Best free Zones in the UAE to Launch Your Business at Low-cost

Ryan Kuchel, Managing Partner at www.Incorporate.ae provides a summary of a selection of the most popular Free Zone options whether your are considering launching your new business in the United Arab Emirates or you require company formation for visas to stay within the UAE.

Sharjah Media City (Shams)

This offers digitized and low-cost solutions for those who wish to build a business in the UAE.

Key sectors:

The free zone focuses on media, but they do have a broad range of business activities in various other sectors.

Licence and cost:

Starting from Dh11,500

Offers:

Up to 35% discount on multi-year packages; 20% off on license fees for one-visa package; e-channel deposit waiver; 20% off on Shams fee for concierge services, such as bank account opening, post office box, and dependent visa services.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)

RAKEZ is a strategically positioned powerhouse and manufacturing hub in Ras Al Khaimah, linking foreign investors to developing markets in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. The free zone provides streamlined procedures, one-stop shops, specialist customer representatives, 24/7 online self-service client platform

Key sectors:

Of the fifty sectors currently supported by RAKEZ, most are in the industrial and utility industries. General trading comes in third. The media sector is also growing along with industrial, e-commerce, educational, and professional industries.

Licenses:

Commercial, Educational, E-Commerce, General Trading, Individual / Professional, Industrial, Media, Service and Freelance license

Offer/packages:

All packages offer comprehensive online registration service. Office Spring Package from Dh8,240; Storage Warehouse Spring Package starting from Dh150/m2; Industrial Warehouse Spring Package starting from Dh195/m2

Ajman Free Zone (AFZ)

Located near Ajman Port and a half-hour drive from Dubai and Sharjah airports, AFZ offers a range of cost-effective licenses and tailored value-added business packages for businessmen and entrepreneurs. This has a clear three-step business set-up mechanism through a digitized portal and a special business-to-business interface, linking AFZ, allowing global purchasing, selling and networking via a robust company directory. The free zone also provides workspaces that fit a range of purposes.

Key sectors:

Health, education, banking, F&B, development and more spread across a range of sectors.

Licence and cost :

Starting from Dh5,000, you can set up your company as an entrepreneur, which includes license and access to a co-working space.

Special offer:

For two years, the free zone gives 10% discount, for three years 15% discount. Pioneers package starts at Dh1,250 and Freelancer package starts at Dh6,000

International Free Zone Authority (IFZA)

Offering a variety of flexible company set-up options, IFZA — a relatively new free zone located in Fujairah — provides more than 1,000 enterprise, operation, and consulting activities. IFZA's network of skilled partners around the globe shares the authorities' goal of improving the UAE mark as a top business and investment destination. Building its reputation as the fastest-free growing zone in the world, IFZA monitors, promotes and integrates trade from its headquarters in Fujairah, backed by its offices in Dubai.

Licences :

IFZA allows businesses to link their business, consulting and operation licenses across more than 108 industries with specialization in logistics and other popular business sectors.

Packages:

IFZA provides packages ranging from one to five years, offering each license 3 free market activities. Packages change monthly, however, are usually very competitive.

Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD)

A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, KIZAD is a strategically placed 410 square kilometer industrial zone between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. With one of the most modern deepwater seaports in the world, the Khalifa Port and world-class infrastructure, Kizad enjoys excellent integrative accessibility through sea, air, road and the future rail network.

Key sectors:

All types of business activities including manufacturing, logistics, trade and distribution, solutions for both start-up and established large-scale entities.

License and cost:

Offices packages, with a workstation (hotdesk) and visas, starting from $3,000 (Dh11,000); categories of license include trading, service and general trading.

Packages:

Dual license facility; 3-year packages starting from $6,750 (Dh 24,750)

twofour54, Abu Dhabi

This is a media and entertainment arena of over more than 550 media companies and businesses. Twofour54 will shortly relocate to a modern state-of-the-art building of 77,000 square meters on Yas Island providing a full variety of amenities, utilities, and services.

Key sectors:

News broadcasting, e-learning, gaming, music licensing, production, print publishing, advertising and marketing

Licence:

A quick three-step licensing process enables companies to set up in as less as 24 hours.

Offers:

Cost-effective licensing by waivering new companies' licenses and incorporation fees and enabling companies to work with zero% profit and corporate tax along with onshore privileges and 100% foreign ownership.

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)

They have over 17,000 enterprises, contributing more than 10% to Dubai's GDP collectively. DMCC is also home to the thriving Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) community.

Key sectors:

DMCC caters to commodity sectors like diamonds, gold, tea and coffee to consultancy, banks, consumer goods and even motorcycles.

Licenses and cost:

Numerous licenses and workplace options, from unique multi-floor buildings to creative co-working facilities. JLT offers very good leasing rates for corporate facilities.

Offers:

For existing members, 100% waiver for late license renewal penalties, office sharing permit fee, company reinstatement fees, and 100% discount for all flexi desk and DMCC Business Centre penalties until the end of 2020. Also, a 30% discount on license renewal charges. For new company registrations, 80% reduction on the total business set up fee provided the shareholders are residents of JLT.

Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA)

Located right near one of the world's busiest airports, DAFZA has over 1,600 regional and international businesses. They have also built a new property, providing extra leasing space of 21,580 square meters.

Key sectors Covers over 2,000 economic activities

Licences Six types of licenses are available — trade, service, industrial, e-commerce, general trading and the dual license with DED.

Offer and packages:

Initiatives launched in 2020 include, waiving registration fees, reducing business setup cost by up to 65%, staff visa fees by 20%, establishment card issuance fees by 17%. Charges are waived off for Board Resolution and MOA issuance.

Ryan Kuchel says‘the best value for money package currently is being offered by the new kid on the block - IFZA, however, for those wanting to be based within Dubai emirate, DMCC  has an excellent offering and is difficult to beat.’

For more information you may please contact Ryan Kuchel – ryan@incorporate.aeor Whats app chat +971 55 415 3221.