Freezone Setup · UAE

A freezone is a decision, not a destination.

The UAE has over 40 freezones. Every one of them has a sales team. Most founders pick based on the package price or the logo they recognise. That works until year two, when the activity restrictions, the visa quota, or the auditing requirements start to bite. We pick freezones the way accountants do: by reading the small print first.

Compare freezones Book a 20-minute call
40+ freezones, screened independently
0% tax — if you qualify as a QFZP
7 emirates, one point of contact

What a freezone gives you

100% foreign ownership

Standard across all UAE freezones. Mainland now offers this too for most activities, so freezones no longer hold a monopoly here.

0% corporate tax — if you qualify

The UAE's 9% federal corporate tax applies to mainland and non-qualifying freezone income. To stay at 0%, you must meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) tests. Fail any one, and the 9% applies. We screen for it.

No personal income tax

Unchanged.

Full capital and profit repatriation

Unchanged.

And — newly, since 2025

Customs duty exemption

Inside the freezone, for imports not entering the mainland.

Mainland trading rights

Since Cabinet Resolution No. 11 of 2025, freezone companies can operate on the mainland under a DET branch licence (AED 10,000/year) or temporary permit (AED 5,000 for up to 6 months).

March 2026 compliance deadline

Companies already trading informally on the mainland must regularise by then. We handle the branch licence filing.

Independent recommendation

We do not take commissions from any freezone. The recommendation is what fits your activity, not what pays us.

Which freezone for which business — Dubai

JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) — heavy logistics, trading, industrial. Port-adjacent. Older, serious, higher minimum capital. Not a starter freezone.

DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) — commodities, gold, crypto, general trading. Flagship reputation, stronger banking relationships, higher cost.

IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) — consulting, services, holding. Low-cost, flexible activities, popular with solo founders.

Meydan Free Zone — media, marketing, e-commerce, consulting. Digital-first application, fast issuance.

DIFC & ADGM — financial services, fund management, fintech. Common-law jurisdictions (English law based). Separate regulator, separate cost bracket.

Which freezone — Northern Emirates

RAK ICC / RAK Free Zone — offshore holding (ICC) and onshore trading (Free Zone). Low cost, strong for holding structures.

Ajman Free Zone — small-to-mid businesses, industrial, budget-conscious. Strong package pricing, less international recognition.

Sharjah Media City (Shams) / SPC Free Zone — low-cost creative and professional, rapid issuance, cross-mainland flexibility.

We do not take commissions from any freezone. Our recommendation is independent.

The compliance calendar nobody tells you about

  1. Annual licence renewal. Typically 30 days before expiry.
  2. Office lease renewal. Aligned with the licence in most freezones.
  3. Audited financial statements. Mandatory for QFZP status. Due annually, usually within 9 months of year-end.
  4. Corporate Tax registration. Mandatory for all UAE entities, freezone included, regardless of 0% status.
  5. UBO filing. Annual Ultimate Beneficial Owner declaration, with any change reported within 15 days.
  6. Economic Substance Report. If applicable to your activity.
  7. VAT filing. Quarterly or monthly if registered (threshold AED 375,000 taxable supplies).

Miss any of these and the fines add up faster than the initial savings. This is the boring part of PRO work. It is also the reason clients stay with us.

Pick the freezone that fits.

First call is free. Bring your activity, your client mix, and your five-year plan. Leave with a written comparison of two or three freezones that actually fit — and the ones that don't, with reasons.

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Freezone — frequently asked

Can my freezone company invoice clients in the UAE mainland?
Directly, no — unless you hold the DET branch licence or temporary permit introduced under Resolution No. 11 of 2025. You can invoice internationally and to other freezone companies without restriction. Mainland sales through a distributor are possible.
What's the cheapest freezone in the UAE?
Ajman Free Zone, SPC Free Zone, and Meydan run the most competitive entry packages (roughly AED 12,500–15,000 for licence + flexi-desk + 1 visa). Cheap on day one is not always cheap at year five. We map the total five-year cost before recommending.
Do I need to rent a physical office?
No. A flexi-desk or virtual office is accepted in most freezones for small teams. Visa quota usually scales with office size — a flexi-desk typically supports 1–3 visas, a 20 sqm office 4–6, and so on.
What happens if I don't qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person?
You remain a freezone company for legal and ownership purposes but pay the 9% federal corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000, the same as a mainland company. The business does not shut down. The tax bill simply arrives.
Can I move my company from one freezone to another?
Yes, but it is effectively a liquidation and re-incorporation in most cases, not a transfer. We only recommend it when the tax or activity benefit clearly outweighs the cost.
Does my freezone visa let me work anywhere in the UAE?
It lets you reside anywhere. It permits employment only with the sponsoring freezone company. Working for a mainland company requires transferring the visa or obtaining a secondment permit.

About Golden Wasl

Who is Golden Wasl?
A UAE PRO firm with two decades of experience in government relations — handling business setup, freezone licensing, and Golden Visa applications across all seven emirates. Bilingual in Arabic and English. Direct working relationships with Immigration, the Ministry of Labour, and multiple embassies.
What does Wasl mean?
Wasl (وصل) is Arabic for link or connection. It is also the historical name of the area that became Dubai. The name reflects our role: the connection between you and the authorities — not a layer of middlemen, a direct line.
Do you work with clients outside Dubai?
Yes. We work across the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. One point of contact for all seven emirates.
How do you charge?
Fixed quotes per engagement, issued in writing before any work begins. Government fees are paid at cost with receipts attached. We do not take referral commissions from freezones, banks, or insurance brokers.
What's the first step?
A 20-minute scoping call. No charge, no obligation. You leave with a written comparison of your realistic options.