The UAE has more than forty free zones, each with its own licences, prices and rules. Comparing all of them is a week of reading. Answering five questions first narrows the list to two or three.
1. Who are your customers?
A free zone company can trade freely outside the UAE and with other free zone companies. Selling directly to customers on the mainland usually needs a distributor, a separate mainland licence or a zone that offers a dual licence. If most of your customers are in the UAE, the mainland may simply be the better home.
2. What exactly will you do?
Each zone licenses a different list of activities, and the wording matters. Consulting, trading, e-commerce and media are licensed almost everywhere; financial services, healthcare and education need specific zones and approvals. We match your activities to licence codes before we compare anything else.
3. How many visas will you need?
Your visa allowance is tied to your office. A flexi-desk typically supports one to three visas; a small office supports more. Count the people you’ll hire in the first two years, not just the founders.
4. Will you pay 0% corporate tax?
Free zone companies can pay 0% on qualifying income, but only if they meet the substance and income conditions. A zone that suits your activity on paper may not suit it for tax. This is the question where an hour of advice saves the most money.
5. Where will you live, work and bank?
Banks look for substance: an office you can be found in, staff, contracts. A zone near where you live and meet clients makes all three easier, and a regulator you can visit is worth more than a cheaper licence two hours away.
Mainland companies have allowed full foreign ownership for most activities since 2021. The mainland is no longer the fallback; for many businesses it is the first choice.
What your written plan shows
After your consultation, your plan compares two or three jurisdictions side by side: activities covered, visas, office, tax position, first-year cost and time to licence. You choose; we file.
This article is general information as of July 2026, not advice for your business.
