UAE Free Zone Company Setup 2026

Setting up a UAE Free Zone company gives entrepreneurs 100% foreign ownership, zero personal income tax, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, and full profit repatriation. StartZone UAE — a Sharjah-based business setup consultancy, a brand of e People Solutions FZC — guides you from free zone selection through licence delivery, visa stamping, and corporate bank account opening.

Our all-inclusive free zone setup packages start from AED 12,000, covering licence issuance, registration, and document handling. Tell us your business activity and visa needs on WhatsApp and we will confirm the exact free zone and total cost for your case — usually within 2 hours.

Why Set Up in a UAE Free Zone?

100% foreign ownership — no local partner or sponsor required
0% corporate and personal income tax for qualifying free zone entities
Full repatriation of profits and capital — no currency restrictions
Investor and employee residence visas, with eligibility tied to your office package
Fast licensing: most free zones issue a commercial licence in 3–10 working days
No physical office requirement in many zones — flexi-desk and virtual office options count toward visa eligibility

What Is Included in Our Free Zone Setup Package?

Free zone selection advisory — we compare 40+ zones on cost, activity fit, visa quota, and banking reputation
Trade name reservation and initial approval handling
Preparation and submission of all incorporation documents, including the Memorandum of Association
Commercial licence issuance with your chosen business activity
Company registration documents: Certificate of Incorporation, share certificates, and establishment documents
UAE residence visa processing guidance (investor/partner visa and, where applicable, employee visas)
Emirates ID typing, medical test coordination, and visa stamping support
Corporate bank account opening guidance — we prepare the compliance file banks ask for
Ongoing PRO support for renewals, amendments, and additional activities

Popular UAE Free Zones & Licence Costs

Free Zone	Best For	From (AED)
IFZA	SMEs, consultants, freelancers	12,900
RAKEZ	Trading, e-commerce, manufacturing	13,500
SHAMS	Media, content creators	5,750
DMCC	Commodities, finance	18,000+
JAFZA	Logistics, import/export	25,000+

Figures above are indicative, licence-fee-only costs published by each free zone authority. StartZone’s all-inclusive setup packages — including licence handling, documentation, and visa support — start from AED 12,000. Your final quote depends on the zone, licence type, number of visas, and office package you choose.

Our Setup Process

Free consultation (Day 0): we confirm your business activity, visa needs, and budget on WhatsApp or a call.
Free zone selection (1 day): we shortlist the zones that fit your activity and give you a fixed written quote.
Document preparation (1–2 days): passport copies, photos, and application forms — we prepare and submit everything.
Licence issuance (3–10 working days): the free zone authority reviews and issues your commercial licence.
Visa and banking (1–3 weeks): entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, visa stamping, then corporate account opening.

Document Checklist

Passport copy for each shareholder and the appointed manager (valid 6+ months)
Passport-size photograph with white background
Proposed company name (we check availability and reserve it)
Chosen business activities (a primary activity plus any secondary ones)
CV or brief business profile for regulated activities (consultancy, fintech, healthcare)
UAE residence visa copy or entry stamp, if you are already in the country
Attested educational certificates, only if an activity or immigration step specifically requires them

That is the complete list for most founders. If your activity or nationality needs anything extra — attestation, NOC, or regulatory approval — we tell you before you pay anything.

How Long Does It Take?

Step	Typical Timeline
Consultation and quote	Same day
Documents and submission	1–2 working days
Licence issuance	3–10 working days
Investor visa (entry permit to stamping)	1–3 weeks
Corporate bank account	1–4 weeks, depending on the bank

In practice, most clients hold their licence within one to two weeks and complete the visa cycle within about a month.

Which Free Zone Should You Choose?

The UAE has more than 40 free zones, but most international founders shortlist three jurisdictions. The right choice depends on your activity, target clients, visa needs, and budget — not on prestige alone.

Jurisdiction	Best Suited For	Typical Licence Cost Context
Sharjah (SHAMS, SPC Free Zone)	Consultancy, media, e-commerce, and cost-conscious founders who want a fast, fully remote setup	From around AED 5,750 — the most affordable entry point we offer
Ras Al Khaimah (RAKEZ)	Trading, light industrial, and service companies that want low overheads and scalable visa bundles	Low-cost packages, with add-ons for offices and multiple visas
Dubai (IFZA, Meydan, JAFZA)	Founders who need a Dubai address for client perception, banking relationships, or logistics	Mid-range packages up to premium zones (JAFZA from around AED 25,000+)

During your free consultation we compare two or three zones against your actual activity list, so you do not pay for a jurisdiction whose benefits you will never use. our sister resource UAE Free Zone Compare breaks the main zones down side by side — then we implement whichever path you choose. Most single-owner service businesses land in Sharjah or RAK; client-facing brands often justify the Dubai premium.

Documents You Need for Free Zone Setup

Passport copy of each shareholder (valid for 6+ months) — this is the only document every zone requires upfront
Passport-size photograph with a white background
Proposed company name and two alternatives, in case the first is taken
Short description of your business activities, so we match the correct licence activity codes
Proof of address for each shareholder (a utility bill or bank statement is accepted by most zones)
CV or profile for regulated activities such as consultancy, education, and healthcare

Everything else — application forms, establishment documents, and bank introductions — is prepared by our team as part of the package. Most clients send the documents by WhatsApp or email and never visit an office.

What Does the Starting Price Cover?

Our all-inclusive free zone packages start from AED 12,000. To put that figure in context, here is how a typical budget breaks down:

Cost Item	What It Covers	Typical Range (AED)
Zone licence fee	Trade licence issuance and first-year registration	5,750 – 25,000+ depending on the zone
Visa allocation	Investor visa eligibility and quota for employee visas	Included in most packages; extra visas priced per person
Office solution	Flexi-desk for licensing purposes, or a physical office where required	Flexi-desk bundled; physical offices quoted per zone
Our service fee	End-to-end handling: application, documents, translations, coordination	Included in the fixed package quote

Renewals fall due on the licence anniversary and are usually lower than year one. Your written quote itemises every line before you commit, so the price you approve is the price you pay.

What Is Not Included in the Starting Package?

The AED 12,000 starting package covers the items listed under What Is Included in Our Free Zone Setup Package?. The following are quoted separately because they depend on your zone, visa count, and activity:

Government visa fees per person — entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, and stamping (typically charged by the authority per applicant)
Physical office rent beyond the bundled flexi-desk, where you choose a larger office or warehouse
Regulatory approvals and external permits for regulated activities (education, healthcare, food, fintech, and similar)
Document attestation, notarisation, and legal translation for cases that require them
UAE corporate tax registration, VAT registration, and accounting filings — handled as separate ongoing services
Annual licence renewal — falls due on the licence anniversary and is quoted separately each year

Confirm current fees before you pay: free zone licence fees and government charges change from time to time. Your written quote itemises every line against the authority’s current fee schedule before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to set up a free zone company?

StartZone’s all-inclusive packages start from AED 12,000. Zone licence fees alone range from around AED 5,750 (SHAMS) to AED 25,000+ (JAFZA), and your total depends on the zone, licence type, number of visas, and whether you need a physical office or flexi-desk. We give a fixed written quote before you commit.

Can I own 100% of my free zone company?

Yes. Every UAE free zone allows 100% foreign ownership with no local partner or sponsor.

Do I need to visit the UAE to set up?

Not always. Several free zones allow remote incorporation for many nationalities, and visa stamping can often be completed on a short visit. We confirm the exact requirement for your nationality and chosen zone during the consultation.

Do free zone companies pay UAE corporate tax?

Qualifying free zone persons pay 0% on qualifying income, provided they meet substance and compliance requirements; non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. We flag early whether your activity qualifies, so there are no surprises.

Can I get UAE residence visas with my licence?

Yes. Your free zone licence makes you eligible for an investor/partner residence visa, and office packages determine how many additional employee visas you can sponsor.

Can I open a corporate bank account with a free zone licence?

Yes — free zone companies open corporate accounts with UAE banks. Banks require a real business profile, proof of activity, and sometimes a lease; we prepare your compliance file to improve approval odds and speed.

Start Your Free Zone Company Today

WhatsApp us on +971 58 597 8602 for a free consultation — we reply within 2 hours with a fixed quote covering your zone, licence, visas, and banking.

UAE Free Zone Company Setup