Cheapest Free Zone in the UAE (2026): Starting Prices Compared
The cheapest free zone in the UAE, on EZONE’s starting packages, is Fujairah Creative City at AED 5,530, followed by Ajman Free Zone at AED 5,555 and SPC at AED 5,750. The lowest price is only part of the picture, because activities, visas and the way you can trade differ from zone to zone.
Those figures are EZONE package prices. For the entry prices each free zone authority publishes on its own website, with a link to every source, see the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.
Updated October 2026. Method: these are the starting packages shown on EZONE’s own free zone pages in October 2026. They are not government fees, and the final cost depends on your activity, workspace and number of visas.
Key takeaways
- Starting prices run from AED 5,530 to AED 35,000 across the zones we work with.
- Dubai zones start higher than zones in Fujairah, Ajman, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
- A starting price covers a basic package. Your activity, workspace and visas set the final cost.
- Check what the license lets you do before you compare prices.
Free Zone Starting Prices, Lowest First
| Free zone | Starting package |
|---|---|
| Fujairah Creative City | AED 5,530 |
| Ajman Free Zone | AED 5,555 |
| SPC (Sharjah Publishing City) | AED 5,750 |
| RAKEZ | AED 6,010 |
| SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) | AED 6,885 |
| Umm Al Quwain Free Zone | AED 8,000 |
| KEZAD | AED 9,450 |
| Dubai CommerCity | AED 12,000 |
| DWTC | AED 12,300 |
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 12,500 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 15,500 |
| JAFZA | AED 15,500 |
| Dubai Internet City | AED 15,540 |
| Dubai Media City | AED 15,540 |
| DAFZ | AED 25,030 |
| DMCC | AED 32,360 |
| DIAC | AED 35,000 |
Two zones quote in US dollars: ADGM from USD 5,700 and DIFC from USD 12,500. The prices are the starting packages on each zone page and are marked with conditions. For comparison, an Abu Dhabi mainland license starts at AED 14,910 and a Dubai mainland license at AED 14,626.
Our Pick for a Dubai License
If you want a Dubai license, Meydan Free Zone from AED 12,500 is our usual recommendation for start-ups. It gives you a Dubai address at a low starting price, and its Fawri option can issue a license quickly. Dubai CommerCity (from AED 12,000) is built for e-commerce and DWTC (from AED 12,300) serves trade and events, so check that your activity fits before you compare prices. Read more on our Meydan Free Zone page.
Why the Cheapest Zone Is Not Always the Cheapest Option
- Activity. A cheap license helps only if your activity is on the zone’s list. Some zones focus on media, publishing, e-commerce or industry.
- Visas. The number of visas depends on your workspace. A flexi-desk usually allows one visa, as at RAKEZ.
- Where you sell. A free zone company cannot trade freely on the mainland. See operating a free zone company on the mainland.
- Banking. Banks look at the whole business, not the zone. See corporate bank account opening.
- Renewal. Compare the renewal price and what the first-year package covers.
How to Choose
- List the activity on your license and check it is allowed in the zone.
- Decide how many visas you need and what workspace that requires.
- Ask whether you will sell to customers on the mainland.
- Add the visa, establishment card and renewal to the starting price.
- Use the cost calculator or compare more zones in our UAE free zone comparison.
What You Get From the Lowest-Cost Zones
The five lowest starting packages sit in the northern emirates. Each one fits a different kind of business, so a low price is only a starting point.
Fujairah Creative City (from AED 5,530)
The Fujairah government portal describes the zone as aimed at media, music, entertainment, events, communication and marketing businesses. It launched in 2007 and houses companies and freelancers.
The Fujairah Media Office also licenses media activities in the emirate, including in free zones. Confirm which approvals your activity needs before you apply.
Ajman Free Zone (from AED 5,555)
Ajman Free Zone has the second-lowest starting price on our list. Its license types, activities and current package are on our Ajman Free Zone page.
Ask for the activity list and the visa terms before you compare it with the others. A low price only helps if your activity is covered.
SPC, Sharjah Publishing City (from AED 5,750)
SPC began in publishing and now says it supports more than 2,000 business activities, including e-commerce, consulting, trading, media and technology. Its own pages say a flexi-desk is available as a formal business address.
SPC says visas are paid for individually, at roughly AED 1,600 per visa, and a corporate bank account service costs around AED 2,000. Treat these as the zone’s own figures and confirm them before you plan around them.
RAKEZ (from AED 6,010)
RAKEZ issues commercial, service, general trading, e-commerce, individual and industrial licenses. Its standard license lasts one year, and some types can be issued for three years at discounted rates.
A flexi-desk is limited to one visa, so a team needs a larger workspace. See our guide to the RAKEZ free zone and the RAKEZ license cost breakdown.
SHAMS, Sharjah Media City (from AED 6,885)
SHAMS was founded in 2017 by Emiri decree and serves start-ups, SMEs and freelancers in media and creative industries. It offers a podcast room and filming locations.
Its site does not list license tiers or workspace terms, so ask for them in writing. Read more on our SHAMS page.
A Realistic First-Year Budget
A starting price is one line in a longer budget. Meydan publishes a useful example of the extras, and the pattern is similar elsewhere.
| Line | Example (Meydan’s published figure) |
|---|---|
| License with flexi-desk | From AED 12,500 |
| Investor visa | From AED 4,000 |
| Employee visa | From AED 3,500 |
| Immigration establishment card | AED 2,000 |
| Medical test and Emirates ID assistance | AED 2,250 |
Meydan’s own FAQ puts the extras for a first investor visa at around AED 7,850 in total. The exact mix of fees depends on the visa type and the services you use.
Apply the same logic to a lower-priced zone. A starting package of AED 5,750 plus one visa and a card can easily pass AED 10,000 in year one.
How Dubai and the Northern Emirates Differ
- Price. Dubai zones on our list start at AED 12,000. The northern emirates start at AED 5,530 to AED 6,885.
- Address. Some clients and banks prefer a Dubai address. This matters less for companies that serve clients abroad.
- Facilities. Dubai zones often offer larger business communities, studios and meeting space.
- Visas and workspace. The pattern is similar everywhere: the workspace you rent sets how many visas you can hold.
- Mainland access. No free zone gives free access to the UAE mainland. See operating a free zone company on the mainland.
Cheapest Free Zone by Type of Business
| If you are… | Start by comparing |
|---|---|
| A media or creative business | Fujairah Creative City, SHAMS, SPC. See the best free zone for a marketing or media agency. |
| A software company | SPC, RAKEZ, Meydan. See the best free zone for an IT company. |
| A trader | RAKEZ, Meydan, JAFZA. See the best free zone for a trading company. |
| A freelancer | A freelance permit may cost less than any company license. See freelance visa cost in Dubai. |
How to Read a Free Zone Price List
Price lists look similar but hide different assumptions. Four questions make them comparable.
- What is included? Check whether the price covers the license, a flexi-desk, the establishment card and any visa.
- For how long? Most licenses run for one year, and some zones offer longer terms at a discount.
- For how many activities? Some licenses allow one activity, others allow several.
- What happens at renewal? Renewal can differ from the first-year price.
Add-On Costs by Category
| Category | Examples | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| People | Investor visa, employee visas, establishment card, medical test, Emirates ID | Whenever you want residency or staff |
| Space | Dedicated office, desk upgrade, warehouse | When a flexi-desk is not enough |
| Approvals | External authority approvals for regulated activities | Depends on the activity |
| Banking | Account opening support, monthly fees, minimum balances | When you open a company account |
| Trading in the UAE | Dual license, agent or mainland license | When you sell to UAE customers |
Three Founders, Three Choices
These illustrations show how the cheapest zone depends on the business. They are not quotes.
- A solo content creator with clients abroad. A media-focused zone such as Fujairah Creative City or SHAMS fits. The lowest starting price and a creative community matter more than a Dubai address.
- A small software team. SPC or RAKEZ keeps fixed costs low, but each extra developer needs a visa and enough workspace.
- A trader with buyers in several countries. RAKEZ offers a low starting price and industrial space, while JAFZA suits larger stock needs.
Questions to Ask Each Zone
- Is my exact activity on your list?
- What does the starting price include and exclude?
- How many visas can I hold with this workspace?
- What does renewal cost in year two?
- Can I add a dual license later if I need to sell in the UAE?
Our UAE free zone comparison and the company formation services page help you take the next step.
Price Bands: What Each Budget Tends to Buy
| Starting package | Zones on our list | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| Under AED 6,000 | Fujairah Creative City, Ajman, SPC | Solo founders and small teams serving clients abroad |
| AED 6,000 to 10,000 | RAKEZ, SHAMS, UAQ, KEZAD | Traders, small manufacturers and media businesses |
| AED 12,000 to 16,000 | Dubai CommerCity, DWTC, Meydan, DSO, JAFZA, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City | Companies that want a Dubai license and a business community |
| Above AED 25,000 | DAFZ, DMCC, DIAC | Larger operations with specific sector needs |
The bands show where the market sits, not what you should buy. Choose by activity and customers first, and use the price to rank the options that fit.
Common Questions From Founders
Can I switch zones later?
Yes, but it means cancelling and applying again, so choose with the next two years in mind.
Is a northern emirates license accepted by banks?
Banks look at the whole business, not only the zone. Prepare contracts, a clear activity description and evidence of your clients.
Do I need to live in the emirate where the zone is?
Not always, but visas and some services involve the zone’s own requirements. Ask what is needed in person.
Our sister site covers flexi-desk vs dedicated office in a UAE free zone, and companyformationinuae.com has more on formation. For help choosing, see our company formation services.
Summary: What to Remember
- The lowest starting packages on our list run from AED 5,530 to AED 6,885.
- Dubai zones start at AED 12,000, and Meydan is our usual recommendation for a Dubai license.
- Visas, cards, workspace and approvals are extra, so build a full first-year budget.
- No free zone gives free access to the UAE mainland.
- Check your activity on the zone’s list before you compare prices.
To see your own numbers, use the cost calculator or book a free consultation.
Prices in Abu Dhabi start differently for the mainland, KEZAD and ADGM, and our business setup in Abu Dhabi guide puts them side by side.
Sharjah free zones start from different price points, and the Sharjah company setup guide explains what each one is built for.
Ajman Free Zone is one of the cheapest on the list, and the Ajman mainland versus free zone guide explains the trade-offs.
Not sure which zone fits? Our business setup consultants compare them for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Solo professionals can compare these prices with the Dubai freelance visa options.
On EZONE's starting packages it is Fujairah Creative City at AED 5,530, then Ajman Free Zone at AED 5,555 and SPC at AED 5,750.
EZONE's lowest Dubai starting packages are Dubai CommerCity (e-commerce) from AED 12,000, DWTC from AED 12,300 and Meydan Free Zone from AED 12,500. For most start-ups across general activities, Meydan is our usual recommendation.
Starting packages are a base. Visas, the establishment card and your activity change the final cost, so use the cost calculator for your case.
Not necessarily. It matters whether the zone's activities, visa quota and trading rules fit your business.
Yes, but it means cancelling and applying again, so choose with your next two years in mind.
