Ranking
The UAE free zones compared
Every UAE free zone where we set up companies, side by side: the emirate, the set-up time, the required office and the visas, as our zone profiles record them.
Published on 2 November 2026 · Jason Pivron, director
20 zones compared
| Free zone | Emirate | Set-up time | Office | Visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA | Dubai | 24 to 48 hours | Flexi-desk accepted | Depends on the package |
| DMCC | Dubai | 5 to 10 business days | Virtual office, flexi-desk or dedicated office | Up to 6 on a flexi-desk, uncapped with an office |
| JAFZA | Dubai | 5 to 7 business days | Physical office mandatory | 5 visas as standard, extendable |
| DIFC | Dubai | 4 to 6 weeks | Physical office mandatory for regulated entities | Up to 4 on a flexi-desk, otherwise by floor area |
| ADGM | Abu Dhabi | 3 to 6 weeks | Physical address mandatory for most entities | By floor area and entity type |
| RAK ICC | Ras Al Khaimah | 3 to 5 business days | No office | No visa, no residence |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | 3 to 5 business days | Flexi-desk accepted | 3 as standard, extendable beyond 50 |
| RAK DAO | Ras Al Khaimah | 2 to 4 weeks | Depends on the activity | Depends on the package |
| SHAMS | Sharjah | 1 to 2 weeks | Virtual office accepted | Optional depending on the package |
| SAIF Zone | Sharjah | 2 to 3 weeks | Office or warehouse depending on the activity | By floor area leased |
| Hamriyah | Sharjah | 3 to 4 weeks | Land, warehouse or office | By floor area leased |
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | 1 to 2 weeks | Virtual office or flexi-desk | Depends on the package |
| UAQ FTZ | Umm Al Quwain | 1 to 2 weeks | Flexi-desk | Depends on the package |
| DAFZA | Dubai | 2 to 4 weeks | Office mandatory | By floor area leased |
| DWC | Dubai | 2 to 4 weeks | Office or warehouse | By floor area leased |
| DWTC | Dubai | 3 to 5 weeks | Office depending on the formula | By floor area |
| Dubai Internet City | Dubai | 2 to 4 weeks | Office or dedicated desk | By floor area leased |
| Dubai Knowledge Park | Dubai | 2 to 3 weeks | Office, dedicated or shared desk | 1 visa per 80 square feet leased |
| DTEC | Dubai | 1 to 3 weeks | Desk in a shared space | Depends on the package |
| DED · mainland | Dubai | 2 to 5 weeks | Registered commercial lease mandatory | By floor area leased |
Our catalogue, recorded on 21 September 2026; to be checked with each zone.
The zone decides everything
The permitted activity, the required office, the number of visas and how banks receive you change from one zone to another. Choosing the wrong zone forces a full rebuild: the choice is made before the licence, not after.
The mainland (DED) is not a free zone: it is compared here because it answers the same question, where to set up the company in the UAE.