All 9 UAE free zones ranked by what you actually pay — licence, registration, service fee and visas together. No “from” prices, no surprises.
Ranked by the zero-visa, first-year all-in price. The 1-visa column shows the same package with one residence visa included — the number most founders actually need.
| # | Free zone | Emirate | 0 visas | 1 visa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajman NuVentures Centre | Ajman | AED 4,888 | AED 10,800 |
| 2 | Fujairah Creative City | Fujairah | AED 4,900 | AED 12,500 |
| 3 | SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 5,500 | AED 12,500 |
| 4 | SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 5,750 | AED 13,165 |
| 5 | RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | AED 14,000 |
| 6 | Masdar City | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 | AED 17,500 |
| 7 | Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | AED 12,500 | AED 24,450 |
| 8 | IFZA | Dubai | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 |
| 9 | DMCC | Dubai | AED 35,484 | — |
All prices in UAE dirhams (AED), all-in for a 1-year licence, verified 10 June 2026 and confirmed in writing before any filing. DMCC is quoted licence-only. See the full cost comparison →
| Emirate | Cheapest zone | All-in from |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman | Ajman NuVentures Centre | AED 4,888 |
| Fujairah | Fujairah Creative City | AED 4,900 |
| Sharjah | SRTIP | AED 5,500 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAKEZ | AED 6,000 |
| Abu Dhabi | Masdar City | AED 7,000 |
| Dubai | Meydan (0 visas) · IFZA (with visa) | AED 12,500 |
A licence from any emirate gives the same 100% foreign ownership and 0% personal income tax, and you can live and work anywhere in the UAE on its visa. If you don’t specifically need a Dubai trade address, the Northern Emirates cost roughly a third of Dubai.
Rankings shift once visas are included — so always compare at your visa count, not the headline price:
Price your exact setup — visas, activity and licence term — in the free cost calculator, or answer 4 questions to get your best-fit zone.
Most “cheapest free zone” lists quote a bare licence fee that quietly doubles by the time you file. A genuine all-in figure includes:
Every price on this page meets that standard: it’s the number you pay, locked in writing for 14 days. That’s the Formenzo verification method.
Pick your zone and visa count — see the real number instantly. No sign-up, no sales call, ever.
Open the cost calculator →Ajman NuVentures Centre, at AED 4,888 all-in for a zero-visa licence — authority fee, registration and service fee included. It's also the cheapest with one residence visa, at AED 10,800 all-in.
Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 10,800 all-in with one visa. Fujairah Creative City and SRTIP follow at AED 12,500.
Meydan Free Zone at AED 12,500 all-in (zero visas). If you need a visa, IFZA becomes Dubai's cheapest at AED 17,615 all-in — versus Meydan's AED 24,450.
SRTIP at AED 5,500 all-in, followed by SPC Free Zone at AED 5,750.
The authority fee, company registration, the service fee, and the full residence-visa block where visas are included. Advertised “from” prices usually exclude most of these — which is why they often double by filing day.
Yes — every UAE free zone, including Ajman at AED 4,888, gives 100% foreign ownership and 0% personal income tax. The price difference is location and facilities, not rights.
