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UAE licensing authorities

The free zones, mainland departments and offshore registries we form companies through. Each page covers what that authority licenses, how a setup works there, and what it starts at.

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Free zones

A free zone company suits a business whose clients are abroad or online, with a UAE licence and residence visas. IFZA, Meydan and UAQ FTZ are priced online.

Free Zone Company
  • IFZA

    Dubai

    IFZA is in Dubai Silicon Oasis and has grown into one of the most active zones for free zone company formation in Dubai.

    From AED 18,795 VAT includedLive price

  • Meydan Free Zone

    Dubai

    Meydan sits in the heart of Dubai near the racecourse, and that Dubai address does quiet work for you.

    From AED 18,396 VAT includedLive price

  • UAQ FTZ

    Umm Al Quwain

    UAQ FTZ is one of the most affordable ways to get a real UAE company off the ground.

    From AED 11,025 VAT includedLive price

  • ADGM

    Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi's international financial centre, under English common law.

    From AED 16,047 VAT included

  • Ajman Free Zone

    Ajman

    One of our four partner free zones, licensing companies in Ajman since 1988.

    From AED 12,075 VAT included

  • DAFZA

    Dubai

    Dubai's airport free zone, beside DXB, with a dual licence for the mainland.

    Priced on a call

  • DIFC

    Dubai

    Dubai's international financial centre: the Innovation licence for tech, and regulated finance.

    From AED 26,456 VAT included

  • DMCC

    Dubai

    Dubai's commodities and trading free zone at JLT.

    From AED 44,970 VAT included

  • Fujairah Creative City

    Fujairah

    Fujairah's media free zone for creative, consulting and technology businesses.

    From AED 14,700 VAT included

  • JAFZA

    Dubai

    Dubai's port-side free zone at Jebel Ali, for traders, manufacturers and logistics firms.

    From AED 16,275 VAT included

  • RAKEZ

    Ras Al Khaimah

    Ras Al Khaimah's economic zone, from one-activity licences to industrial units.

    From AED 11,550 VAT included

  • Shams

    Sharjah

    Sharjah's media free zone, now open to consulting, e-commerce and technology companies.

    From AED 11,298 VAT included

Mainland

A mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE and work with government. Each emirate's department prices a licence on the activity, the legal form and the premises.

Mainland Company
  • Abu Dhabi DED

    Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi's mainland licensing authority, with the TAMM Instant Licence.

    From AED 6,552 VAT included

  • Ajman DED

    Ajman

    Ajman's mainland licensing authority, priced on its own fee lines with you on a call.

    Priced on a call

  • Dubai DET

    Dubai

    Dubai's mainland licensing authority: trade anywhere in the UAE, priced with you on a call.

    Priced on a call

  • Fujairah Municipality

    Fujairah

    Fujairah's mainland licensing authority: its cost is set per application, and we price it with you on a call.

    Priced on a call

  • RAK DED

    Ras Al Khaimah

    Ras Al Khaimah's mainland licensing authority, on its 2026 fee schedule, priced with you on a call.

    Priced on a call

  • SEDD Sharjah

    Sharjah

    Sharjah's mainland licensing authority, with an Instant License in one working day.

    From AED 11,550 VAT included

  • UAQ DED

    Umm Al Quwain

    Umm Al Quwain's mainland licensing authority, priced with you on a call, beside UAQ FTZ's online prices.

    Priced on a call

Offshore

An offshore company holds assets and invoices clients abroad. It cannot trade in the UAE, and Ajman Offshore is priced online.

Offshore Company
  • Ajman Offshore

    Ajman

    An Ajman Offshore company is a UAE-registered legal entity built for holding assets, owning shares in other companies, and invoicing clients outside the UAE.

    From AED 8,400 VAT includedLive price

  • JAFZA Offshore

    Dubai

    Dubai's offshore registry at Jebel Ali, for holding assets and Dubai property.

    From AED 21,000 VAT included

  • RAK ICC

    Ras Al Khaimah

    Ras Al Khaimah's offshore registry, for holding companies and international trade.

    From AED 10,500 VAT included

Not sure which authority fits?

Tell us what the company will do and how many visas you need. We set the right authorities side by side, with their prices.

  • 1,400+companies started
  • 19+ yearsin business, since 2007
  • 1,000+bank accounts opened
  • 10+UAE banks, named officers
  • 4licensed freezone partners
  • 2 officesDubai and Irvine, California