Free for the first 100 founders
Register your UAE free zone company yourself.
You don't always need a formation agent. Several UAE free zones let you apply directly on their own portal — so the agent's fee is optional, not compulsory. We checked which ones, and built a step-by-step portal that prepares everything for you.
The short answer: Meydan Free Zone, Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), SPC Free Zone and DMCC all publish a founder-led online application on their own websites — you can register yourself. IFZA, by contrast, runs a partner model, so applications go through its registered partners.
What we checked
Which UAE free zones let you register yourself
Each verdict below comes from the free zone's own official website — not from a formation agent's blog. Links go to the exact page we read. Last checked 2026-07-29.
You can register yourself
Online portal — confirm your activity first
Goes through a registered partner
International Free Zone Authority · Dubai
Popular Dubai free zone — but applications run through IFZA's registered partners.
Official site states IFZA "operates on a unique Business to Business (B2B) Model" working "hand-in-hand with our Professional Partners" — no self-serve applicant portal shown.
Official sourceWe list these because they're heavily marketed — knowing a zone routes through partners is worth as much as knowing one doesn't.
Zones not listed here we haven't verified yet — we'd rather say nothing than guess. Free zone policies change; always confirm on the official site before paying.
How the portal works
A wizard that saves as you go.
- 01
Pick a free zone
Choose from the zones we verified allow a founder-led application. Each one links to the official page we checked.
- 02
Fill in the wizard
Trade names, activity, owners, visas and documents — in plain language, saved as you type. Close the tab and come back any time.
- 03
Get your submission pack
A checked summary of everything the zone will ask for, plus a direct link to their own portal.
- 04
Submit and stay on top of it
You submit directly to the free zone. We track your licence and renewal dates and nudge you before they bite.
Pricing
AED 99 — free for the first 100 founders.
Our fee covers the portal: preparation, validation, your submission pack and deadline tracking. The free zone's licence fees are separate and paid directly to them — we never mark those up.
Start your application — free.
Pick a free zone, fill in the wizard, get your submission pack. Free for the first 100 founders, then AED 99.
FAQ
Registering without an agent
Do I need an agent to set up a company in a UAE free zone?
Not always. Several free zones — including Meydan Free Zone, Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), SPC Free Zone and DMCC — publish a founder-led online application on their own websites, so you can register directly. Others, notably IFZA, operate a partner model where applications are routed through their registered partners. We checked each zone's official site and show what we found, with the source link.
Which UAE free zones let you register a company yourself?
Based on our checks of the zones' own official websites, Meydan Free Zone, Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), SPC Free Zone and DMCC all advertise a direct online application that a founder can complete themselves. RAKEZ offers an online portal but frames setup as assisted, so confirm your specific activity with them first.
What does the StartedUp portal cost?
The portal is AED 99 — and it is free for the first 100 founders. That fee is only for using StartedUp to prepare, organise and track your application. The free zone's own licence fees are separate and paid directly to them.
Does StartedUp submit the application for me?
No — and that's deliberate. These zones don't require anyone to file on your behalf, so you submit directly on the zone's own portal and stay in control of your own company. StartedUp collects and checks everything first, gives you the submission pack, and then tracks your dates.
Can I save my progress and come back later?
Yes. Everything you type is saved to your account automatically. You can close the tab, switch device, and pick up on the exact step you left.
Is this legal advice?
No. StartedUp is decision support — we organise published information and track your deadlines. Requirements change, so always confirm on the free zone's official site before paying anything.