Blog
Searchable, paginated guides built for founders comparing costs, activities, visas, tax, banking, and free zone fit.
RAKEZ leads on activity breadth and warehouse access — best for physical-goods e-commerce sellers. ANCFZ (Ajman/Northern Emirates) is the lowest-cost entry point for lean digital-first businesses.
Employee visa quota in most UAE free zones is tied to your office type — flexi-desk typically allows 1–3 visas, shared offices 3–6, private offices based on floor area. All-in cost per employee visa: AED 3,000–6,500, depending on zone and whether you use in-house or third-party processing.
UAE free zone investor visas are valid for 2 or 3 years and are renewable before expiry. Costs range from AED 3,500 to AED 7,500 depending on zone, visa validity, and family inclusion. Processing takes 3–4 weeks at most zones when all documents are submitted on day one.
Timeline: Budget 2–6 weeks for a standard UAE free zone bank account. Digital banks like Mashreq NeoBiz can approve in under 2 weeks. Minimum balances: Range from AED 0 (ADCB e-Business) to AED 50,000+ (Emirates NBD premium tiers). Know your threshold before you apply.
Service and commercial licences start at AED 8,500/year ; aviation licences from AED 12,000/year ; logistics from AED 10,000/year . Flexi-desk in Business Park: AED 8,000–15,000/year; supports 1–2 investor visas . Year 1 all-in (flexi-desk + 1 visa): approximately AED 20,000–35,000 .
RAKEZ leads for flexibility: broadest activity mix, flexi-desk options, and a strong renewal track record. IFZA gives you 500+ activities and the easiest path to a UAE bank account for solo consultants.
Virtual offices (AED 5,000–10,000/year) provide a registered address but typically allow only 1–2 visas. Flexi desks (AED 6,000–15,000/year) include shared workspace access and unlock 3–6 visa allocations in most zones.
RAKEZ, ANCFZ, SPC Free Zone, and SHAMS all offer zero-visa licences under AED 6,000. Zero-visa packages give you a valid trade licence and 100% ownership — but no UAE residency visa. Add AED 4,000–6,000 per visa if you need UAE residency.
A RAKEZ shareholder (investor) visa is valid for 3 years , tied to your active RAKEZ company licence. Total cost: AED 3,500–5,000 per person, covering entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, and visa stamp.
Commercial and service licences from AED 8,500/year ; logistics from AED 10,000; aviation and industrial from AED 12,000. Most popular Year-1 package (flexi-desk + 1 investor visa): AED 20,000–25,000 all-in .
Mona guides freelancers through the best UAE free zones in 2026. RAKEZ leads for most solo professionals, with ANCFZ, IFZA, SPC, and Meydan covering specific needs.
Choosing the cheapest setup often becomes the most expensive mistake for international entrepreneurs in the UAE. While an offshore entity sounds like...
