Blog
Searchable, paginated guides built for founders comparing costs, activities, visas, tax, banking, and free zone fit.
Start the renewal process 60 days before your licence expiry date — most zones send a reminder at 90 days. AFZA and ANCFZ are among the most affordable renewers at AED 5,555–5,750/year; HFZA and SRTIP are at the higher end.
Compare UAE free zone manufacturing licences 2026 — costs, activities, MoIAT rules and zone-by-zone setup guide for RAKEZ, HFZA, IFZA and more.
Start a food or beverage business in a UAE free zone — compare licences, costs, visa quotas, and compliance rules for 2026.
Total AFZA visa cost 2026: AED 3,400–6,500 per person (investor: AED 3,800–4,500; employee: AED 3,200–4,000). Processing time: 3–7 working days from entry permit to stamped residence visa. Visa quota: 2–3 visas (flexi-desk) | ~5 visas (executive office) | 14+ (warehouse from 100 sqm).
RAKEZ is the top pick for cost-effective entry: professional licence from AED 6,500, all-in with 1 visa from AED 14,000. ANCFZ leads for Abu Dhabi government and federal project work, with up to 10 visas from AED 7,500.
RAKEZ is the top-ranked free zone for consulting businesses — professional licence from AED 11,400/year, flexi-desk included, covers management consulting, IT advisory, HR, and marketing services.
RAKEZ is the most affordable entry point for IT and software startups — from AED 6,000 licence only, AED 14,000 all-in with one visa. SRTIP (Sharjah) is the UAE's only dedicated R&D and innovation free zone — ideal for deep-tech, research, and IP-intensive companies, from AED 5,500.
Annual audited financial statements are mandatory for every UAE free zone company — no revenue threshold exempts you. Deadlines range from 90 days (DMCC) to 6 months (RAKEZ) after your financial year-end.
Quick answer: Healthcare professionals can use a UAE free zone company for certain consulting, medical trading, health-tech, clinic- management , wellness, training and advisory activities, but clinical practice, patient treatment, pharmacy, laboratory and regulated healthcare...
Learn how to add or change a business activity on your UAE free zone licence in 2026. Amendment fees, required documents, timelines by zone, and a step-by-step guide.
RAKEZ leads for media professionals — from AED 6,100/yr with explicit creative and media activities; strong brand recognition for banking. ANCFZ is the lowest entry cost — from AED 4,888/yr; 3,500+ activities covering YouTube, podcast, gaming, animation, and social media; 2-hour digital approval.
Professional services and management consultancy firms should also see the best UAE free zones for consulting and management businesses in 2026 for a sector-specific breakdown.
