% rate on Qualifying Income — typically trading with non-UAE customers and other Free Zone entities. We assess QFZP eligibility, register you for corporate tax (mandatory), and file the annual return.
Get Your Free Zone Setup Quote
Tell us your activity, your target market, and how many visas you need. We’ll come back within 24 working hours with a 2-zone shortlist and a fixed all-in quote. No upfront fee, no obligation.