Consultants and freelancers have the easiest version of this decision and the one most often over-complicated. You are selling expertise, not goods. You need somewhere to be registered, a residence visa, and a bank account. Almost every free zone can do that, so the differences that matter are narrow and specific.
The short answer
- One person, no plans to hire: the cheapest zero-visa or one-visa package that licenses your activity. Ajman Media City starts lowest and publishes what year two costs.
- Expecting to hire in the next two years: SPC, because it does not cap visas per licence, so your third hire is not a premises decision.
- Media, design, content or creative work: SHAMS, which was built for it.
- Clients who care about a Dubai address: IFZA, and be honest with yourself about whether they really do.
The three things that actually differ
- Whether visas are capped by your desk. Most zones tie visa quota to the facility you take. SPC states there is no cap per licence, which stops mattering if you stay solo and starts mattering a lot at three or four people.
- Whether renewal is knowable. One zone in our range publishes renewal prices next to setup prices. For a one-person business where every dirham is your own, that predictability is worth more than a few hundred off the first year. Free zone renewal costs covers why.
- Whether your activity is on the list. Consulting is broadly available; specialised advisory sometimes is not. Confirm the exact activity before comparing prices, because the cheapest zone that will not license your work is not an option at all.
Freelance permit or company?
Different products. A freelance permit lets you work without an employer and is available for media, education and technology work only. A company gives you a licence that can hold a visa, open a bank account and invoice under its own name, whatever your profession.
What it costs
| Zone | Through SwiftHub, from | The reason to pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman Media City | AED 4,499 | Lowest entry, renewal published |
| SPC Free Zone | AED 4,999 | No visa cap as you grow |
| SHAMS | AED 5,750 | Media and creative activities |
| RAKEZ | AED 6,000 | Broad activity list |
| IFZA, Dubai | AED 12,900 | Dubai address |
Add our per-visa fees of AED 200 typing, AED 300 unemployment insurance, AED 300 portal access and health cover from AED 500, plus government immigration charges at cost. The cost calculator totals our side for any visa count.
The mainland question, briefly
If your clients are UAE companies on the mainland and they pay you directly, a free zone licence has a constraint that a mainland licence does not. For most consultants this is manageable; for some it is decisive. Mainland or free zone covers it properly, and how to start a consulting business in Dubai walks the whole route.
Tax, for a one-person business
You register for corporate tax and file, whichever zone you pick. Below AED 3 million of revenue Small Business Relief treats you as having no taxable income, and it now runs to periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. That is the provision most independent consultants will actually use, and it is elected inside the return rather than applied automatically.
Best free zone for consultants
Ajman Media City starts lowest in our range at AED 4,499 and is the only one publishing renewal prices. Cheapest on setup and cheapest over three years are not always the same zone, which is why the renewal column matters.
No, and it changes the answer. A zero-visa licence is materially cheaper, and some zones sell a licence explicitly without visa allocation for exactly this case.
It is the constraint to check rather than assume. Free zone companies trade inside the zone and internationally; invoicing mainland clients directly is where the limit sits. Tell us who your clients are and we will tell you whether it is a problem for your case.
Sometimes, and it is the wrong comparison. They buy different things, and the permit is restricted to media, education and technology work. Compare on what you need rather than on the headline number.
Then ask about visa quota now. Most zones tie it to the facility you take, so the cheap package that suits you alone can force a premises upgrade at your second hire. SPC does not cap visas per licence, which is the difference worth paying for if growth is the plan. We price either shape on the packages page.
Prices last reviewed 29 August 2026. SPC's published position was checked at spcfz.ae. Our figures are indicative and confirmed in writing before filing.
