Published prices for setting up a company in every UAE free zone — what's included, what each visa adds, and which zone is cheapest. Final authority itemisation is confirmed in writing before payment.
A UAE free-zone company costs from AED 4,888 for the published zero-visa scenario for a zero-visa licence in 2026, at Ajman NuVentures Centre — the cheapest free zone on Formenzo. Most emirates sit between AED 5,000 and AED 7,000 for a licence without a visa. Dubai's popular zones start higher: Meydan from AED 12,500 and IFZA from AED 12,900, while premium DMCC begins at AED 35,484 for its bundled packages.
✓ Real published "from" prices · cheapest first · all 9 zones| UAE free zone | Emirate | From (published scenario, 0 visa) |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures Centre | Ajman | AED 4,888 |
| Fujairah Creative City | Fujairah | AED 4,900 |
| SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 5,500 |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 5,750 |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 |
| Masdar City | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 |
| Meydan | Dubai | AED 12,500 |
| IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 |
| DMCC | Dubai | AED 35,484 |
Live "from" prices from the Formenzo catalogue · last reviewed · every figure confirmed in writing before filing.
Formenzo publishes comparable licence and visa scenarios, not a universal authority-fee promise. The final authority itemisation, eligibility and availability are confirmed in writing after review and before payment. A published scenario may show:
The headline number assumes zero residence visas. The moment you add visas, the cost rises — which is the single biggest reason two quotes for "the same" company can differ by thousands.
A residence visa is a separate, priced add-on in almost every free zone — a licence does not automatically include one. Adding your first visa typically takes the published scenario figure up by roughly AED 4,700–11,950, depending on the zone, because it bundles the immigration establishment card, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping. For example, an IFZA 1-visa package is around AED 17,615 for the published one-visa scenario, and SPC around AED 13,165 — versus their ~AED 12,900 and ~AED 5,750 zero-visa licences. Each additional visa then adds a further per-visa cost.
Because the visa count drives the bill, we show the published scenario price for 0, 1, 2 and 3+ visas on every zone cost page — so you compare like for like.
The cheapest UAE free-zone licence overall is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 for the published zero-visa scenario, narrowly ahead of Fujairah Creative City (AED 4,900). In Sharjah the entry point is SRTIP from AED 5,500; in Ras Al Khaimah, RAKEZ from AED 6,000; in Abu Dhabi, Masdar City from AED 7,000. In Dubai specifically, the cheapest mainstream options are Meydan and IFZA from around AED 12,500–12,900. Cheapest isn't always best, though — the right zone depends on your activity, how many visas you need and whether you want a Dubai address.
If a quote balloons after you say yes, it's usually because the advertised figure left out mandatory items — establishment card, e-channel registration, medical and Emirates ID, or per-visa stamping. These are real costs, but an honest quote includes them up front. We break down exactly what tends to get hidden in our guide to the hidden costs of UAE company formation.
Most UAE free-zone licences are issued in about 3–8 working days once your trade name and documents are approved. Residence-visa processing follows, at roughly 5–7 days per visa. Start by choosing your business activity and adding your initial company details. After review, your secure portal shows any authority documents required — such as a passport copy or shareholder photo — for upload at the appropriate stage.
After review, receive the authority's final itemised requirements, price and validity date in writing before payment. No callback, no pressure.
A UAE free-zone company costs from AED 4,888 for the published zero-visa scenario in 2026 (Ajman NuVentures Centre, the cheapest). Most zones run AED 5,000–7,000, while Dubai's Meydan and IFZA start around AED 12,500–12,900 and premium DMCC from AED 35,484. The published scenario compares the selected licence and visa count. Final authority line items, eligibility and availability are confirmed in writing after review and before payment.
The cheapest UAE free-zone licence is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 for the published zero-visa scenario, just ahead of Fujairah Creative City at AED 4,900. The cheapest in Dubai specifically is Meydan or IFZA from around AED 12,500–12,900.
Adding your first residence visa typically raises the published scenario cost by about AED 4,700–11,950, depending on the zone, because it bundles the establishment card, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. Each extra visa then adds a further per-visa fee.
Formenzo publishes comparable licence and visa scenarios rather than a universal total. After review, we confirm the final authority line items, eligibility, availability, price and validity date in writing before payment.
Most UAE free-zone licences are issued in about 3–8 working days once your trade name and documents are approved. Residence-visa processing follows at roughly 5–7 days per visa.
