Find the right UAE jurisdiction
Free zone, mainland or offshore — the choice sets your ownership, costs, visa quota and which markets you can legally serve. Search and compare every option we work with, then talk to someone who will tell you honestly which fits.
Three questions that decide it
Most founders start by comparing licence prices. That is the last thing to look at, not the first.
Where your customers are
Selling to UAE customers points to mainland. Serving international clients makes a free zone the cheaper, simpler route.
What you actually need
A prestige address, warehousing or a common-law framework each cost money. If your model does not use them, you are paying for nothing.
How many people you will sponsor
Visa allocation is driven by workspace. Getting the package size right up front is cheaper than amending it in six months.
Mainland, free zone or offshore?
Before comparing individual jurisdictions, get the entity type right. These are structural differences — they do not change between one free zone and another.
| Mainland | Free Zone | Offshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade directly in the UAE market | Yes, unrestricted | Via distributor or agent | Not permitted |
| Trade internationally | Yes | Yes | Holding only |
| 100% foreign ownership | Most activities | Always | Always |
| Residence visas | Yes, scales with office | Yes, per package quota | None |
| Physical office required | Yes — Ejari tenancy | Flexi-desk usually enough | None — registered agent |
| Bid for government contracts | Yes | No | No |
| Typical setup cost | Higher — tenancy included | Lower | Lowest |
| Best suited to | Retail, contracting, local services | Consultancy, trading, e-commerce | Holding shares, property and IP |
Scroll the table sideways on smaller screens. Ownership rules for mainland activities vary — we confirm the position for your exact activity before you proceed.
20 jurisdictions available
- AFZBudget
Ajman Free Zone
Ajman · Free Zone
Low-cost licensing with proximity to Ajman Port
- SMEs
- Trading
- Services
- FCCBudget
Fujairah Creative City
Fujairah · Free Zone
Media and consultancy licences with no capital requirement
- Media
- Consultancy
- Freelancers
- IFZABudget
IFZA — International Free Zone Authority
Dubai · Free Zone
Cost-effective Dubai licences with flexible, modular packages
- Consultancy
- Trading
- E-commerce
- SHAMSBudget
SHAMS — Sharjah Media City
Sharjah · Free Zone
Low-cost UAE licences with a media and creative focus
- Media
- Creative
- Marketing
- SPCBudget
SPC Free Zone — Sharjah Publishing City
Sharjah · Free Zone
Fast licence issuance with dual-licence flexibility
- Publishing
- Consultancy
- Trading
- UAQBudget
UAQ FTZ — Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone
Umm Al Quwain · Free Zone
Straightforward, low-cost licensing through a single window
- Micro-businesses
- Consultancy
- Trading
- RAK ICCBudget–Mid
RAK ICC — RAK International Corporate Centre
Ras Al Khaimah · Offshore
UAE offshore registry for holding and asset protection
- Holding
- Asset protection
- IP holding
- RAKEZBudget–Mid
RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone
Ras Al Khaimah · Free Zone
Industrial land and SME packages at a fraction of Dubai cost
- Manufacturing
- Industrial
- SMEs
- SAIFBudget–Mid
SAIF Zone — Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
Sharjah · Free Zone
Warehousing and light industrial space beside Sharjah Airport
- Light manufacturing
- Warehousing
- Trading
- DETMid-range
Dubai Mainland (DET)
Dubai · Mainland
Trade anywhere in the UAE with no free zone restrictions
- Retail
- Local services
- Government contracts
- DWCMid-range
Dubai South (DWC)
Dubai · Free Zone
The aviation and logistics district around Al Maktoum Airport
- Logistics
- E-commerce fulfilment
- Aviation
- JAFZAMid-range
JAFZA — Jebel Ali Free Zone
Dubai · Free Zone
The UAE’s logistics backbone, built around Jebel Ali Port
- Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Re-export
- JAFZA-OMid-range
JAFZA Offshore
Dubai · Offshore
Dubai offshore structures that can hold local freehold property
- Property holding
- Holding
- Asset protection
- KEZADMid-range
KEZAD — Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · Free Zone
Abu Dhabi’s industrial and logistics ecosystem
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Industrial
- MFZMid-range
Meydan Free Zone
Dubai · Free Zone
A prestige Dubai address with a fast, digital-first application
- E-commerce
- Consultancy
- Trading
- ADGMPremium
ADGM — Abu Dhabi Global Market
Abu Dhabi · Free Zone
Abu Dhabi’s common-law financial centre on Al Maryah Island
- Funds
- Family offices
- Fintech
- DAFZAPremium
DAFZA — Dubai Airport Freezone
Dubai · Free Zone
On the doorstep of Dubai International Airport
- Aviation
- Electronics
- Pharmaceuticals
- DIFCPremium
DIFC — Dubai International Financial Centre
Dubai · Free Zone
A common-law financial centre with its own courts and regulator
- Asset management
- Fintech
- Funds
- DMCCPremium
DMCC — Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Dubai · Free Zone
The UAE’s largest free zone — commodities, trade and Web3
- Commodities
- Crypto & Web3
- Trading
- DICPremium
Dubai Internet City (TECOM)
Dubai · Free Zone
Dubai’s technology and media cluster
- SaaS
- IT services
- Media
Cost bands are relative guidance only. Actual licence cost depends on your activity, visa count and workspace, and authority fees are set by the relevant authority. Build an indicative estimate or request a tailored quote.
Choosing a jurisdiction — answered
The questions that come up in almost every first consultation.
A mainland licence lets you trade directly anywhere in the UAE and bid for government contracts, but requires a registered tenancy. A free zone licence gives 100% ownership and lower setup cost, but selling directly into the UAE market normally needs a distributor or a separate mainland licence. An offshore company is a holding vehicle only — it cannot trade in the UAE and carries no residence visa.
The northern-emirate zones — UAQ FTZ, Ajman Free Zone, SHAMS and SPC — sit at the lowest end, with Dubai zones such as IFZA close behind. The honest caveat is that the cheapest licence is not always the cheapest outcome: corporate banking is generally harder outside Dubai, and moving jurisdiction later costs more than starting in the right one.
Yes. All UAE free zones permit 100% foreign ownership, and most mainland commercial and professional activities now do too. A small set of strategic mainland activities still requires an Emirati partner or Local Service Agent — we confirm the position for your exact activity.
Not directly, as a general rule. Free zone companies trade internationally and within free zones. Selling into the UAE mainland typically requires a mainland distributor, a commercial agent, or holding a mainland licence alongside the free zone one. Some zones, such as SPC, operate dual-licence arrangements that address this.
No. A UAE residence visa issued through any emirate permits you to live anywhere in the country. There are practical considerations around tenancy and some employer processes, which we walk through during your consultation.
Yes, though it means forming a new entity and migrating your licence, banking and visas rather than simply editing a record. Many founders do start lean and move once revenue supports it — but it is worth getting the first choice as close to right as possible.
Founders worldwide trust Smartgic
From first-time entrepreneurs to established groups relocating to the UAE — here's what our clients say about working with us.
“Smartgic set up my DMCC company and processed my investor visa in under two weeks. The most seamless experience I have had in Dubai.”
“Their team handled my Golden Visa and corporate bank account end-to-end. Professional, responsive and genuinely transparent on fees.”
“I relocated my e-commerce business from Europe to an IFZA free zone with zero stress. My relationship manager replied within minutes.”
Independence & accuracy notice
Smartgic Immigration Business Set Up Services EST. is a privately owned business setup and immigration consultancy licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (DET) under licence 1394564. We are not a government entity and are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of any UAE government authority, free zone authority or their agencies. Information on this website is general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice. Government fees, processing times, visa eligibility and approvals are determined solely by the relevant authorities, vary case by case and are not guaranteed. Always confirm current requirements for your specific circumstances with us or with the relevant authority before acting. All third-party names, free zone names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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