Dubai free zone company setup
100% foreign ownership, 3-7 day trade-licence issuance and itemised pricing from AED 5,750. The right path for online, consulting, agency and trading businesses serving customers outside the UAE local market. Fully digital, no sales calls, no hidden fees.
Indicative figures. Government fees change periodically, and your real-time quote in the portal always reflects current rates.
What is a free zone company?
A UAE free zone company is a limited-liability entity incorporated inside a designated economic zone. Each free zone is its own licensing authority, with its own register, rules and price list, independent of the mainland Department of Economic Development.
100% foreign ownership. No local sponsor, no service agent, no nominee. Profits and capital fully repatriable.
Qualifying Free Zone Persons may benefit from 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, subject to conditions. Other income can be taxable. Confirm your treatment and filing obligations with a qualified tax adviser.
Best for selling outside the UAE or B2B inside the UAE. For UAE retail or storefronts you will usually want a mainland licence.
Is a free zone right for you?
Free zones suit most founders we work with, but not all. Use this quick filter before committing.
- - Sell SaaS, consulting, agency, content or e-commerce to clients outside the UAE
- - Invoice UAE businesses B2B (most activities are fine)
- - Want the cheapest path to a licence + investor visa
- - Plan to work remotely or from a coworking space
- - Need fast turnaround (3-7 working days)
- - Run a retail shop, restaurant or clinic with UAE walk-in customers
- - Import and sell physical goods into the UAE local market
- - Want unrestricted hiring across all emirates from day one
Quick comparison
The simplest way to choose: where do your customers physically buy from you?
| Free zone | Mainland | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% on most activities |
| UAE retail / storefront | No | Yes |
| Trade with UAE B2B | Yes (services & most goods via distributor) | Yes, unrestricted |
| Starting cost | From AED 5,750 | From AED 12,500 |
| Setup speed | 3-7 days | Authority dependent |
How free zone setup works with Yallabase
The same Estimate → Configure → Launch flow you see on the homepage, applied to your incorporation.
- 1. Choose activity
Select your intended business activities. Compare eligible free zones for your activity mix.
- 2. Configure structure
Add shareholders, visas and office package. Cost updates in real time, with applicable licence, registration, workspace and visa costs clearly itemised.
- 3. Upload & e-sign documents
Passport copies, photo and a short KYC. Everything signed in-portal. No couriers, no notaries for standard setups.
- 4. Licence issued in 3-7 days
Trade licence, MOA and certificate of incorporation delivered to your portal. Establishment card follows for visa applications.
- 5. Visas & Emirates ID
Coordinate your entry permit, medical test, biometrics and residence permit. See visa services.
- 6. Bank introduction
Curated introductions to traditional banks and digital alternatives based on your activity, residency and projected volume.
What does a Dubai free zone company actually cost?
Year-one cost depends on three things: the free zone, your visa count, and the activities on your licence. Everything below is indicative, and your real-time quote is itemised to the dirham.
Year-one starter
- - Eligible single-shareholder licence, 1 activity
- - Zero-visa package
- - Applicable licence and registration costs itemised
- - E-signed MOA, share certificates and trade licence
AED 14,000 - 22,000
- - Licence + establishment card
- - 1 investor/employment visa (medical, EID, stamping)
- - Flexi-desk where required by the free zone
- - Bank introduction included
No sales call. No mystery quote.
Pick your activity, shareholders and visa count in the Yallabase cost estimator. Your full year-one breakdown appears instantly, with applicable licence, registration, workspace and visa costs clearly listed. Fully automated, no manual human quotes, no callback queue. Live chat is there when you want to talk to a real person.
Recurring costs - the honest version
Plan for licence renewal, workspace renewal where applicable, and visa renewal at the end of its validity period. Renewal costs depend on the authority and package. Corporate tax registration and filing obligations can apply even when no tax is payable. Confirm deadlines with the Federal Tax Authority or a qualified tax adviser.
Common questions about free zone setup
How much does it cost to set up a free zone company in Dubai?
Eligible free zone setups start from as low as AED 5,750 for a single-shareholder, zero-visa configuration. This is an indicative starting amount, not a price for a named free zone. Your account shows the current itemised setup cost. Add visas, extra activities or a flexi-desk and the estimator updates the total in real time.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a UAE free zone company?
Yes. All UAE free zones allow 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor or service agent. Profits and capital are fully repatriable.
How long does free zone company setup take?
Trade licence issuance is typically 3-7 working days from the moment your documents are uploaded and e-signed in the Yallabase portal. Establishment card and visa stamping add another 1-3 weeks per applicant.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up a free zone company?
Most free zone incorporation can be completed online from abroad. You must visit the UAE for residence visa medical tests, Emirates ID biometrics and bank account opening. Bank accounts cannot be opened remotely; visit requirements and timing should be confirmed before travel.
Can a free zone company invoice clients inside the UAE?
Yes for B2B services and digital products. Most free zone companies invoice UAE clients without issue. For physical goods sold inside the UAE or any retail/storefront presence, a mainland licence or a local distributor is usually the right structure.
Do free zone companies pay corporate tax?
Qualifying Free Zone Persons may benefit from 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, subject to conditions. Other income can be taxable. Free zone status alone does not guarantee exemption; confirm your treatment and obligations with a qualified tax adviser.
How many visas can I get with a free zone licence?
Visa availability must be confirmed for your selected setup under the current authority rules. Tell us how many applicants you need before choosing a package; do not rely on published quota ranges or office-size formulas.
Can I open a UAE bank account with a free zone company?
Yes. We make introductions to traditional banks (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, WIO, ADCB) and digital alternatives. Approval depends on your activity, residency and business plan, and we will tell you upfront which routes are realistic for your profile.
Ready to see your number?
The estimator turns activity, shareholders and visas into a full itemised year-one quote in seconds. No callback, no sales pitch, no commitment. When you would rather talk it through, live chat is one click away.
Yallabase helps you manage company setup digitally. Your account shows an itemised quote for your selected setup. Suggested further reading: setup pricing and residence visas. External references: U.A.E. Ministry of Economy (moec.gov.ae), Federal Tax Authority (tax.gov.ae), Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (det.gov.ae).