The short answer
The UAE has roughly 45 free zones across its seven emirates — the figure most consultancy guides use is “45+”, while public lists count 46–47 — and counts differ with how districts are treated. ZoneWise currently covers 40 of them with a dedicated page each. Why the number varies →
The download lists free zones, not the companies registered in them — see UAE free zone companies list PDF.
Free zones in Dubai
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC | Commodities, crypto & multi-sector | DMCC Authority | Published fees |
| IFZA | SME, startup & holding companies | International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) | Published fees |
| Meydan Free Zone | Digital, e-commerce & SME | Meydan Free Zone Authority | Published fees |
| JAFZA | Logistics, trading & industrial | Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) | Indicative band |
| DAFZ (Dubai Airport Freezone) | Aviation, logistics & premium trading | Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZ) | Indicative band |
| DIFC | Financial services & regulated business | DIFC Authority; financial regulation by the DFSA | Published fees |
| Dubai South | Aviation, logistics & e-commerce | Dubai South Free Zone Authority | Indicative band |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) | Technology & innovation park | Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) | Indicative band |
| Dubai Internet City | Technology & software | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Indicative band |
| Dubai Media City | Media, advertising & creative | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Indicative band |
| Dubai Studio City | Film, TV & music production | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Indicative band |
| Dubai Design District (d3) | Fashion, design & creative | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Indicative band |
| Dubai Knowledge Park | Human resources, learning & professional services | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Quote required |
| Dubai Production City | Printing, publishing, packaging & media production | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Quote required |
| Dubai Science Park | Science, healthcare & life-science businesses | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Quote required |
| Dubai Outsource City | Outsourcing, BPO & back-office services | Dubai Development Authority (DDA); district operated by TECOM Group | Quote required |
| Dubai Healthcare City | Healthcare & wellness | Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) | Quote required |
| Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) | Events, exhibitions & business services | Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (confirm licensing scope) | Quote required |
| Dubai CommerCity | E-commerce | Dubai CommerCity (confirm licensing authority) | Quote required |
More on Dubai: Dubai company formation.
Free zones in Abu Dhabi
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) | Financial centre & regulated business | ADGM Registration Authority; financial regulation by the FSRA | Indicative band |
| KEZAD | Industrial, manufacturing & logistics | KEZAD Group (Abu Dhabi Ports) | Indicative band |
| twofour54 | Media, entertainment & gaming | twofour54 (confirm current licensing pathway) | Indicative band |
| Masdar City Free Zone | Clean-tech & sustainability | Masdar City Free Zone | Indicative band |
| Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ) | Aviation, logistics & general business | Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ) | Indicative band |
More on Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi company formation.
Free zones in Sharjah
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Media City (Shams) | Media, consulting & digital services | Sharjah Media City (Shams) Authority | Published fees |
| Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) | Publishing, media & multi-sector | Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone Authority | Published fees |
| SRTIP (Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park) | Research, technology & innovation | Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) | Indicative band |
| Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZA) | Industrial, maritime & trading | Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) | Indicative band |
| SAIF Zone (Sharjah Airport) | Airport, trading & logistics | SAIF Zone Authority | Quote required |
| Sharjah Healthcare City | Healthcare & wellness | Sharjah Health Authority (as published) | Quote required |
More on Sharjah: Sharjah company formation.
Free zones in Ajman
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman Free Zone | Multi-sector, trading & industrial | Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA) | Published fees |
| Ajman NuVentures Free Zone | Start-ups, consultants & digital freelancers | Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone | Indicative band |
| Ajman Media City | Media, digital & services | Ajman Media City Free Zone | Quote required |
More on Ajman: Ajman company formation.
Free zones in Ras Al Khaimah
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ | Multi-sector, industrial & SME | Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) | Published fees |
| RAK ICC (Offshore) | Offshore & holding companies | RAK International Corporate Centre | Quote required |
| RAK Maritime City | Marine, shipping & offshore services | RAK Maritime City Authority | Quote required |
| RAK Digital Assets Oasis | Web3, digital assets & tech | RAK Digital Assets Oasis | Quote required |
More on Ras Al Khaimah: Ras Al Khaimah company formation.
Free zones in Fujairah
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fujairah Free Zone | Trading, marine & industrial | Fujairah Free Zone Authority | Quote required |
| Creative City Fujairah | Media, creative & IT consulting | Creative City Fujairah Free Zone Authority | Indicative band |
More on Fujairah: Fujairah company formation.
Free zones in Umm Al Quwain
| Free zone | Focus | Authority (as published) | Fee data |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAQ Free Trade Zone | Trading, industrial & general business | UAQ Free Trade Zone Authority | Quote required |
More on Umm Al Quwain: Umm Al Quwain company formation.
UAE free zones by purpose
Zones below are the ones whose published focus is associated with each purpose, ordered from lower to higher entry cost where we hold a figure. “Commonly associated” is not “permitted” — always confirm your activity code with the authority.
| If you are… | Zones commonly associated |
|---|---|
| Consulting, services and freelancers | ANCFZ, Creative City, Ajman Free Zone, SHAMS, RAKEZ, SPC, Meydan, IFZA, Masdar City |
| E-commerce and online selling | ANCFZ, Ajman Free Zone, SHAMS, RAKEZ, SPC, Dubai South, Meydan, IFZA, Dubai CommerCity |
| Trading and import-export | JAFZA, Ajman Free Zone, RAKEZ, SPC, HFZA, Dubai South, DSO, Meydan, IFZA |
| Logistics and warehousing | JAFZA, RAKEZ, HFZA, Dubai South, ADAFZ, DAFZ, KEZAD, Dubai CommerCity, SAIF Zone |
| Manufacturing and industrial | JAFZA, Ajman Free Zone, RAKEZ, HFZA, Dubai South, DSO, KEZAD, DPC, SAIF Zone |
| Media, marketing and creative | ANCFZ, Creative City, SHAMS, SPC, Meydan, IFZA, twofour54, DIC, DMC |
| IT, software and technology | ANCFZ, SRTIP, Creative City, SHAMS, RAKEZ, DSO, Meydan, IFZA, twofour54 |
| Healthcare and life sciences | DSP, DHCC, SHCC |
| Financial services and funds | ADGM, DIFC |
| Crypto and virtual assets (regulator approval needed) | ADGM, DMCC, DIFC, RAK DAO |
| Holding and investment structures | Meydan, IFZA, ADGM, DMCC, DIFC, RAK ICC |
| Education and training | RAKEZ, DKP, DHCC |
How to read this list
- Authority vs operator. Eight Dubai districts are regulated by the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) and operated by TECOM Group; the DDA is the regulator, not a zone you register in by itself.
- Free zone vs designated zone. A designated zone is a free zone with special VAT treatment for certain goods movements; all designated zones are free zones, but not the reverse. The list is set by Cabinet decision — check the FTA.
- Fee data. “Published” = government-fee figures reviewed July 2026; “Indicative band” = planning range; “Quote required” = no reliable public price.
- Offshore. RAK ICC registers offshore companies, which are a different product from an onshore-capable free zone licence.
Free zones not yet covered on ZoneWise
Other zones that commonly appear in public lists and that we plan to add once their data is verified: Dubai Auto Zone, Dubai Car and Automotive City Free Zone, Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), Dubai Gold and Diamond Park, Dubai Industrial City, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai Techno Park, International Humanitarian City, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, ZonesCorp-managed zones and further Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah specialist zones. Names and status change — treat this as a pointer, not a list of licences. Ask us to prioritise one.
What to do with the list
| Goal | Go to |
|---|---|
| Compare costs side by side | Comparison tool |
| Free zone or mainland? | Decision framework |
| Budget a year-one cost | Cost estimator |
| Only want the cheapest | Cheapest free zone in the UAE |
| Dubai only | List of free zones in Dubai |
Sources and verification
Sources consulted for counts and lists: consultancy guides published 2026 (e.g., BCL, Avyanco), the public encyclopedia list “List of free-trade zones in the United Arab Emirates” (Wikipedia), the Dubai Development Authority’s description of its districts, and each zone’s own materials. Reviewed September 2026. Verify a specific zone on its official site and on the UAE Government portal.
UAE free zones list: FAQs
How many free zones are in the UAE?
Commonly cited as 45+ (consultancy guides) with public lists counting 46–47; counts differ with how districts and sub-zones are treated. See the full explanation in our how many free zones article.
Which UAE free zone is best?
There is no single best zone — it depends on activity, customers, visas and budget. Use the comparison tool and the “by purpose” table above.
Are all UAE free zones open to foreign ownership?
Free zones generally allow up to 100% foreign ownership, but activity lists, eligibility and conditions vary — confirm with the authority.
Is there a UAE free zones list PDF?
Yes — download the ZoneWise list above (PDF and CSV). It lists zones, authorities, focus and fee-data status, reviewed September 2026.
Which free zones are in Dubai?
See the list of free zones in Dubai and the Dubai free zones map.
Get a written quote
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.