Compare free zone business activities
List the services and products that will appear on invoices. Identify how work is delivered, whether goods cross borders and whether an external regulator oversees the activity. Free zone activity names are not interchangeable. A trading code, professional service and manufacturing activity can carry different approval and facility requirements.
Dubai’s Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025 provides DET branch and activity-permit routes for qualifying Dubai free-zone establishments working outside their zone. Relevant authority approvals and separate financial records apply. It excludes DIFC financial establishments and does not authorise activity in other emirates. Check the actual activity and current application conditions.
Fees and cost components
Professional work, authority fees and third-party charges should be identified separately in the written quote.
Registration and licence
Check name reservation, incorporation, activity coverage and the licence term. Confirm whether extra activity groups or specialist licence categories change the amount.
Workspace and premises
Identify desk access, office rent or industrial space, deposits and relevant service charges. Establish which agreement supports the registered address and what use it permits.
Immigration and residence
Where required, separate the company immigration file and allocation from each person's visa, medical, identity-card and insurance costs. A quota is not an issued visa.
External documents and approvals
Budget for route-dependent attestations, translations, technical approvals or inspections. These can arise outside the authority's advertised licence package.
Renewal and future changes
Compare renewal charges, facility renewal and the cost of changing activities, ownership or staffing. Confirm professional service fees separately from payments to authorities.
Documents and information to prepare
The receiving authority and adviser confirm the final requirements for your matter.
Identity documents
Prepare legible passport copies for proposed shareholders and management. Add current UAE residence documents and Emirates ID where applicable to the selected checklist.
Address and contact records
Have residential addresses and evidence such as a utility bill or bank statement available where requested. Use consistent contact details throughout the application.
Business and ownership brief
Describe proposed activities, name choices, ownership percentages and management roles. Note any regulated work so approval requirements can be identified early.
Parent-company records
Expect incorporation and constitutional records, with current registry or status evidence where the authority requires it. A branch file should clearly identify its parent.
Corporate authorisation
Prepare the appropriate board or shareholder resolution approving the investment or branch, naming the representative and setting out their signing powers.
Ownership chain
Map intermediate entities through to the people who ultimately own or control the structure. Gather the supporting identification requested for beneficial-owner checks.
Supporting permissions
A business plan, professional credentials, product approvals, premises documents or external consent may be needed for particular activities. Confirm these before signing an unsuitable lease.
Free zone workspace and facility requirements
Decide whether you need an address and occasional desk access, a dedicated office, or premises for storage and production. DMCC provides a district-based office environment, while RAKEZ offers options including warehouses and land. A shared desk should be assessed against the activity and daily operation, not chosen solely because it appears in a low-cost package.
Free zone setup and renewal costs
Prepare a first-year and renewal comparison. Separate the licence from immigration services, individual visas, facility commitments and third-party approvals. Record what happens if you add a shareholder, recruit staff or change activity. This exposes differences that a headline setup price cannot explain.
Ask for the first-year total and the renewal total in separate columns. A proposal should identify the licence, premises, immigration records, individual applications and any external approval work. The fee quotation guide explains how to separate professional work from authority and third-party charges.
Timelines and dependencies
There is no single UAE free zone setup duration. Plan around the longest dependency in the selected route rather than applying one advertised turnaround to every company.
Business planning: Resolve activity compatibility, ownership and premises suitability before asking an authority to assess the application.
Document completion: Corporate records, foreign certification and specialist approvals can extend preparation beyond a straightforward individual-owner application.
Licence issuance: The authority evaluates the completed file, signatures, payments and premises arrangements. Queries must be resolved before the relevant approval is issued.
Operational readiness: Residency, bank onboarding, imports and regulated permissions have separate processes. Incorporation alone does not complete them.
After your company is established
Plan the next year while the incorporation documents are still being organised.
Company records and renewals: Keep the licence, constitutional documents, ownership records and facility agreement in one controlled file. Assign responsibility for expiry dates and authority correspondence.
Finance and banking: Set up bookkeeping and retain contracts, invoices and payment evidence. Review applicable tax registrations and reporting separately from the licensing decision.
Growth and changes: Review licence scope before introducing a new product or service. Check whether added staff, premises or shareholders require amendments or updated authority and bank records.
The detailed process
- 01
Describe the commercial model
Set out the product or service, target customers, delivery locations, founders and first-year staffing. Include planned imports, production or regulated services in the initial brief.
- 02
Shortlist suitable authorities
Match approved activities and company structures, then compare the premises available. Remove options that cannot support a non-negotiable requirement before comparing promotional prices.
- 03
Confirm the full proposal
Agree the licence scope, workspace, visa allocation and optional assistance. Obtain separate setup and renewal figures, including conditions attached to any promotion.
- 04
Prepare names and documents
Check naming rules and assemble individual or corporate-owner records. Resolve ownership, signature, translation and certification questions before the file enters formal review.
- 05
Complete registration and licensing
Follow the chosen portal or authorised submission route, sign the constitutional and facility documents, and pay the approved charges. Keep copies of the issued company records.
- 06
Prepare the operational launch
Coordinate any separate immigration, banking, customs and activity permissions. Put financial records and renewal responsibilities in place before the business begins taking on commitments.
Read further context
Further context for this guide
Explore free zones across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Compare general business jurisdictions with specialist financial, technology, media, logistics and industrial destinations. Use a common brief covering ownership, customers, staffing and premises so every shortlisted option answers the same practical questions.
Compare zones using the same proposed invoices and facility brief. Meydan and IFZA have their own Dubai licensing routes; DMCC adds district office decisions; RAKEZ calls for close attention to the facility. None should be selected by a package name alone.
See the illustrated process
From business brief to operating company
Describe the commercial model
Set out the product or service, target customers, delivery locations, founders and first-year staffing. Include planned imports, production or regulated services in the initial brief.
Shortlist suitable authorities
Match approved activities and company structures, then compare the premises available. Remove options that cannot support a non-negotiable requirement before comparing promotional prices.
Confirm the full proposal
Agree the licence scope, workspace, visa allocation and optional assistance. Obtain separate setup and renewal figures, including conditions attached to any promotion.
Prepare names and documents
Check naming rules and assemble individual or corporate-owner records. Resolve ownership, signature, translation and certification questions before the file enters formal review.
Complete registration and licensing
Follow the chosen portal or authorised submission route, sign the constitutional and facility documents, and pay the approved charges. Keep copies of the issued company records.
Prepare the operational launch
Coordinate any separate immigration, banking, customs and activity permissions. Put financial records and renewal responsibilities in place before the business begins taking on commitments.
This is an illustrative sequence. The actual route, formalities and responsible parties depend on your facts and the receiving authority.
View the options and comparison table
Use the comparison and preparation tools
Compare: Planning chart: the decisions that shape your application
Choose the structure on its actual operating conditions. Select a comparison item below to inspect the distinctions and conditions described in this guide.
Explore the questions to ask; selection does not confirm eligibility or recommend an outcome.
Activity before location
- What to establish before you commit
- Narrow the shortlist using what you sell, how you deliver it and the approvals your business model requires.
Registration does not itself confirm banking, tax treatment, visas or every permission to operate.
Facilities that fit
- What to establish before you commit
- Compare shared desks, offices and industrial space against actual customer access, storage, equipment and staffing needs before committing.
Registration does not itself confirm banking, tax treatment, visas or every permission to operate.
A comparable budget
- What to establish before you commit
- Review initial registration, recurring licences, premises and conditional immigration costs together so every proposal uses the same operating assumptions.
Registration does not itself confirm banking, tax treatment, visas or every permission to operate.
Free Zone Company Formation in the UAE: process and supporting evidence
The process and the record checklist are separate parts of preparation. Mark only the records you have gathered; the indicator reflects your selections and is not an assessment of legal readiness.
Structure → evidence → permissions → operations
Describe the commercial model
Set out the product or service, target customers, delivery locations, founders and first-year staffing. Include planned imports, production or regulated services in the initial brief.
Shortlist suitable authorities
Match approved activities and company structures, then compare the premises available. Remove options that cannot support a non-negotiable requirement before comparing promotional prices.
Confirm the full proposal
Agree the licence scope, workspace, visa allocation and optional assistance. Obtain separate setup and renewal figures, including conditions attached to any promotion.
Prepare names and documents
Check naming rules and assemble individual or corporate-owner records. Resolve ownership, signature, translation and certification questions before the file enters formal review.
Complete registration and licensing
Follow the chosen portal or authorised submission route, sign the constitutional and facility documents, and pay the approved charges. Keep copies of the issued company records.
Prepare the operational launch
Coordinate any separate immigration, banking, customs and activity permissions. Put financial records and renewal responsibilities in place before the business begins taking on commitments.
Ownership, management and application evidence
0 of 7 listed records marked as gathered.
Selections stay on this page and are not saved or sent.
What to gather
Prepare legible passport copies for proposed shareholders and management. Add current UAE residence documents and Emirates ID where applicable to the selected checklist.
What to gather
Have residential addresses and evidence such as a utility bill or bank statement available where requested. Use consistent contact details throughout the application.
What to gather
Describe proposed activities, name choices, ownership percentages and management roles. Note any regulated work so approval requirements can be identified early.
What to gather
Expect incorporation and constitutional records, with current registry or status evidence where the authority requires it. A branch file should clearly identify its parent.
What to gather
Prepare the appropriate board or shareholder resolution approving the investment or branch, naming the representative and setting out their signing powers.
What to gather
Map intermediate entities through to the people who ultimately own or control the structure. Gather the supporting identification requested for beneficial-owner checks.
What to gather
A business plan, professional credentials, product approvals, premises documents or external consent may be needed for particular activities. Confirm these before signing an unsuitable lease.
The adviser and receiving authority confirm the final requirements, validity and acceptance of the evidence.
Keep each cost component visible in the quotation.
The connected lines below identify separate budget components described in this guide. They show scope, not a percentage allocation or a quoted amount.
Free Zone Company Formation in the UAE
Professional work, external charges and continuing responsibilities should be clearly identified before commitment.
Registration and licence
Check name reservation, incorporation, activity coverage and the licence term. Confirm whether extra activity groups or specialist licence categories change the amount.
Workspace and premises
Identify desk access, office rent or industrial space, deposits and relevant service charges. Establish which agreement supports the registered address and what use it permits.
Immigration and residence
Where required, separate the company immigration file and allocation from each person's visa, medical, identity-card and insurance costs. A quota is not an issued visa.
External documents and approvals
Budget for route-dependent attestations, translations, technical approvals or inspections. These can arise outside the authority's advertised licence package.
Renewal and future changes
Compare renewal charges, facility renewal and the cost of changing activities, ownership or staffing. Confirm professional service fees separately from payments to authorities.
Points to check before proceeding
Business planning
Resolve activity compatibility, ownership and premises suitability before asking an authority to assess the application.
Document completion
Corporate records, foreign certification and specialist approvals can extend preparation beyond a straightforward individual-owner application.
Licence issuance
The authority evaluates the completed file, signatures, payments and premises arrangements. Queries must be resolved before the relevant approval is issued.
Operational readiness
Residency, bank onboarding, imports and regulated permissions have separate processes. Incorporation alone does not complete them.
Your questions, answered
Which free zone is best for a small consultancy?
Start with the exact consulting activity, client locations and staffing plan. Compare the permitted activity, suitable workspace and complete renewal commitment. The cheapest entry package is useful only if it supports the work and services you actually require.
Can I own a free zone company as an individual?
Individual ownership is available through the authorities covered here, subject to the chosen company form and application checks. An existing business can also consider a subsidiary or branch where that authority supports the route.
Do I need a private office?
The answer depends on the authority and activity. Shared desks or serviced arrangements can suit some businesses; storage, production, customer-facing work or regulated services may need different premises. Confirm suitability before paying for a package.
Does a free zone licence allow every mainland activity?
Do not assume that it does. Explain where the work is physically performed, who contracts with customers and how goods enter the market. Any additional operating licence, permit or distribution arrangement should be reviewed for the specific activity.
Are visas and a bank account included?
A proposal may include assistance or selected charges, but visa eligibility, immigration approval and bank onboarding remain separate matters. Check allocation, application fees and each person's services rather than relying on the word included.
Can I change the licence as the company grows?
Authorities provide amendment services, but changes can require approvals, supporting records and extra fees. Review the route for adding activities, staff or owners before choosing a package designed only around today's requirements.
Official sources and legal framework
- UAE Government: starting a business in a free zone ↗
Authority-specific licensing, formation and ongoing obligations. Workflow checklists are practical preparation guidance.
- DMCC: formation routes and office requirements ↗
Authority-specific licensing, formation and ongoing obligations. Workflow checklists are practical preparation guidance.
- RAKEZ: business facilities ↗
Authority-specific licensing, formation and ongoing obligations. Workflow checklists are practical preparation guidance.
- IFZA: licensing options ↗
Authority-specific licensing, formation and ongoing obligations. Workflow checklists are practical preparation guidance.
- SPC: setup guide and document preparation ↗
Authority-specific licensing, formation and ongoing obligations. Workflow checklists are practical preparation guidance.
- Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025 ↗
Scoped DET branch/permit routes, approvals and separate records for Dubai free-zone establishments conducting activities outside their zone; exclusion of DIFC financial establishments.
Information reviewed 12 October 2026. These are general-information guides. Confirm current requirements with the applicable authority and a licensed adviser before acting.