Business Setup
Free Zone Company Formation Service
We form your free zone company from activity choice to Emirates ID: zones compared on published prices, documents, licence, visas, a bank introduction and corporate tax registration, with our fee fixed in writing before you pay.
- 7Government authorities we file with
- 0%Mark-up on government fees
- 24hUrgent processing available
- 200+Guides, updated as rules change
- 1Named officer on your file, start to finish
The government entities your application is processed through
We prepare and submit applications on your written authorisation. MIRDXB PRO is a private service provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official agent of any authority shown. Names and logos belong to their owners and are shown for identification only.
The short version
- Free zone company formation means licensing a company with a free zone authority instead of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. The zone issues the licence and sponsors your visas.
- We handle the whole file: activity and zone choice, name reservation, documents, e-signature and KYC, the licence, the establishment card, visas, Emirates ID, a bank introduction and corporate tax registration.
- Published zone prices start at AED 4,888 a year (ANCFZ, no visa) and AED 4,999 (SPC Free Zone). Packages with one visa start around AED 10,800 to 14,000. What each price includes differs, so compare totals, not headlines.
- The licence can be fully remote. The residence visa needs one trip for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.
- Our fee is quoted on WhatsApp, in writing, before you commit. Zone and government fees are passed on at cost with receipts.
In short: As of October 2026, forming a free zone company in the UAE takes four decisions (activity, zone, visas, shareholders) and one application filed through the zone's portal. Published packages on the zones we cover start at AED 4,888 a year, licences are issued in hours to about two weeks, and the visa adds a short trip. We prepare and submit the file for you.
This page is our service. If you are still comparing zones, our guide to all UAE free zones lists every zone and its costs, and our business setup service in Dubai covers mainland and offshore routes too. MIRDXB PRO is a private PRO and business setup services company in Al Barsha 1, Dubai. We are not a free zone authority, and we are not a partner or agent of any free zone: we prepare and submit applications on your behalf through each zone's own channels.
Which free zone should you pick? Start here (60 seconds)
These are the published starting prices on our own zone guides, each checked against the zone's website or written price list on the date shown. Starting prices are not like for like: some include VAT, a visa or the immigration card, others do not. Click through for the full fee list before you decide.
| Zone | Emirate | Published starting price | What that price covers | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANCFZ | Ajman | AED 4,888 a year (no visa); AED 10,800 with one visa | Prepaid package, up to 10 activities. Pay as you go: AED 5,000 per visa when you need it, plus a one-off AED 3,000 immigration setup | 22 Oct 2026 |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 4,999 (E-Publishing); AED 6,875 (standard) | Before visas, with a flexi desk and up to 5 activities. One investor visa adds AED 7,415 in year one by SPC's own breakdown | 11 Oct 2026 |
| SRTI Park | Sharjah | AED 5,500 (no visa); AED 7,000 with one visa quota | Plus 5% VAT and the AED 10 Sharjah Scientific and Knowledge Fee. All-Inclusive Visa package AED 13,990 with one visa | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Shams | Sharjah | AED 5,760 (Media); AED 6,885 (Standard) | First year, VAT included, no visa, flexi desk, up to 5 activities. About AED 12,810 with the owner's investor visa (Media) | 10 Oct 2026 |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 (no visa); AED 14,000 with one visa | Published packages on rakez.com; the AED 14,000 package includes one residence visa | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman | AED 11,000 a year, licence plus 1 visa | Current AFZ promotion (October 2026) for new companies: up to 3 activities, up to 2 shareholders, virtual lease, renewal also AED 11,000 | 15 Oct 2026 |
| DWTC | Dubai | AED 12,000 base licence fee | Professional, commercial, event management and e-commerce licences, up to 10 activities. Visas and workspace priced separately | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Meydan | Dubai | AED 12,500 (regular licence) | Flexi desk and three activity groups. Each visa allocation AED 1,850, up to six per licence | 10 Oct 2026 |
| IFZA | Dubai | Not published by IFZA | IFZA packages are priced by its partners. Ask for IFZA's own invoice lines before you pay | 26 Sep 2026 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis (Dtec) | Dubai | AED 18,000 a year | Dtec flexi desk with a service licence and eligibility for two visas | 26 Sep 2026 |
| DMCC | Dubai | AED 34,185 (Standard package) | VAT included, office extra (flexi desk from AED 16,800 a year). Minimum share capital AED 50,000 | 15 Oct 2026 |
Quick picks.
- Lowest licence-only price: ANCFZ (AED 4,888) and SPC Free Zone (AED 4,999).
- One visa inside one yearly price: ANCFZ (AED 10,800), Ajman Free Zone's current offer (AED 11,000), SRTI Park's All-Inclusive Visa package (AED 13,990) and RAKEZ (AED 14,000).
- A Dubai address and Dubai residence visas: Meydan, DWTC, IFZA or Dubai Silicon Oasis; DMCC if you want a premium JLT address and can budget for it. Visas in Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah zones are issued through ICP.
- Visas only when you hire: ANCFZ pay as you go.
- Need to sell on the Dubai mainland later? Read our Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit guide before you choose.
Comparing more zones? Our Dubai free zones list and Sharjah free zones guide cover the rest, and the business setup cost planner adds up a full first year.
What do we do, step by step?
We run the file from the first question to the Emirates ID, and we tell you at each step what the zone or the authority needs from you. The zone issues the licence and the government issues the visa; we prepare and submit everything on your written authorisation.
1. Activity selection
We match what you will actually do to the zone's activity list, check whether any activity needs an outside approval (media, health, education, virtual assets) and keep the number of activities inside the package limit.
2. Zone and package
We shortlist zones on your activity, visa count, office need and budget, and show you the zone's own invoice lines side by side.
3. Name reservation
We check your proposed trade names against the zone's naming rules and reserve the one that passes.
4. Documents
We give you the zone's checklist, review every passport, photo and corporate document before upload, and start any attestation early, because that is usually the slowest part.
5. E-signature and KYC
The zone sends the memorandum and articles for e-signature and runs an online identity check. We tell you what to expect so nothing is missed.
6. Licence
Once the zone's invoice is paid through its portal, we track approval and send you the e-licence, certificate of formation and lease or flexi-desk agreement.
7. Establishment card
The immigration establishment card opens your company's visa file: through the zone with GDRFA for Dubai zones, or with ICP in the other emirates. No visa can be issued until it exists.
8. Visas
Entry permit (or status change if you are already in the UAE), medical fitness test and residence for you and any staff, within your package's visa allocation. Our free zone visa service covers later hires.
9. Emirates ID
We book the biometrics appointment and track the card until it is delivered.
10. Bank account introduction
We prepare the company file banks ask for and introduce you to banks that fit your profile. The bank alone decides; see our corporate bank account guide.
11. Corporate tax registration
We register the company with the Federal Tax Authority within the three-month deadline and set up the beneficial owner record. See our corporate tax registration guide.
How long does free zone company formation take?
The licence itself is quick in most zones. The time goes on documents before it and on the visa after it. These are the zones' own published times:
| Stage | Published time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Licence, fastest route | Under 60 minutes (Meydan's single-owner Fawri licence) | Meydan Free Zone |
| Licence, typical online zone | 1 to 2 working days (Shams); legal permits in around five working days, about one week overall (IFZA) | Shams, IFZA |
| Licence, premium zone | About 2 to 3 weeks in total (DMCC) | DMCC setup team, 15 Oct 2026 |
| Immigration card and first residence visa | About 11 to 16 more working days after the licence (Shams) | Shams |
| Corporate shareholder papers from abroad | Notary, foreign ministry and UAE embassy in your country first; MOFA attestation from outside the UAE can take up to 7 business days | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Bank account | Set by the bank, not the zone | Central Bank of the UAE guidance |
For an individual shareholder with documents ready, the licence usually comes within days and the visa within a few weeks of the licence. A corporate shareholder adds the attestation chain in its home country, which is why we start it on day one.
What documents do you need?
Every zone publishes its own checklist, and we send you the exact list for the zone you choose. The core set looks like this:
| Individual shareholder | Corporate shareholder (a company owns the shares) |
|---|---|
| Passport copy of each shareholder, director and manager | Certificate of incorporation (registration) of the parent company |
| Passport-size photo on a white background | Memorandum and articles of association of the parent company |
| UAE visa or entry stamp, if you are in the UAE | Board resolution approving the UAE company and naming its authorised representative |
| Proof of residential address and a short business profile, where the zone asks for them | Passport copy of the authorised representative and of the directors and manager of the new company |
| No-objection letter from your UAE sponsor, where your zone and visa status require one | All company documents notarised, legalised in the home country, attested by the UAE embassy and by MOFA, and legally translated into Arabic where the zone asks |
Meydan, for example, asks corporate shareholders for notarised and attested certificates of incorporation and memorandum and articles. The full attestation chain, country by country, is in our company setup for non-residents guide.
What can be done remotely, and what needs you in the UAE?
Most of a free zone file is remote: activity choice, name reservation, document upload, online KYC, e-signature and the e-licence. Two steps need you in the UAE if you want residence: the medical fitness test and the Emirates ID biometrics. Many banks also prefer to meet owners. A licence-only company can be formed without a trip; a company with your own visa and a bank account usually needs one well-planned trip. Our step-by-step remote vs in-person table maps every step.
What does it cost, and what is our fee?
A free zone company costs three separate things, and we keep them separate on your quote:
| Cost | Paid to | How it is set |
|---|---|---|
| Zone package (licence, desk or office, registration) | The free zone | The zone's published price or written quote; see the table above |
| Visa and immigration lines (establishment card, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, insurance) | The zone, ICP or GDRFA, the medical centre, the insurer | Official fees, passed on at cost with receipts |
| Our service fee | MIRDXB PRO | Fixed and quoted on WhatsApp, in writing, before you commit |
Our fee for free zone company formation is quoted on WhatsApp. It depends on the zone, whether the shareholders are people or companies, and how many visas you need, so we quote it for your file rather than publish one number. You see it in writing before you pay anything. Our published price card terms apply: our service fee is paid when we start, government fees are paid when each step is submitted and you get each receipt, quotes are valid for 30 days, and if we cannot submit your application we refund our service fee in full.
Later company transactions have published fixed fees on our price card (effective 15 October 2026, 5% VAT included, government fees extra): AED 400 for an establishment (immigration) card and AED 500 for a new residence visa handled start to finish.
What do you need to do after the licence?
A new free zone company has deadlines from the day the licence is issued. The ones that cost money if missed:
- Corporate tax registration within three months of incorporation, for every company incorporated on or after 1 March 2024. Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty. Free zone companies can qualify for 0% only on qualifying income; see corporate tax for free zone companies and, for smaller companies, Small Business Relief.
- Beneficial owner record within 60 days, with changes recorded within 15 days.
- VAT registration once taxable supplies pass the AED 375,000 threshold; our VAT registration guide explains the test.
- Licence, lease and establishment card renewals before they expire, because an expired card blocks every visa transaction.
The full first-90-days plan, with dates, is in our new company compliance checklist. If you would rather hand all of it over, our monthly PRO plans for companies start at AED 799 a month (Starter, up to 5 employees and up to 6 transactions a month).
What mistakes do we see most?
- Buying the cheapest package, then running out of visas. A flexi desk usually carries a small, fixed visa allocation. Plan two years of hiring before you choose.
- An activity the zone cannot license, or one that needs an outside approval nobody budgeted for.
- Assuming a free zone company can trade freely on the mainland. It needs a permit or a branch licence.
- Starting corporate shareholder attestation too late, so the licence waits weeks for one stamp.
- Missing the three-month corporate tax deadline because the licence felt like the finish line.
Free zone company formation questions
What is free zone company formation?
It is licensing a company with a free zone authority, such as Meydan, Shams, RAKEZ or Ajman Free Zone, instead of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The zone issues the licence, provides the desk or office and sponsors the visas. Foreign owners can usually hold 100% of the shares.
How much does free zone company formation cost?
Published zone prices on our guides start at AED 4,888 a year (ANCFZ, no visa) and AED 4,999 (SPC Free Zone). Packages with one visa start around AED 10,800 to 14,000. On top come visa lines, medical, Emirates ID and insurance, plus our service fee, which we quote in writing.
What is your fee for forming a free zone company?
We quote it on WhatsApp, in writing, before you commit. It depends on the zone, whether the shareholders are people or companies, and the number of visas. Zone and government fees are passed on at cost with receipts, and if we cannot submit your application we refund our service fee in full.
Which free zone is the cheapest?
On the prices we have checked, ANCFZ (AED 4,888 a year, no visa) and SPC Free Zone (AED 4,999) have the lowest licence-only prices. With one visa, ANCFZ (AED 10,800) and the Ajman Free Zone offer (AED 11,000) are among the lowest. The cheapest choice depends on your activity and visa count.
How long does it take to form a free zone company?
The licence takes from under an hour (Meydan Fawri) to about one week (IFZA) or two to three weeks (DMCC) once documents are complete. The establishment card and first residence visa add roughly two to three more weeks; Shams publishes 11 to 16 working days for that stage.
Can I form a free zone company without visiting the UAE?
Yes, for the licence. Application, KYC, e-signature and the e-licence are online in most zones. If you want a residence visa, you need to be in the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics, and many banks want to meet owners in person.
Can a company own a free zone company?
Yes. A foreign or UAE company can be the shareholder, or the zone may license a branch instead. The parent company documents must be notarised, legalised in its home country, attested by the UAE embassy and by MOFA, and often translated into Arabic. That chain usually decides the timeline.
Do I get a residence visa with a free zone company?
Yes, if your package includes a visa allocation. The company sponsors you as investor, partner or employee. Dubai zones file visas with GDRFA, and Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah zones with ICP. The number of visas depends on your package and office.
Can a free zone company trade on the Dubai mainland?
Not on its free zone licence alone. In Dubai an eligible free zone company can apply for the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit, which costs AED 5,000 for up to six months, or open a branch licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism. Our permit guide explains both routes.
Do you open the company bank account?
We prepare the company file banks ask for and introduce you to banks that suit your profile, but the bank alone decides and runs its own checks. Central Bank guidance allows remote identification, yet many banks still meet owners in person.
What must a new free zone company do after the licence?
Register for corporate tax within three months of incorporation (late registration costs AED 10,000), record its beneficial owners within 60 days, register for VAT once it passes the threshold, and renew the licence, lease and establishment card on time. Our monthly PRO plans start at AED 799.
Are you a partner or agent of the free zones?
No. MIRDXB PRO is a private PRO and business setup services company in Al Barsha 1, Dubai. We are not a free zone authority, partner or agent. We prepare and submit applications on your behalf through the portal of each zone, and the zone makes every licensing decision.
- ANCFZ: License cost 2026
- SPC Free Zone: Business Setup Guide
- SRTI Park: Freezone and Business Setup
- Shams: Company formation steps and timelines
- RAKEZ: FAQs
- Ajman Free Zone: Start your business
- DWTC: Set up your business
- Meydan Free Zone
- Meydan Free Zone: Company documents requirement
- IFZA: Set up your business
- Dubai Silicon Oasis: Required documents for business setup
- DMCC: Set up a new business
- The Official Portal of the UAE Government: Starting a business in a free zone
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Attestation services
- Federal Tax Authority: Corporate tax registration timeframes
- Ministry of Finance: AED 10,000 late registration penalty
- Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 on beneficial owner procedures
- Central Bank of the UAE: Digital identification guidance
Please note. Zone prices on this page come from our zone guides, each checked against the zone's website or written price list on the date shown in the table (26 September to 22 October 2026). Deadlines and penalties were checked against the Federal Tax Authority, the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 for our non-residents guide on 23 October 2026. Free zones change their packages and promotions without notice, so we confirm the current price with the zone before you pay. MIRDXB PRO is a private service provider, not a free zone authority, government body or registered tax agent. General information, not legal advice.
Why MIRDXB PRO
Checked first. Filed right. Priced in writing.
We check before we quote
ILOE, WPS, company category, card validity, overstay and attestation, all checked on day one.
Government fees at cost
Published fees passed through unchanged. Our fee is separate, fixed and in writing before you commit.
Filed at the right counter
Amer, Tasheel, MOHRE, ICP or the owning authority, in the order the authorities need it.
We tell you when the answer is no
We would rather lose the work than lodge something that fails.
How it works
From first message to final stamp, in four steps
- 01
Tell us what you need
One WhatsApp message or call about your situation.
About 30 seconds - 02
We check and quote
File checks first, then government fees, our fee and the timeline in writing.
Before anything is paid - 03
We file it
Submitted at Amer, Tasheel, MOHRE or the owning authority, in the right order.
Urgent within 24h available - 04
Done, with updates
Progress on WhatsApp at every stage until the file is closed.
Named officer throughout
Knowledge Hub
Read before you apply
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- Business SetupMainland, free zone and offshore company formation, planned around your visas.
- Monthly PRO Plans for CompaniesLicence, visas, cards and renewals on one monthly plan, from AED 799 a month.
- Free Zone Visa ServicesZone-issued visas: allocation caps, per-visa costs and the rules that differ.
- Business Setup Cost PlannerAdd up a full first year for your zone, visas and office.
Fixed quote
Get your free zone company formed
Send your activity, shareholders and visa count. We confirm the zone fees, the government fees and our own fee in writing before anything is paid.
- WhatsApp+971 56 897 4054
- Call+971 56 897 4054
- Emailinfo@mirdxbpro.com
- HoursWhatsApp us any time, 24 hours; office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 (Dubai time)
- OfficeAl Barsha 1, Dubai, UAE
Get your fixed quote
Tell us what you need and a PRO consultant will reply within one business hour. No obligation, no pressure.
Prefer to talk now? WhatsApp +971 56 897 4054 or email info@mirdxbpro.com.
MIRDXB PRO is a private PRO services company acting solely on the written authorisation of its clients. We are not a government body and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official agent of GDRFA Dubai, ICP, MOHRE, MOFA, Amer, Tasheel or any other authority. Government fees are passed on at cost; our own fee is quoted in writing before we start. Fees, eligibility rules and processing times are set by the relevant authority and can change without notice. This page is general information, not legal advice.