UAE jurisdictions — real setup data
Source-cited costs, timelines, capital and steps across 39 jurisdictions. Every figure links to where it came from and is dated. Figures are scraped from published sources and pending expert verification.
Financial free zones
Free zones
Low-cost Ajman free zone with 3,500+ activities and entry licences from around AED 5,555.
Premium free zone beside Dubai International Airport — trading, aviation, high-value services.
Specialised healthcare free zone for clinical, medical and wellness businesses.
Dubai's largest free zone and global hub for commodities, crypto and trade — 20,000+ member companies.
Integrated tech park and free zone focused on technology, electronics and startups.
Central-Dubai free zone at the convention district — services, consultancy, IT, events.
MENA's first dedicated e-commerce free zone — integrated logistics and fulfilment.
Creative district for fashion, design, art and luxury brands.
Dubai's flagship ICT/tech free zone — software, telecom and internet companies.
HR, training, education and professional-development free zone.
Dubai's maritime authority — annual permits for maritime businesses (ship brokering, marine insurance, ship repair, marine services).
Regional media hub — advertising, broadcasting, marketing, new media.
Dedicated free zone for BPO, HR, IT outsourcing, call centres and shared services.
TECOM-operated free zone for media production, printing, publishing and packaging.
Logistics, aviation and trade free zone around Al Maktoum International Airport.
MENA's largest media, entertainment and broadcasting free zone (TECOM Group).
Standalone free zone on the Expo 2020 site — freelance, commercial, service and industrial licences.
East-coast UAE free zone with sea/air/road connectivity — trading and light industry.
Cost-effective Sharjah industrial & trading free zone with deep-water port access.
Dubai free zone known for flexible, low-cost packages sold via channel partners — 2,000+ activities, remote setup.
Dubai's flagship port-and-logistics free zone — FZE/FZCO/PLC/branch/offshore, 100% foreign ownership.
Abu Dhabi's largest integrated industrial, logistics and trade free zone (AD Ports Group).
Abu Dhabi's sustainability free zone — clean tech, renewable energy, tech and innovation.
Centrally located Dubai free zone offering fully digital, fast trade-licence setup from AED 12,500 with 2,500+ activities.
Specialised maritime industrial free zone on the RAK coastline (Emiri Decree 2009). Independent of RAKEZ. 100% foreign ownership; FZE/FZC.
Large multi-sector Ras Al Khaimah free zone offering low-cost packages from AED 6,000 with 100% foreign ownership.
Airport-adjacent Sharjah free zone — same-day licensing, logistics and aviation access.
Sharjah media-focused free zone with low entry cost from AED 5,760, up to 5 activities and instant licensing.
Sharjah free zone with 2,000+ activities, licence from AED 5,750 and UAE residency in 5 working days.
Affordable northern-emirate free zone with all-inclusive packages and same-day licence+visa.
Abu Dhabi's media & entertainment free zone — film, broadcast, gaming, digital media.
Mainland
Abu Dhabi onshore licensing via ADDED / TAMM — trade across the UAE and with government.
Dubai onshore licensing authority — trade across the UAE and with government; 100% foreign ownership for most activities.
Sharjah onshore licensing via SEDD, with a same-day instant-licence option (since 2025).