Dubai Free Zone Company Formation — One Application, Every Free Zone

Entry-level free zone licences start from about AED 5,750 per year (SHAMS, RAKEZ) up to AED 12,900 (IFZA, Meydan). Premium addresses like DMCC start around AED 35,500. Add AED 2,500–4,500 for an investor visa, AED 1,500–2,500 for the establishment card, and our service fee. Realistic first-year all-in cost for a solo founder: AED 22,000–52,000.

2–3 weeks from signed application to issued trade licence. Adding the investor visa, Emirates ID, and bank account introduction extends the full setup to 4–6 weeks. The bank account is the slowest step and largely outside any setup partner's control.

Yes, in every free zone, without exception. Free zones were designed specifically to allow 100% foreign ownership — this has been the case since the first Dubai free zone (JAFZA) opened in 1985. No UAE national sponsor is required at any stage.

It depends on your workspace package. A standard Flexi Desk (included in most licences) allows up to 6 visas. Paying an extra allocation fee can extend this to 9–10. Beyond 10, you must lease a private office with an Ejari contract — visa count is then capped at roughly 1 visa per 9 sqm of office space.

No. The Flexi Desk is a legal workspace requirement attached to your licence — you are not obligated to use it day-to-day. Most founders work from home, a coworking space, or a separate private office. You can also rent office space outside the free zone, provided it has a valid Ejari and your licence permits it.

Free zone if you sell internationally, run a digital business, or want the lowest setup cost. Mainland if you need to invoice UAE customers directly, bid on government contracts, or want maximum activity flexibility. We run a free 30-minute call to assess your specific case before you commit to either route.

All UAE companies must register for corporate tax. The standard rate is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Free zone companies that meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person criteria (substance requirements, qualifying income only) can apply a 0% rate on qualifying income. Small Business Relief treats taxable income as zero for businesses with revenue under AED 3 million through end of 2026. Whether you qualify depends on your activity and substance — we coordinate the registration and refer you to a UAE-licensed tax advisor for ongoing filings.

Yes, but expect 3–8 weeks and significant due diligence — UAE banks are conservative about free zone companies, particularly for non-resident shareholders or activities like crypto, e-commerce, and consulting. We introduce you to 3+ banks that match your profile and prepare your application pack to maximise approval odds.

AED 10,000 fixed fine. The Federal Tax Authority requires every UAE company to register within 90 days of trade licence issuance. We complete your tax registration during the setup process — included, not an upsell — so the deadline is never missed.

Renewal is the licence fee plus the establishment card and visa renewals — typically AED 10,000–28,000 depending on free zone and visa count. There is no setup service fee in year two. We also handle renewals for companies who want to switch from their original setup partner.