Jurisdictions
UAE free zones and emirates compared
A UAE jurisdiction is the authority that licenses your company: an emirate’s economic department for the mainland, or a free zone authority such as DMCC, IFZA or ADGM. Each has its own activities, premises, visa rules and costs. Use these guides to shortlist two or three, then compare real quotes.
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Compare the main options
Mainland vs free zone
Mainland or free zone? Compare market access, ownership, premises, visas, tax and government work, then see which structure fits your UAE business. Read now.
CompareIFZA vs Meydan
IFZA or Meydan Free Zone? Compare location, application route, licences, premises, remote setup and visas, then pick the zone that fits. Read now.
CompareDMCC vs Dubai South
DMCC or Dubai South? Compare location, sectors, premises, structures and who each suits, from commodity traders to logistics and aviation firms. Read the guide.
CompareFree zones
Free zone guides by emirate
Dubai
IFZA
Consultants and professional-service firms; holding a Dubai licence for international clients.
Read the guideMeydan Free Zone
Founders setting up from outside the UAE; consultancies, agencies and online businesses.
Read the guideDMCC
Commodity traders, especially gold, diamonds, tea and coffee; holding companies, SPVs and family offices.
Read the guideDIFC
Banks, brokers, asset and wealth managers; family offices and international holding structures.
Read the guideJAFZA
Importers, re-exporters and regional distributors; logistics and freight companies.
Read the guideDubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ)
Companies shipping goods by air; aviation and aerospace service providers.
Read the guideDubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)
Technology, software and hardware companies; start-ups wanting an innovation community.
Read the guideSharjah
Sharjah Media City (Shams)
Content creators, influencers and freelancers; small media, marketing and design agencies.
Read the guideSharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC)
Publishers, printers and book distributors; founders wanting a fast, digital setup.
Read the guideRas Al Khaimah
Ajman
Umm Al Quwain
Abu Dhabi
Emirates
Setting up outside Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)
Emirate guideSharjah
Economic Development Department – Sharjah (SEDD)
Emirate guideAjman
Department of Economic Development – Ajman
Emirate guideRas Al Khaimah
RAKEZ – free zone and non-free zone licences
Emirate guideUmm Al Quwain
Umm Al Quwain Department of Economic Development
Emirate guideFujairah
Fujairah Municipality (per the UAE government list)
Emirate guideFrequently asked
Choosing a UAE jurisdiction
How many free zones are there in the UAE?
The UAE has dozens of free zones across its seven emirates, each with its own authority, activity list and premises. Dubai has the largest number. This guide covers the zones EHMC is most often asked about.
What is the difference between a free zone and the mainland?
A mainland company is licensed by the emirate’s economic department and can trade anywhere in the UAE. A free zone company is licensed by a zone authority and trades inside the zone and internationally.
Which emirate is best for company setup?
It depends on your customers, team and budget. Dubai offers the widest choice, Abu Dhabi suits finance and industry, and the northern emirates often have lower premises costs.
Official sources
Check the rules and our licence yourself on these government sites:
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