Soufiane
100% foreign ownership. Your free zone licence, visas and bank account, handled by one advisor.
Free zone, mainland or offshore?
See how a UAE free zone company compares before you speak to an advisor.
Share your details and an advisor will contact you within one business day.
Mainland and free zone, side by side, with the exact structure you'd actually be quoted.
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Estimate, mid-tier zone
| Licence | AED 13,000 |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000 |
| Flexi-desk / office | AED 0 |
| Visas (0) | AED 0 |
Based on your quoted 2026 schedule
| Name + initial approval + MOA | AED 2,800 |
| Licence fee | AED 13,700 |
| Ejari (virtual) | AED 5,500 |
| Establishment card | AED 750 |
| Service fee | AED 4,000 |
| Investor visas (0) | AED 0 |
| Employment visas (0) | AED 0 |
Free zone figures are a market estimate, not a quote. Mainland figures follow IncHub's quoted 2026 fee schedule.
Not sure which free zone is right for your activity? Talk it through with an advisor, no obligation.
Book a free call
DIFC
ICAEW
Federal Tax Authority
goAML
ADGM
ISO Certified
CAMSMost consultants stop once the free zone licence is issued. IncHub takes you from choosing the right zone to a fully compliant, bank-ready company, across 40+ UAE free zones.
Authorised in DIFC, ADGM and DMCC. Fewer than 60 firms in the UAE hold all three.
Corporate advisory and financial services work as one firm, so your licence, bank account and tax registration sit with one team.
CAMS certified, FTA registered, ISO 9001 accredited and ICAEW chartered accountants on the team.
Clients from India, Singapore, the UK, Europe and East Africa. We understand cross-border structuring, not just UAE paperwork.
Most firms stop at formation. We take you through to a compliant company that is ready to open its bank account and trade.
We track your licence and visa renewal dates and remind you well in advance, so nothing expires by surprise.
Free zones are the fastest, most flexible way to start a business in the UAE, especially for consultants, e-commerce, tech and international trading.
No local shareholder or sponsor required in any free zone.
Available to Qualifying Free Zone Persons that meet conditions. Other income is taxed at 9%.
Industry-focused zones: DMCC, IFZA, JAFZA, DIFC and ADGM, each with unique advantages.
Start with a flexi-desk and expand to a dedicated office or warehouse as you grow.
A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% corporate tax on qualifying income. Check your eligibility with an advisor.
Assumes all profit is qualifying income under the QFZP regime.
Corporate tax
Home country (30%)
AED 300,000
UAE Free Zone (QFZP) 0%
AED 0
Saves AED 300,000/yr
Personal income tax
Home country (40%)
AED 400,000
UAE 0%
AED 0
Saves AED 400,000/yr
Want the exact numbers for your situation?
An advisor can walk through your actual profit and jurisdiction before you decide.
Most problems with free zone company setup come from choosing the wrong zone, package or licence before checking requirements.
You picked the wrong free zone for your activity, and now need a second licence.
We compare free zones on your activity, visa needs and budget, so your licence fits from day one.
You've paid for the licence but still have no bank account.
We prepare your compliance file and match you with the right bank before you apply.
A “cheap free zone package” becomes AED 18,000 by renewal time.
You see the full first-year cost, including licence, visas and establishment card, before you sign.
Your free zone can't sell directly to the mainland clients you planned to serve.
We check where your customers are first, and plan a distributor, dual licence or mainland branch if needed.
You assumed 0% tax, but your company doesn't meet the QFZP conditions.
We review the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions and register you for corporate tax.
Your flexi-desk package can't sponsor the team you plan to hire.
We confirm your visa quota and office type before you choose a package.
Formation usually takes 10–15 business days once your documents are submitted. We manage every step until your company is licensed and ready.
We match your activity, visa needs and budget to the right free zone, licence type and company type (FZE or FZ-LLC).
Day 1We prepare and submit your application, with name options, shareholder details, activities and KYC documents.
Name: 1–2 business daysYou sign the MOA and the authority issues your trade licence and certificate of incorporation.
Licence: 2–10 business daysEstablishment card, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping, all coordinated for you.
Establishment card: 1–3 daysWe introduce you to suitable banks and register your company for corporate tax with the FTA.
Bank: usually 4–6 weeksTypically 8–14 weeks from licence to an active bank account.
Each business structure serves a different commercial purpose. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right option before setting up a company in a UAE free zone.
| Feature | UAE Free Zone | Mainland | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Ownership | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Legal Entity | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Physical Office | Flexible (zone dependent) | Usually required | Generally not required |
| International Trading | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Manufacturing | Available in selected zones | Yes | No |
| Import & Export | Excellent | Excellent | Limited |
| UAE Government Contracts | Limited in many cases | Yes | No |
| Residency Visa Eligibility | Yes | Yes | No |
| Corporate Bank Account | Yes | Yes | Subject to bank approval |
| Best For | International business, startups, SMEs | Businesses serving the UAE market | Holding assets and international ownership |
Typical first-year ranges for free zone company setup. There is no fixed fee: your cost depends on the zone, licence, visas and office.
| Cost element | Typical range | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence | AED 10k – 20k | Free zone, licence category and number of activities |
| Office requirement | Flexi-desk available | Zone and package; office type also sets your visa quota |
| Visa costs | AED 3.5k – 7k per visa | Visa type and immigration fees |
| Registration fees | AED 5k – 10k | Shareholder structure and any regulatory approvals |
| Total setup cost | AED 15k – 45k | First year, depending on zone and visas |
Indicative 2026 ranges, not a quote. Annual renewals apply. We confirm your exact Dubai free zone licence cost before you commit.
Clients on choosing the right free zone, getting licensed and starting to trade.
Soufiane
Momen Omar
Mohammed Yahfoufi
"Mahesh and the Team at Inchub provide valuable knowledge and insights which allows us to navigate managing a company in Dubai."
"What we value most is their attention to both small and big details. They are always available, they answer quickly."
"The team is very knowledgeable and the communication and customer service was excellent."
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. An advisor will recommend the right free zone and licence, give you the full first-year cost and map out the steps, with no obligation.
Typical first-year costs range from AED 15k to AED 45k, depending on the free zone, licence type, number of activities, visas and office. There is no fixed fee, so we confirm your exact cost before you commit.
Usually 10–15 business days after your documents are submitted. Activities that need third-party approvals can take longer, and opening a bank account typically takes a few more weeks.
Yes. Free zone companies allow 100% foreign ownership, with no local sponsor or shareholder.
Usually a passport copy, proof of address, shareholder details, your business activity and proposed company names. Some zones and activities ask for more, and we send you the exact checklist.
It depends on your industry, where your customers are, your visa needs and your expansion plans. DMCC suits trading and professional services, IFZA suits startups and consultants, and JAFZA suits logistics and manufacturing.
It depends on the zone and package. Flexi-desk and virtual options are common for startups and consultants, but your office type also sets how many visas you can get.