There are more than forty free zones in the UAE and they are not interchangeable. They differ on price, on how many visas a licence carries, on whether banks are comfortable with them, and on what happens the day you want to sell to a customer on the mainland.
These guides include the part a zone's own website will never carry: where it is the wrong choice, and which zone beats it for your situation. If you want the five we are asked about most, side by side, that is the free zone comparison.
What a residence visa costs in each UAE free zone, from the zones' own published prices: Ajman Media City, SPC, Meydan, RAKEZ, SHAMS and GoFreelance.
Three things actually differ between zones for a one-person business: visa caps, whether renewal is published, and your activity. Plus permit versus company.
For online sellers the answer turns on where your buyers are and whether you hold stock. Which zone fits which case, and the activity trap that costs an amendment.
Free zone company disadvantages in Dubai explained. Mainland limits, visa caps, banking issues, and corporate tax impact in 2026.
Discover Ajman Free Zone license requirements, required documents, visa eligibility, office space rules, and approval process for company formation in the UAE.
Inside Dubai, Meydan publishes the lowest entry price: AED 12,500 a year. DMCC's basic package is AED 35,484; IFZA publishes none. Outside Dubai from AED 4,999.
