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Is a free zone the right route for you?

Free zones give you full ownership, a fast licence and a visa quota. They also limit who you can invoice directly on the UAE mainland. This is how to tell whether that trade-off works for your business.

Free zonesZone-authority licensing
Activity listsZone activity fit
ICP / GDRFAEstablishment & visa capacity
BanksAccount-readiness context

What a free zone actually gives you

A licence built for cross-border work, with fast setup, full ownership, and sector-focused clusters.

Independent founder reviewing a company plan in a UAE workspace

100% foreign ownership

Full ownership and profit repatriation, no local partner required.

Licence application sheets in a document folder with a pen

Fast licence, clear renewals

Turnaround measured in days, and annual renewals with predictable fees.

Technology workspace inside a specialist UAE business cluster

Sector-focused clusters

Zones specialised in media, tech, healthcare, logistics, and finance.

Serviced office with several workstations seen through glass

Workspace shapes visa capacity

The size and type of workspace can affect the visa capacity available to your company.

Restrictions and trade-offs

Free zone is fast and clean for cross-border work, but it carries real limits when you touch the mainland.

How a free-zone setup runs

Two to four weeks end to end — licence issues in days, workspace and visas set the rest.

  1. 01Pick the zoneMatch the sector and workspace to your activity.
  2. 02Reserve the nameSecure the trade name and initial approval.
  3. 03Choose the workspaceDesk, flexi-desk, or office — this drives your visa quota.
  4. 04Issue the licenceReceive the free-zone trade licence and establishment file.
  5. 05Establishment card + eSignatureRegister the entity for immigration and digital signing.
  6. 06Open the bank accountStart banking in parallel with the investor visa.

How much does a free zone setup cost?

AED12,00025,000

Final cost depends on the zone, activity and visa count.

What’s included

  • Trade licence
  • Registered address
  • Establishment card + eSignature
  • One investor visa

Price varies by

  • Free zone
  • Visa count
  • Workspace
  • Optional add-ons
Get a tailored estimate →

Founders and teams who pick a free zone.

Banks we can help you approach.

Bank suitability depends on your activity, ownership, documents and transaction profile.

See our banking partners

Is a free zone the right route for you?

Tell us the activity and headcount. We shortlist the zones that actually accept it.

  • A dedicated specialist reviews your case.
  • Fixed scope in writing before any work begins.
  • Avg reply 3 minutes on WhatsApp, 24 × 7.

Request a consultation

No obligation. We tell you if it is not the right route.

What do you need help with?

Compare the other routes

Talk to a UAE specialist

What clients say

Frequently asked

What is a UAE free-zone company?
A free-zone company is established under the rules of a specific UAE free-zone authority. Each authority has its own permitted activities, licence packages, office rules, visa allocation, renewal terms, and operating conditions. “Free zone” is a category, not one standard product.
Can a free-zone company be fully foreign-owned?
Many free-zone structures allow full foreign ownership, subject to the authority’s rules and the intended activity. Ownership is only one part of the decision: the company must also fit its customers, operating model, banking profile, visa needs, and any regulatory requirements.
Do I need an office in a free zone?
The facility requirement depends on the authority, activity, licence package, visa needs, and operating model. Some packages use flexi-desk, desk, or serviced-office arrangements; others require a dedicated office, warehouse, studio, retail unit, or another specific facility. We confirm this before selecting a package.
Can a free-zone company obtain UAE residence visas?
Potentially, but visa capacity depends on the authority, licence package, facility arrangement, establishment records, applicant profile, and current immigration rules. A licence alone does not create a fixed universal visa quota. We confirm the available capacity before the setup is finalised.
Can a free-zone company open a UAE business bank account?
A free-zone company can apply, but the bank makes its own decision. It will assess the activity, ownership, source of funds, expected transactions, evidence of operations, documents, and overall risk profile. Formation does not guarantee banking approval.
Is 0% corporate tax automatic in a free zone?
No. Free-zone status alone does not create an automatic 0% corporate-tax outcome. Qualifying Free Zone Person treatment depends on meeting applicable conditions and may depend on the company’s income, activities, substance, accounting, elections, and compliance position.
Professionals discussing a client referral partnership

Refer a client. Get paid.

Send the case. We do the work. You get paid.

Earn up to AED 5,500 per client

More clients onboarded, higher payout.

Paid within 30 days of completion

Straight to the account.

Tiered rewards as you scale

More referrals unlocks higher payouts.

Ready to pick a zone?