UAE Free Zone
Locations & Comparison
Compare 18+ UAE Free Zones across 22 parameters — industry focus, seaports, airports, warehousing, visa issuance, tax, ownership, and costs. Find your perfect zone.
No free zones match your search.
Try a different keyword or filter.
Dubai Free Zones — 22-Parameter Comparison
All data sourced directly from our UAE Free Zone comparison database. All zones permit 100% foreign ownership, full capital repatriation, and use English as the primary business language.
Dubai Free Zones — Group 1
| Parameter | JAFZA | DMCC | Internet City | Media City | Knowledge Village | Academic City | DIFC | DAFZA | World Central | Gold & Diamond | Healthcare City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Est. Year | 1985 | 2002 | 2000 | 2000 | 2003 | 2007 | 2004 | 1996 | 2006 | 2001 | 2002 |
| Industry Focus | All Trade & Services | Commodities & Services | Technology | Media & Adv. | HR & Training | Higher Education | Banking & Finance | All Trade & Services | Aviation & Logistics | Jewellery & Metals | Healthcare |
| Min. Shareholders | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Corporate Shareholders | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Directors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Corporate Directors | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Public Register | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private |
| UAE Tax Treaties | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Seaport | Jebel Ali | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Airport | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Dubai Intl. | Al Maktoum | — | — |
| Import & Export | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Commercial Office | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Warehousing | ✓ Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Meetings Location | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere |
| Visa Issuance | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| 100% Ownership | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Capital Repatriation | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% |
| Tax (Corp/Personal) | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Language | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| Capital Currency | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED |
| Other Currencies | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any |
More UAE Free Zones — Group 2
| Parameter | Silicon Oasis | d3 / 1254 | KIZAD (AD) | SAIF (SHJ) | Hamriyah FZ | RAK Free Zone | RAKIA FZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Est. Year | 2005 | 2008 | 2010 | 1995 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 |
| Industry Focus | Technology | Media / Creative | All Trade & Industry | All Trade & Services | All Trade & Services | All Trade & Services | All Trade & Services |
| Min. Shareholders | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Corporate Shareholders | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Directors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Corporate Directors | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Public Register | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private | ✗ Private |
| UAE Tax Treaties | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Seaport | — | — | Khalifa | — | Hamriyah | — | — |
| Airport | — | — | — | Sharjah Intl. | — | — | — |
| Import & Export | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Commercial Office | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Warehousing | — | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Meetings Location | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere |
| Visa Issuance | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| 100% Ownership | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Capital Repatriation | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% | ✓ 100% |
| Tax (Corp/Personal) | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Language | English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| Capital Currency | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED | AED |
| Other Currencies | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any | Any |
Notes: All UAE free zones share these common features: 100% foreign ownership · 100% capital & profit repatriation · 0% corporate, personal & withholding tax · English language · AED primary currency · Any foreign currency permitted · Private shareholder/director register. * FZE (single shareholder) or FZCO (2+ shareholders). ** Some zones may require more than one director for specific company types.
Why 60,000+ Businesses Choose UAE Free Zones
The UAE's free zones have attracted some of the world's largest corporations precisely because they offer a combination of advantages found nowhere else.
Free Zone Location FAQs
The right zone depends on your business activity, budget, visa requirements, need for office or warehouse space, and whether you need a seaport or airport. For technology companies, Dubai Internet City or DSO are ideal. For commodities trading, DMCC is the global leader. For finance, DIFC. For budget-conscious setups, RAKEZ. We compare across all 22 parameters to give you a personalised recommendation.
Not directly. Free zone companies can sell to UAE mainland customers only through a licensed mainland distributor or agent, or by obtaining a Dual Licence (available in DMCC, DAFZA, DIFC, Dubai CommerCity, d3, and One Central). For unrestricted UAE market access, a mainland company or branch is required.
Annual costs range from AED 5,000 for a solo freelance package (virtual office, 1 visa) to AED 80,000+ for an office-based company with multiple staff. Costs include the licence fee, office/flexi-desk, and visa allocation. We provide exact quotes based on your chosen zone and requirements.
An FZE (Free Zone Establishment) has a single shareholder — either an individual or a corporate entity. An FZCO (Free Zone Company) has two or more shareholders. Both structures offer the same tax and ownership benefits. The choice depends on your ownership structure and governance preferences.
All UAE free zones share the core benefits: 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax (qualifying), full capital repatriation, and private registers. However, they differ significantly in industry focus, physical infrastructure, minimum director requirements, seaport/airport access, visa allocation, and setup costs. This is why comparing zones across 22 parameters is so important.
Yes. Most UAE free zones allow remote company formation. You can submit documents digitally, sign electronically, and receive your licence without visiting the UAE. However, for visa applications and some bank account openings, an in-person visit may be required at some stage.
Let Us Match You to the
Perfect Free Zone
Tell us your business activity, budget, team size, and goals — we'll recommend the best free zone, provide an exact cost breakdown, and handle the entire formation process.