The complete directory
Every free zone in Dubai, compared
24 zones, one honest comparison. Indicative first-year costs, visa capacity, setup speed and who each zone genuinely suits, without the brochure gloss.
| Free zone | From (year 1) | Setup time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan FZNad Al Sheba, by the Meydan Racecourse | AED 12,500 | 2 to 5 working days | E-commerce, Consulting, Digital agencies |
| DUQEAboard the Queen Elizabeth 2, Mina Rashid | AED 12,500 | 3 to 5 working days | Startups, Freelancers moving to a company, Digital businesses |
| IFZADubai Silicon Oasis | AED 12,900 | 3 to 5 working days | Consulting, Trading, E-commerce |
| Dubai SouthDubai South, around Al Maktoum International Airport | AED 13,500 | About 1 week | Aviation services, Logistics, E-commerce fulfilment |
| DSOAcademic City corridor, 20 minutes from Downtown | AED 14,500 | About 1 week | Hardware and electronics, Software teams, R&D units |
| Expo CityExpo City, Dubai South corridor | AED 15,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Sustainability and cleantech, Innovation teams, Regional offices |
| Maritime CityBetween Port Rashid and Dubai Drydocks | AED 15,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Ship management, Marine services, Yacht brokerage |
| Gold & Diamond ParkSheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz | AED 15,000 | 1 to 3 weeks | Jewellery manufacturing, Precious metals trading, Gem dealing |
| IMPZOff Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, near Jumeirah Golf Estates | AED 15,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Printing and packaging, Publishing, Signage production |
| DOCAcademic City corridor | AED 15,000 | 1 to 3 weeks | Business process outsourcing, Contact centres, Shared service centres |
| JAFZAJebel Ali, beside Jebel Ali Port | AED 15,500 | 1 to 3 weeks | Import and export, Logistics, Manufacturing |
| Studio CityAl Qudra Road corridor, near Motor City | AED 15,500 | 1 to 2 weeks | Film and TV production, Commercial shoots, Post-production |
| DKPSheikh Zayed Road, beside Media City | AED 15,500 | 1 to 2 weeks | Training companies, HR and recruitment, Coaching |
| DSPAl Barsha South, near Dubai Hills | AED 15,500 | 1 to 3 weeks | Life sciences, Pharma and medical devices, Environmental services |
| CommerCityUmm Ramool, beside Dubai International Airport | AED 16,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | E-commerce brands, Marketplaces, D2C fulfilment |
| DIACAcademic City, beside Silicon Oasis | AED 16,000 | 2 to 6 weeks for support services; longer for institutions | Higher education institutions, EdTech, Student services |
| DMCSheikh Zayed Road, adjoining Internet City | AED 16,500 | 1 to 2 weeks | Agencies, Production companies, Publishers |
| d3Beside Business Bay and the Ras Al Khor waterfront | AED 17,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Fashion brands, Design studios, Architecture practices |
| DICSheikh Zayed Road, between Media City and the Marina | AED 17,500 | 1 to 3 weeks | Software companies, Regional tech HQs, SaaS |
| DHCCOud Metha, by Dubai Creek | AED 18,000 | 2 to 6 weeks, longer for clinical licences | Clinics and medical practices, Wellness and aesthetics, Medical education |
| DAFZABeside Dubai International Airport, Terminal 2 side | AED 18,500 | 1 to 2 weeks | Aviation, Electronics trading, Pharmaceuticals |
| DWTCSheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre District | AED 19,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | Events and exhibitions, Conference services, Technology firms |
| DMCCJumeirah Lakes Towers | AED 21,000 | 1 to 3 weeks | Commodities trading, Crypto and Web3, Precious metals |
| DIFCGate District, between Downtown and Business Bay | AED 45,000 | 2 to 8 weeks depending on entity type | Financial services, Fintech, Funds and asset managers |
Costs are indicative first-year figures for a zero-visa licence unless noted, and zone authorities revise fees through the year. We confirm exact numbers in writing before you commit.
Zone profiles
Meydan FZ
from AED 12,500A digital-first zone with 2,500+ activities and a prestige address
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DUQE
from AED 12,500A startup-focused free zone headquartered on the QE2 ocean liner
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IFZA
from AED 12,900The most popular entry point for consultants, traders and service businesses
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Dubai South
from AED 13,500The aviation and logistics city growing around Dubai's second airport
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DSO
from AED 14,500A technology park with genuine industrial capacity
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Expo City
from AED 15,000The Expo 2020 legacy district, built for sustainability-minded companies
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Maritime City
from AED 15,000A purpose-built peninsula for the maritime industry
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Gold & Diamond Park
from AED 15,000A JAFZA-run enclave for jewellery manufacturing and trading
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IMPZ
from AED 15,000Printing, publishing and packaging with industrial-grade facilities
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DOC
from AED 15,000Built for BPO, contact centres and shared services at scale
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JAFZA
from AED 15,500The original UAE free zone, wired directly into the world's ninth-busiest port
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Studio City
from AED 15,500Sound stages, backlots and the production industry's operating base
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DKP
from AED 15,500The licensing home of training providers and HR consultancies
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DSP
from AED 15,500Labs and offices for life sciences, energy and environment ventures
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CommerCity
from AED 16,000The region's first free zone built solely for e-commerce
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DIAC
from AED 16,000The campus district for universities and higher education ventures
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DMC
from AED 16,500The region's newsroom, agency floor and creator economy hub
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d3
from AED 17,000Fashion, design and architecture's creative quarter
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DIC
from AED 17,500The Gulf headquarters district for global technology firms
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DHCC
from AED 18,000The regulated home of clinics, hospitals and medical education
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DAFZA
from AED 18,500Premium licences at the cargo doors of DXB
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DWTC
from AED 19,000Events, conferences and a growing tech cluster in the city's convention heart
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DMCC
from AED 21,000The heavyweight address for trading firms, commodities and Web3
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DIFC
from AED 45,000The Middle East's leading financial centre, with its own courts and common law
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Questions
Dubai free zones, asked and answered
How many free zones are there in Dubai?
Dubai operates 24 active free zones, from broad digital-first authorities like IFZA and Meydan to sector districts like Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Maritime City. The wider UAE adds another twenty-plus across the other emirates.
Which Dubai free zone is the cheapest?
Meydan Free Zone, DUQE and IFZA lead on price, with zero-visa licences from roughly AED 12,500 to 12,900 in year one. The right question is usually cost against what you need: visa capacity, banking reputation and activity fit move the answer around.
Can a free zone company do business in the Dubai mainland?
Not directly. Free zone companies trade internationally and within free zones freely, but selling onshore needs a local distributor, a dual licence where available, or a mainland branch. If most revenue will come from inside the UAE, consider mainland from day one.
Do all free zones offer residence visas?
Yes, every zone in this list can sponsor residence visas for shareholders and staff. What differs is the allocation: digital zones bundle small quotas with the licence, while zones with physical premises scale visas with the space you lease.
Not sure which zone fits?
Answer four questions and our matching engine narrows all the zones to the three that fit your activity, visas and budget, with numbers attached.
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