Cheapest free zone in the UAE: ten compared on price.
The cheapest free zone depends on whether you need a visa. We compare ten free zones we work with, using our own package prices, and show what else to check before you decide.
Free zone prices at a glance
These are Algomeda package price bands in AED for a licence with no visa and with one visa, as of November 2026. Your final quote depends on your business activity, office needs and the number of visas, and prices can change.
| Price band | Free zones | Licence, no visa | Licence + 1 visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost | Ajman NuVentures, Ajman Free Zone, SRTIP, Sharjah Publishing City, RAKEZ | From AED 4,499 | From AED 10,800 |
| Mid range | Sharjah Media City, Hamriyah, Umm Al Quwain FTZ | From AED 6,870 | From AED 8,000 |
| Dubai | Meydan Free Zone, IFZA | From AED 12,500 | From AED 16,900 |
Algomeda package price bands in AED, November 2026. Exact prices depend on your activity, office and visas. Ask for an itemised quote.
Cheapest with no visa
If you only need the licence, for example to hold a business or invoice clients from outside the UAE, Ajman NuVentures is the lowest of the ten at AED 4,499. The other Ajman and Sharjah free zones follow close behind.
Cheapest with one visa
Once you need a residence visa, the order changes. Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone comes out lowest at AED 8,000 for a licence with one visa. Ajman NuVentures, RAKEZ and Ajman Free Zone are next in line.
UAQ FTZ also shows the limit of comparing on price: its licence-only and one-visa packages cost the same, so it suits founders who want the visa, not those who only want a licence.
Why Dubai free zones cost more
Meydan and IFZA are in Dubai, which many founders prefer for the address and the market. Their licences cost roughly two to three times the lowest northern emirates packages. If you do not need a Dubai licence address, a northern emirate free zone can save you thousands of dirhams in year one.
What to check before you choose on price
- Your business activity. Each free zone allows a set list of activities, and the licence must match what you will actually do.
- Where your customers are. Free zone companies generally cannot trade directly with the UAE mainland market without an extra arrangement, so check this if you sell locally.
- Banking. Banks assess the company, the activity and the owners, not the price of the licence. Approval is always the bank's decision.
- Visas and office. The number of visas, and whether you need a physical office or a flexi desk, changes the total.
- Yearly renewal. The first year price is not the whole cost. Ask what renewal and visa renewals will cost.
How to get the right quote
Tell us your activity, how many partners and how many visas you need. We compare the free zones that fit and send an itemised quote that shows government fees separately from our fees, usually within one working day.
Your questions, answered.
Which is the cheapest free zone in the UAE?
With no visa, Ajman NuVentures (ANCFZ) is the lowest of the ten free zones we compare, from AED 4,499. With one visa, Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone is the lowest, from AED 8,000. Final prices depend on your activity and needs.
Is the cheapest free zone the best choice?
Not always. The right free zone matches your activity, your customers and your banking needs. A slightly higher licence cost can be worth it if it avoids problems later.
What is the cheapest free zone in Dubai?
Of the Dubai free zones we compare, Meydan Free Zone is the lowest for a licence with no visa, and IFZA is slightly lower with one visa. Northern emirate free zones cost less, but they are not in Dubai.
Do these prices include the visa?
The table shows two packages for each band: a licence with no visa, and a licence with one visa. Extra visas cost more, and the quote shows each item.
Can I open a bank account with a cheap free zone licence?
Possibly, but approval depends on the bank's review of your company, activity and owners, not on which free zone you chose. We prepare the application, and the bank decides.
Are government fees included?
Our package prices cover the licence and visa packages as quoted. Your itemised quote shows what is included and any government fee shown separately.
Want the exact price for your business?
A 15-minute intake call. We compare the free zones that fit and send an itemised quote.