Free zoneLive prices · VAT included · updated
Free Zone Company Formation in Dubai, UAE
Free zone company formation in Dubai across budget, mid-range, and premium jurisdictions. We match your business to the zone that actually works, not just the cheapest one on the list.
1Type of setup
2Licensing authorityPrice before visas
3Residence visas
IFZA · Commercial licence · 1 year · 1 residence visa
Licence and company setup22,995.006,262
Residence visas6,037.501,644
Medical & Emirates ID3,412.50929
- 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
Compare free zones
The four freezones we register directly, side by side
Prices, VAT included, from the same price list our checkout uses. One-year licence, priced by how many residence visas you need.
| Free zone | Lowest priceUAQ FTZUmm Al Quwain | Ajman Free ZoneAjman | Dubai addressMeydan Free ZoneDubai | Dubai addressIFZADubai Silicon Oasis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price, VAT included | ||||
| No visas | AED11,025USD3,002 | From AED 12,075 VAT included | AED18,396USD5,009 | AED18,795USD5,118 |
| 1 residence visa | AED20,475USD5,575 | AED28,738.50USD7,825 | AED32,445USD8,835 | |
| 2 residence visas | AED27,825USD7,577 | AED36,981USD10,070 | AED43,995USD11,980 | |
| What the price covers | ||||
| Medical and Emirates ID | Included | In your quote | Not included | Included, per visa |
| Business activities | Up to 5, by licence type | Trading, media and professional services | 3 on one corporate licence | Up to 3 |
| Workspace | Co-working space access | Registered office address | Flexi Desk, in the base price | FlexiDesk, business hours, prior booking |
| Typical setup time | 1 to 2 working days | 3 to 5 working days | 5 to 7 days | 5 to 10 working days |
| A good fit for | Solo operators, consultants and e-commerce at the lowest entry cost | Consultants, agencies and import-export | A Dubai address that partners and clients recognise | International SMEs setting up in the UAE for the first time |
| Next step | Price this setup | Get my exact price | Price this setup | Price this setup |
| AED, VAT included | No visas | 1 visa | 2 visas |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAQ FTZUmm Al Quwain | 11,025 | 20,475 | 27,825 |
| Ajman Free ZoneAjman | From AED 12,075 VAT included | ||
| Meydan Free ZoneDubai | 18,396 | 28,738.50 | 36,981 |
| IFZADubai Silicon Oasis | 18,795 | 32,445 | 43,995 |
What the price covers
UAQ FTZUmm Al QuwainLowest price
- Medical and Emirates ID
- Included
- Business activities
- Up to 5, by licence type
- Workspace
- Co-working space access
- Typical setup time
- 1 to 2 working days
- A good fit for
- Solo operators, consultants and e-commerce at the lowest entry cost
Ajman Free ZoneAjman
- Medical and Emirates ID
- In your quote
- Business activities
- Trading, media and professional services
- Workspace
- Registered office address
- Typical setup time
- 3 to 5 working days
- A good fit for
- Consultants, agencies and import-export
Meydan Free ZoneDubaiDubai address
- Medical and Emirates ID
- Not included
- Business activities
- 3 on one corporate licence
- Workspace
- Flexi Desk, in the base price
- Typical setup time
- 5 to 7 days
- A good fit for
- A Dubai address that partners and clients recognise
IFZADubai Silicon OasisDubai address
- Medical and Emirates ID
- Included, per visa
- Business activities
- Up to 3
- Workspace
- FlexiDesk, business hours, prior booking
- Typical setup time
- 5 to 10 working days
- A good fit for
- International SMEs setting up in the UAE for the first time
Setup times count from when your documents are in.Extras such as a status change or a VIP visa are priced as their own lines.
OMC is a reliable and professional company in the UAE. Their team is knowledgeable, responsive, and always willing to help. The quality of their service exceeded my expectations, and the entire experience was smooth from start to finish. Highly recommended.
Why It Matters
The right free zone changes everything. The wrong one costs you.
More than 40 free zones. One right answer for your business.
Most setup guides list every option, show you a price table, and leave you to work out which one actually fits what you are building. That gap is where costly mistakes happen.
Free zones are not interchangeable. Pick the wrong one and you are either paying for a brand name your clients do not care about, or sitting in a budget zone that banks treat with suspicion and partners cannot find in any credible directory.
At OMC we help investors navigate free zone company formation in Dubai and across the other emirates. We compare zones, match your activity to the right licence, and handle the entire process so you don't have to guess.
Budget Options
Budget-Friendly Options for Free Zone Company Formation Dubai
UAQ FTZ
From AED11,025USD3,002VAT included
UAQ FTZ sits in Umm Al Quwain and is one of the most affordable routes to a freezone licence in the UAE. It covers a workable range of trading and service activities, a good fit for solo operators, consultants, and e-commerce businesses that want a UAE company at the lowest possible entry cost. It carries less international name recognition than the bigger zones, which can matter when a client runs a quick background check before they sign anything.
Ajman Free Zone
From AED12,075USD3,288VAT included
Ajman has quietly improved over the last few years. Its activity list spans trading and professional services, and the zone is under 30 minutes from central Dubai most days. Flexible visa packages and Ajman government backing give it a credibility edge over some cheaper options when corporate bank account opening is part of your plan.
Sharjah Media City (Shams)
From AED11,298USD3,076VAT included
Set up in Sharjah Media City (Shams) for media, consulting, e-commerce or tech. We handle the licence and bank introductions, priced up front. Get your exact quote.
RAKEZ
From AED11,550USD3,145VAT included
RAKEZ covers both free zone and industrial operations, and handles more activity types than most zones in its price range. Physical space requirements add to the total depending on your business type. Visa allocation is flexible across package tiers, which makes it a practical choice for small teams that need multiple visas without a major budget increase.
Mid-Range Options
Mid-Range Free Zones in Dubai and the UAE
IFZA
From AED18,795USD5,118VAT included
IFZA is in Dubai Silicon Oasis and has grown into one of the most active zones for free zone company formation in Dubai, covering 825 business activities. It has working relationships with local UAE banks, and that matters more than most people realise: getting a corporate account opened in the UAE is not simple, and a zone with real banking connections takes significant friction out of the process. A strong choice for international SMEs entering the UAE market for the first time.
Meydan
From AED18,396USD5,009VAT included
Meydan sits in the heart of Dubai, close to the racecourse. The Dubai address works in your favour when partners or clients look up your company details before a meeting. It covers trading, services, and consulting activities, with virtual office options and a clean registration process, a location that signals legitimacy to mid-market clients and regional partners.
Premium Options
Premium Free Zones for Serious Business Operations
DIFC
From AED26,456.85USD7,204VAT included
If you are in regulated finance, this is usually where you end up. Asset managers, advisors and fintech are what DIFC is built for. It runs on its own common-law legal system and courts, which is why international clients and investors trust it. Setup is expensive, but you are paying for structure and regulatory standing, not just branding.
DMCC
From AED44,970.45USD12,245VAT included
DMCC is the most commonly recommended premium zone, and for good reason. It hosts a large mix of trading, commodities, and service businesses. The real value is in how banks and partners see it, it is one of those names that carries weight in a due-diligence check.
DAFZA (Dubai Airport Free Zone)
DAFZA is location-driven: it sits directly beside Dubai International Airport, so if your business depends on the quick movement of goods, it makes logistics materially easier. It is also one of the older zones, so its processes tend to run more smoothly than newer setups.
JAFZA
From AED16,275USD4,432VAT included
JAFZA is built for larger operations, manufacturing, shipping, and bulk trading, anything that needs port access. It connects directly to Jebel Ali Port, which is the main reason companies choose it. Not the cheapest option, but for the right business it fits.
OMC registers companies directly in UAQ FTZ, Ajman Free Zone, IFZA and Meydan.
Starting from AED11,025USD3,002 VAT included
How to Choose
How to choose the best free zone for your business
There is no single answer that works for everyone. The right free zone depends on what you sell, how many visas your team needs, whether clients will look up your registered address, and what your annual budget actually allows.
A short checklist before you commit:
- 01
Activity fit
Not every zone covers every activity. Confirm your listing before applying.
- 02
Visa quota
Packages range from 0 visas on freelance permits to 6 or more on larger packages.
- 03
Physical vs. virtual office
Some activities require a dedicated space; others accept a flexi-desk.
- 04
Banking access
Some zones have stronger UAE bank relationships. This affects account opening speed and success rate.
- 05
Client perception
DIFC or DMCC carries international weight. UAQ FTZ does not. Know which one your clients care about.
OMC uses this checklist with every client before making any recommendation. We have seen what happens when the wrong zone is chosen. Walking that back costs time and money that most businesses would rather spend elsewhere.
Questions? We've Got Answers.
Everything you need to know about free zone company formation in Dubai and the wider UAE. Can't find your answer here? Reach out anytime.
Still have a question?
Speak to an OMC advisor directly. We respond within 2 to 4 hours on business days.
What is the best free zone UAE for a trading or consulting business?
There isn't one right answer, it depends on your budget, how many visas you need, and whether clients will look up your registered address. For a lean consulting or e-commerce operation, UAQ FTZ or Ajman Free Zone give you a real UAE company at the lowest entry cost. For a trading or consulting business that expects clients and banks to check it out, IFZA and Meydan carry a Dubai address and stronger banking relationships, which usually matters more than the licence fee difference. We'll walk you through the trade-off against your actual activity before you commit to anything.
Can a freezone license UAE company sell directly to UAE mainland customers?
Not directly. A free zone company needs a mainland route to sell to UAE consumers, local retailers or government entities: a mainland distributor, a separate mainland entity alongside it or a mainland licence or permit of its own. Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) can now issue these to companies in Dubai free zones (DIFC financial firms excepted) for the Dubai mainland: under Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025, for activities on DET's list, a branch licence (official fee AED 10,000 a year for a branch run from the free zone) or a temporary permit (official fee AED 5,000 for up to six months), each with the free zone authority's approval. The mainland activity needs separate accounts, and DET states that income from it is subject to 9% corporate tax. If your customers are international, this rarely matters. If your plan depends on supplying the UAE market itself, it needs to be factored into your structure before you register, not after.
Does free zone company formation Dubai qualify for 0% corporate tax?
It can, but it isn't automatic. The UAE applies 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. A free zone company can access a 0% rate on qualifying income only if it meets the Federal Tax Authority's substance requirements, real operations inside the zone, not just a registered mailing address. Whether your income qualifies depends on what you actually do and who you invoice, so treat 0% as something to be established with your accountant, not assumed.
Can OMC handle bank account opening after free zone company formation in Dubai?
Yes, it's part of how we choose the zone in the first place. Some zones have materially stronger relationships with UAE banks than others, and that affects both how fast an account opens and whether it opens at all. We prepare the application, brief you on what compliance teams will ask, and manage the process through to the account being live. See our bank account opening service for what that involves.
See your exact price now. Order when you're ready.
Free zone, offshore or mainland. You get the number first, and a person when you want one.
I had a great experience with Oxford Management Consultancy. They helped me with the complete company setup process for a foreign investor, and everything was handled professionally. From company registration to the investor visa and Emirates ID, the whole process was smooth and hassle-free. The best part was that everything was completed in just about two weeks. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to start a business in the UAE.