The cheapest free zone in the UAE (2026)
All 9 UAE free zones ranked by what you actually pay — licence, registration, service fee and visas together. The cheapest free-zone licence in the UAE is Ajman NuVentures, from AED 4,888 all-in. No teaser prices — every figure is a real package at exactly that number.
What is the cheapest Dubai free zone licence with one visa?
The cheapest Dubai free-zone setup with one residence visa in 2026 is IFZA at AED 17,615 all-in — covering the licence, registration, service fee and the complete visa block (entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID). Meydan Free Zone has Dubai’s lowest entry price at AED 12,500, but that is licence-only; adding a visa takes it above IFZA’s figure. If a Dubai address is not essential, the same one-visa setup costs AED 10,800 at Ajman NuVentures Centre — about AED 6,800 less. Every zone’s 0, 1, 2 and 3-visa ladder is shown in the leaderboard below, so you can compare the real cost at your actual visa count, not the teaser price.
01 All 9 UAE free zones, ranked by all-in cost
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 24 June 2026 and confirmed in writing before any filing. DMCC is quoted licence-only. See the full cost comparison →
02 Cheapest free zone by emirate
| 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.
03 “Cheapest” changes with your visa count
Rankings shift once visas are included — so always compare at your visa count, not the headline price:
- Ajman NuVentures stays #1 at both 0 visas (AED 4,888) and 1 visa (AED 10,800).
- IFZA overtakes Meydan in Dubai with a visa: AED 17,615 vs AED 24,450 — a saving of AED 6,835.
- Masdar City edges past IFZA at 1 visa (AED 17,500 vs 17,615) if an Abu Dhabi address works for you.
- Two-visa founders: Ajman (AED 16,200) and SPC (AED 17,660) stay the value leaders.
Price your exact setup — visas, activity and licence term — in the free cost calculator, or answer 4 questions to get your best-fit zone.
04 What a real “cheapest” price must include
Most “cheapest free zone” lists quote a bare licence fee that quietly doubles by the time you file. A genuine all-in figure includes:
- Authority + registration fees — the free zone’s own charges, in full.
- The service fee — shown inside the price, not added later.
- The complete visa block — entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping, if visas are included.
- No renewal traps — you should know year 2 before you pay for year 1.
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.
05 Advertised “from” price vs the real all-in
Most lists that crown a “cheapest free zone” quote a licence-only teaser that quietly grows once the mandatory establishment card and residence visa are added. Here is what those same 2026 packages actually cost all-in with one visa — the figure you really pay:
| Free zone | Advertised “from” | Real all-in, 1 visa | What the teaser leaves out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures | AED 4,888 | AED 10,800 | Establishment card + full visa block |
| IFZA (Dubai) | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 | E-channel deposit + visa block |
| Meydan (Dubai) | AED 12,500 | AED 24,450 | Full visa block, medical & Emirates ID |
| RAKEZ (RAK) | AED 6,000 | AED 14,000 | Immigration card + visa block |
The right-hand column is the same all-in figure we lock in writing — there is no separate “plus visa” bill at the end. That is why Ajman NuVentures stays the UAE’s cheapest at AED 10,800 with a visa, while the cheapest Dubai option with a visa is IFZA at AED 17,615 — not the AED 12,500 headline you see advertised.
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Open the cost calculator →Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest free zone in the UAE in 2026?
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.
What is the cheapest UAE free zone with a residence visa?
Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 10,800 all-in with one visa. Fujairah Creative City and SRTIP follow at AED 12,500.
What is the cheapest free zone in Dubai?
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.
What is the cheapest free zone in Sharjah?
SRTIP at AED 5,500 all-in, followed by SPC Free Zone at AED 5,750.
What does an all-in price include?
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.
Why is the cheapest free zone more expensive than the advertised price?
Most advertised “from” prices are licence-only teasers that leave out the establishment card and the full visa block. Ajman NuVentures’ AED 4,888 becomes AED 10,800 all-in with one visa; IFZA’s AED 12,900 becomes AED 17,615; Meydan’s AED 12,500 becomes AED 24,450. The all-in figure is the number you actually pay — and Ajman NuVentures stays cheapest with a visa.
Do cheap free zones still give 100% foreign ownership?
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.
Founder guides: Indian founders · Filipino founders · Pakistani founders · UK founders · full Dubai cost guide
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