Going solo and want a UAE freelance permit or company with a residence visa without overpaying? Here are the real all-in prices across every UAE free zone, compared honestly. No sales calls.
For a UAE freelancer or solopreneur, the best picks are Fujairah Creative City (AED 12,500) — a dedicated freelance and creative permit with a flexi-desk included — and Ajman Free Zone (AED 10,800), the cheapest all-in. SRTIP suits tech freelancers. Since a freelancer rarely needs office space, the cheapest flexi-desk option wins: Ajman for pure cost, Fujairah Creative City for a creative/freelance-specific permit. Licence-only starts at AED 4,888. Every price is all-in — licence, government fees and the visa block.
| Free zone | Emirate | All-in, 1 visa | Licence only | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman Free ZoneCheapest | Ajman | AED 10,800 | AED 4,888 | Lowest-cost solo licence |
| Fujairah Creative CityBest for freelancers | Fujairah | AED 12,500 | AED 4,900 | Freelance/creative permit |
| SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 12,500 | AED 5,500 | Tech & consulting freelancers |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 13,165 | AED 5,750 | Broad solo activities |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 14,000 | AED 6,000 | Solo trading |
| IFZA | Dubai (DSO) | AED 17,615 | AED 12,900 | Dubai freelancer address |
All-in = trade licence + government fees + the residence-visa block. Prices are live Formenzo figures for 2026 and exclude optional add-ons. Verify your exact number — including extra visas and activity — with the free calculator.
A freelancer rarely needs office space, so it comes down to cost and whether you want a dedicated freelance/creative permit.
Ajman (AED 10,800). The cheapest all-in company with a visa — perfect for a solo consultant, developer or service provider who just needs a licence and a visa.
Fujairah Creative City (AED 12,500). A dedicated freelance and creative permit with a flexi-desk included — built for writers, designers, marketers and media freelancers.
SRTIP (AED 12,500). Sharjah's technology park — a credible base for developers, IT and technical freelancers.
IFZA, Dubai (AED 17,615 / 1 visa). A Dubai Silicon Oasis address for freelancers who want a Dubai presence; licence-only is AED 12,900.
One honest number per zone — licence, government fees and the visa block included. No "from AED X" teasers that triple on the call.
See every zone's price side by side and decide on your own terms. No forms-to-unlock, no follow-up pressure.
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Open the free calculator →Ajman Free Zone, at AED 10,800 all-in with one residence visa (AED 4,888 licence-only). For a dedicated freelance/creative permit with a flexi-desk, Fujairah Creative City is AED 12,500.
No. Freelancers use a flexi-desk or shared-desk option included with most packages — you don't need a private office. That's why the cheapest flexi-desk zones (Ajman, Fujairah) are the usual picks.
Yes. A freelance permit or solo company in a free zone includes a residence-visa block — the AED 10,800–12,500 all-in figures here already cover one visa (medical + Emirates ID).
A freelance permit licenses you as an individual professional under your own name; a company (FZ-LLC) is a separate legal entity. Most freelancers start with the permit or a single-shareholder company — both get you a visa and the right to invoice.
Yes — every figure is all-in: the permit/licence, government fees and the residence-visa block, with no hidden charges. Licence-only (zero-visa) setups start from AED 4,888.
