VERIFIED 2026 · SCENARIO COMPARISON · FORMENZO
What is a UAE free zone visa?
A UAE free-zone visa is a residence visa sponsored by your free-zone company. It lets you (the owner) and the people you sponsor — staff and family — live in the UAE. Each visa covers the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping, and is typically valid for 2 years. The first visa also carries a one-time immigration establishment card, so it costs a little more than later visas. In the published one-visa scenario, a free-zone company starts from AED 10,800.
Every figure here is the published 2026 scenario — government/authority fee, our setup service and the residence-visa block — confirmed in writing, with no sales call. See the full Cost Index or the open price dataset (CC-BY).
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By the Formenzo Research Team · compare all 9 zones
How a visa changes the published scenario
The visa block is usually the second-largest cost after the licence itself, and its weight varies by zone. Ajman NuVentures Centre moves from AED 4,888 licence-only to AED 10,800 with one visa; SRTIP goes from AED 5,500 to AED 12,500; Meydan Free Zone from AED 12,500 to AED 24,450. In most zones the second visa adds less than the first, because the establishment card only has to be issued once.
Who actually needs one
Three groups take visas at setup: founders relocating to the UAE, owners who stay abroad but want residency for banking and travel convenience, and companies sponsoring a first employee. Owners running everything from their home country often skip the visa and keep a zero-visa licence.
Two things founders ask
Can I own a free-zone company without any visa? Yes. Every zone in the Cost Index sells a licence-only package — from AED 4,888 at Ajman NuVentures Centre — and a non-resident owner keeps full ownership and control.
Is it different from an employment visa? The residence visa itself works the same way; the difference is the sponsor. A free-zone visa comes through your own company, so your status is not tied to an outside employer.
