UAE free zones

Umm Al Quwain Free Zone is an ideal choice for start-ups or businesses venturing into the UAE market for the first time. Despite being a lesser-known emirate, Umm Al Quwain, nestled between Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah, offers a rapidly developing and peaceful environment.

Just keep in mind that you can run the business regardless of the place of your company incorporation, since you don’t need to visit the Free Zone. It just remains the legal place of your company registration. The bank account will be opened in a Dubai branch of any bank of your choice.

Setting up a company in Umm Al Quwain is easy. You will only need to provide a few personal documents, including a copy of your passport, a photograph, and a utility bill.

RAKEZ, short for Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, is a prominent Free Zone formed through the merger of Rak Free Trade Zone and RAK Investment Authority. This consolidation has created a vast and well-known Zone, making it one of the most popular Free Zones in the UAE.

One of the standout features of RAKEZ is its availability of customizable warehouses and plots of industrial land for development. Additionally, there are options to build or rent existing staff and labor accommodations. Conveniently located in proximity to RAK airport and with a nearby sea port, RAKEZ offers excellent connectivity.

RAKEZ offers an extensive range of business activities, ensuring that you will find what you need for your venture. The company incorporation process begins with a mandatory security approval for all nationalities, which may take several days to a few weeks. Once the approval is obtained, the company can be registered in approximately a week.

Creative City Free Zone, located in the tranquil Emirate of Fujairah, offers several enticing benefits that make it a viable option for business setup, despite its remote location.

As its name suggests, Creative City is a hub for professional services companies. While it does not facilitate trading activities, it provides an impressive array of professional and consultancy business options. From media and consultancy to personal training and intellectual rights protection, the range of available activities is diverse and comprehensive.

One notable advantage of Creative City is the ability to register a company remotely. There is no need for a personal visit to the Free Zone, and in fact, we have not encountered any company owners who have made the journey themselves. The setup process can be completed within a week, streamlining the entire procedure.

Ajman Free Zone (AFZA) is a well-known free zone that offers unique features not found elsewhere. One of its most attractive offerings is the multiple installment payment plan for company registration. This means that you can register your company by paying only a portion of the government fees, with the option to choose from 2, 3, or 6 installments.

This flexibility is particularly beneficial for those seeking a low-budget startup, and AFZA is the only free zone that provides such a payment plan.

Ajman Media City, the newest UAE Free Zone, entered the market in 2018 with an offering that surpasses many other similar free zones. It boasts the cheapest zero visa package and provides up to 5 resident visas with a small dedicated office space of 12 square meters. Additionally, it allows for multiple business activities to be included in the license.

Upon company registration, Ajman Media City provides a comprehensive set of corporate documents, streamlining the process of opening a Dubai bank account. In addition to the traditional license, Certificate of Incorporation (COI), Memorandum of Association (MoA), and lease agreement, they also issue an incumbency certificate, salary certificate, and shares certificate.

This Free Zone is not limited to media activities alone but also offers opportunities for trading, legal services, marketing, as well as head office and holding company categories. Each license can accommodate up to 5 business activities, with the requirement that at least one of them be related to media or advertising.

KIZAD, which stands for Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, is a state-of-the-art Free Zone located in Abu Dhabi, adjacent to the highly developed Khalifa Port. It is currently the most affordable Free Zone option in Abu Dhabi. With a strong focus on trading, industrial, and logistic businesses, KIZAD offers an extensive list of activities. It provides attractive tax conditions for manufacturers producing goods within the Free Zone and re-shipping them to other countries.

Additionally, tax exemption on raw materials is available. KIZAD also caters to service activities such as management, marketing, freight forwarding support, and even travel agencies. It is an excellent choice for businesses seeking registration in Abu Dhabi or planning to establish manufacturing activities adjacent to a port.

IFZA, which stands for International Free Zone Authority, is a new Free Zone located in the Emirate of Fujairah. It offers a modern facility that combines shared desks, offices, conference rooms, hotels, warehouses, and residential apartments. IFZA boasts one of the most extensive activity lists, encompassing professional, industrial, and commercial activities. All licenses are registered as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs).

As the only environmentally friendly Free Zone in the UAE, IFZA prioritizes sustainability, utilizing solar and wind energy, reducing paper usage for document turnaround, and implementing building insulation measures.

SAIF, or Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, is located adjacent to Sharjah International Airport. Established in 1996, it currently hosts nearly 7,000 companies.

SAIF offers a wide range of facilities, including flexi-desks, offices, warehouses, and plots of land. Its extensive business activity list includes hard-to-find service activities like "Investment of own funds." The activities also permit storage and consolidation of products specified in your license, as well as manufacturing and assembly of your products.

SHAMS, or Sharjah Media City Free Zone, is situated in Sharjah, the closest Emirate to Dubai. While it is known as the Media Free Zone, it offers a broad range of business activities beyond the media sector, including trading, professional services, holding companies, and more. SHAMS allows individuals as young as 19 years old to own a business, a unique benefit not available in other Free Zones. Company employees can also be as young as 18 years old, which is relatively uncommon.

Hamriyah Free Zone, governed by the Emirate of Sharjah, is the second largest Free Zone in the UAE after JAFZA. It is home to numerous oil and gas and manufacturing companies and features its own sea port. Hamriyah offers flexibility in terms of visas, allowing companies to open a business with 0 up to 7 visas without the need for office rent. Its zero visa package is the most affordable option across the UAE. Company setup in Hamriyah Free Zone is completed within a single day, although the presence of the shareholder is mandatory.