UAE free zone visa cost comparison (2026)
This table shows the all-in price of a UAE free-zone company by the number of residence visas you need, across all nine zones Formenzo tracks. The last column is what the first visa adds on top of a licence-only company.
| Free zone | Licence only | + 1 visa | + 2 visas | + 3 visas | First visa adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures Centre Ajman | AED 4,888 | AED 10,800 | AED 16,200 | AED 20,700 | AED 5,912 |
| Fujairah Creative City Fujairah | AED 4,900 | AED 12,500 | AED 17,580 | AED 23,100 | AED 7,600 |
| SRTIP Sharjah | AED 5,500 | AED 12,500 | AED 17,795 | AED 26,035 | AED 7,000 |
| SPC Free Zone Sharjah | AED 5,750 | AED 13,165 | AED 17,660 | AED 22,155 | AED 7,415 |
| RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | AED 14,000 | AED 18,000 | AED 22,000 | AED 8,000 |
| Masdar City Free Zone Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 | AED 17,500 | AED 23,900 | AED 42,750 | AED 10,500 |
| IFZA Dubai | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 | AED 24,080 | AED 30,545 | AED 4,715 |
| Meydan Free Zone Dubai | AED 12,500 | AED 24,450 | AED 34,400 | AED 44,350 | AED 11,950 |
| DMCC Dubai | AED 35,484 | — | — | — | — |
All figures in UAE dirham (AED), all-in for 2026 — government/authority fee + Formenzo's setup service + the residence-visa block (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping). DMCC packages are priced individually. Source: Formenzo open price dataset (CC-BY 4.0).
How UAE free zone visa pricing works
The first residence visa always adds the most, because it includes a one-time immigration establishment card (the company's immigration file). Once that's paid, every additional visa only covers the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping — so visas two, three and four are progressively cheaper per head. That's why a one-visa company isn't simply "licence + one visa": the establishment card is bundled into that first visa.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UAE free zone residence visa cost in 2026?
The first residence visa typically adds AED 4,715 to AED 11,950 on top of the licence, because it includes the one-time immigration establishment card. Each additional visa is cheaper. The cheapest all-in one-visa company is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 10,800.
Why does the first visa cost more than the second?
The first visa carries a one-time immigration establishment card (e-channel/company immigration file) that the whole company needs. Once it is paid, each extra visa only covers the entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping, so it costs less.
Which UAE free zone is cheapest for 2 or 3 visas?
For two visas the cheapest all-in is Ajman NuVentures Centre (AED 16,200); for three visas it is Ajman NuVentures Centre (AED 20,700). Use the table above to compare every zone by visa count.