List of Free Zones in UAE (Guide 2025)

Robin Philip
February 5, 2025

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The stable economy of the United Arab Emirates, combined with its noteworthy infrastructural development in recent years has led businesses and investors to select the territory among the most prime economic sites globally. A company formation option exists within three categories: Mainland, Free Zone, and Offshore. The List of Free Zones in UAE offers suitable locations that depend on your business operation type, funding source, and preferred activities.

What is Free Zones in UAE?

The UAE operates free zones as free trade zones throughout which taxes and customs fees disappear to support effortless trade operations. The business zones serve as strategic guides for trade operations through which business owners maintain direct custodianship of their entire company holdings (100 percent ownership).

Free Zone Advantages for Foreign Investors

The United Arab Emirates is home to 46 free zones in total :

List of free zones in Dubai

Foreign investors and expatriates can choose from more than 46 different free zones. These areas are renowned for their specialized services and effective infrastructure and provide complete company ownership. By streamlining workflows, they save businesses time and effort.

The 28 free trading zones in Dubai are listed out of the 46 totals. With their alluring incentives and encouraging business climate, these free zones in Dubai present a multitude of prospects for businesses in a variety of sectors.

List of Free Zones in Abu Dhabi

Here is a list of Free Zones in Abu Dhabi:

In Abu Dhabi, these free economic zones serve as business development tools that provide advantages to draw entrepreneurs who wish to grow their operations in the area. The different free zones specialize in particular industries and deliver beneficial conditions to support investors and entrepreneurs in building their businesses.

List of Free Zones in Sharjah

Sharjah’s free zones offer entrepreneurs multiple benefits, including full foreign ownership rights, tax exemption privileges, and modern infrastructure. Through their diverse industry coverage, these free zones contribute to economic expansion and bring both domestic and international investors to Sharjah.

List of Free Zones in Ajman

Companies that want to establish offices in the area find numerous advantages through Ajman-free zones. Free zones in Ajman establish a conducive environment and speedier processes alongside attractive benefits of UAE Free Zone Company to drive investment while expanding Ajman’s economy.

List of Free Zones in Fujairah

Free zone initiatives in Fujairah establish corporate-friendly operational conditions, including full foreign company control together with tax incentives alongside up-to-date infrastructure facilities. These zones serve multiple industries while drawing worldwide investors through beneficial terms of operation in Fujairah.

List of Free Zones in Ras Al Khaimah

Business entities located in Ras Al Khaimah’s free economic zones benefit from simplified operational procedures and tax advantages alongside contemporary urban development features. The free zones of Ras Al Khaimah welcome businesses and investors from native and global markets across industries, thus helping the region reach new levels of economic advancement.

List of Free Zones in Umm Al Quwain

UAQFTZ, or Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone is known as the dedicated free zone of Umm Al Quwain. This free zone organization focuses its mission on supporting small business and start-up expansion and growth. The free zone helps new businesses start through advantageous facilities along with relevant incentives.

Affordable Free Zones in UAE

1. RAKEZ-Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone

RAKEZ provides entrepreneurs with cost-effective advantages because it resides near RAK airport and seaport. The SME packages starting at AED 5999 give RAKEZ clients flexible warehousing solutions to select from the entity structure to enable business operation across commercial, service, industrial, media, educational, and professional sectors.

2. SHAMS - Sharjah Media City Free Zone

SHAMS, centered around media operations, functions as the fastest-growing media-free zone in the UAE. One can get a business license in SHAMS from 5750 AED. This license serves six business activities, including trading, media, social media influencing, holding, service, and consultancy.

3. SRTIP - Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park

Through SRTIP, the UAE works to achieve its 10-year master plan objectives through renewable energy sector and water management leadership positions and environmental technology innovation adoption. Businesses in the commercial, professional, and industrial sectors can get trade licenses starting from AED 5500.

4. AMC - Ajman Media City

The fast company start-up process at AMC promotes the city as a growing center for businesses worldwide, especially those focused on media and entertainment. AMC provides trade licenses starting at AED 5555 to support service-oriented and consultancy firms along with media training ventures and e-commerce companies.

5. IFZA - International Free Zone Authority, Dubai

IFZA operates as a competitive free trade zone inside Dubai’s Silicon Oasis district. Business setup packages at IFZA start from AED 12,900 while allowing three different professional or commercial activities under a single license. Businesses can access affordable costs and convenient operations within one of the most economical free zones in the UAE.

A&A Associate assists in forming your Free Zone business enterprise

A&A Associate provides leadership assistance to Free Zone Business Setup in UAE. When you seek to find out about the numerous business advantages of operating within UAE-free zones, you turn to business consultants for proper assistance. This is where the A&A Associate comes in. Our company has over thirteen years of experience. we provide all-round start-up assistance to numerous business professionals across the UAE.

Over the years, the UAE government has introduced several reforms and implemented crucial decisions that simplify the exploration of commercial business. Through business consultancy services as offered by A&A Associate, our consultants assist businesses with comprehensive support.

You will receive continuous assistance throughout every stage of the Business setup from our qualified team of advisors. Our team assists with several aspects of business development, ranging from business registration costs to providing necessary guidance to procuring trade license and even obtaining necessary governmental approvals. Our team will simplify complex processes to allow your business to focus on expansion purposes.

Call us at +971 50 483 6190 . You can also email us at info@aaconsultancy.ae for support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do free zones in the UAE offer office space and facilities?

Free zones across the UAE deliver different types of facilities including individual offices and private workplaces and shared working areas alongside professional meeting spaces.

What types of businesses can operate in a UAE free zone?

Businesses of various types are allowed to establish operations in UAE free zones subject to distinct free zone regulatory provisions which specify eligible activities such as trading and manufacturing and consulting and tech startups and others within each free zone jurisdiction.

Can a free zone company do business outside the UAE?

A free zone company has capabilities to operate internationally but usually must follow local reporting requirements to access certain UAE market activities.

Can a foreign national own 100% of a business in a UAE free zone?

Foreign nationals have full ownership rights to start businesses inside any free zone area of the UAE since these economic areas actively welcome international participation as investors.

How long does it take to set up a business in a UAE free zone?

The time needed to establish businesses inside UAE free zones extends from three days up to several weeks according to free zone rules and active business type and documentation needs.

How many free zones are there in the UAE?

There are 46 free zones in the UAE. Dubai has a maximum of twenty-eight, followed by Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

What is a free zone in the UAE?

A free zone in Dubai operates as an independent economic area under different institutional frameworks than business sectors. The boundary of free zones allows businesses to trade items and deliver services while benefiting from not only specific charge privileges but also unique ownership regulations.