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UAE Free Zones: Directory and Comparison
A free zone is an authority that licenses companies under its own rules. There is no single best free zone. The comparison that matters is the activity, the visa, the premises, where customers are, the cost, the approvals and the renewal.
What stays the same, and what does not
Official guidance describes free-zone companies as able to be fully owned by foreign investors, with licensing, visas and premises handled through the zone. Customs duty on goods imported into the zone is described as nil until those goods enter the mainland market. Not every zone offers every legal form. Private companies, FZE, FZCO and branches are examples; the authority confirms which ones it registers.
Activity
Zones publish different activity lists. A media zone, a port zone and a financial centre do not license the same work.
Visa need
Some packages are built around residence visas. Others are not. A visa still depends on quota, premises and immigration approval.
Premises
Desks, offices, warehouses and land are not available in every zone, and they change the cost.
Customer geography
Trade inside the zone and abroad is the straightforward case. Mainland customers are a regulated case, not an automatic right.
Cost
Compare licence, registration, premises, visas and renewal. A low headline package can exclude the visa.
Approvals and renewal
Sector regulators sit on top of some activities. The licence term and the renewal invoice are set by that authority.
Names that are easy to mix up
- RAKEZ licenses operating companies in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK ICC registers international business companies. They are different authorities. The RAKEZ profile is separate from the RAK ICC company formation. The side-by-side page is RAK ICC vs RAKEZ.
- Ajman Free Zone, Ajman Media City and Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone are separate licensors. The published profiles are Ajman Free Zone and ANCFZ.
- An offshore company is not an operating free-zone company. Jebel Ali Free Zone as an operating zone is separate from a JAFZA offshore vehicle.
- Dubai Silicon Oasis is on the government list. IFZA is a different licensor. Its profile is IFZA company formation.
Directory
Names below follow the UAE government’s free-zone list. Profiles are linked for DMCC, Dubai South, Meydan, Sharjah Media City, Ajman Free Zone, Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone and RAKEZ. Every other name in this list stays unlinked.
Masdar City
Abu Dhabi
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD)
Abu Dhabi
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Abu Dhabi
Financial free zone named on the UAE government list.
AskVi profile: not published
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
Abu Dhabi
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
twofour54
Abu Dhabi
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai CommerCity
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Internet City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Media City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Production City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Studio City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Outsource City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Knowledge Park
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai International Academic City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Science Park
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Design District
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
Dubai
Named on the UAE government list. The same page says DMCC covers JLT and Uptown Dubai.
Jebel Ali Free Zone
Dubai
Operating free zone. Separate from a JAFZA offshore vehicle.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Airport Free Zone
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai
Named on the UAE government list. A different licensor can sit in the same geography.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai HealthCare City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Humanitarian City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai Maritime City
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Gold and Diamond Park
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Dubai South
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
Dubai International Financial Centre
Dubai
Financial free zone named on the UAE government list.
AskVi profile: not published
Meydan
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
National Industries Park
Dubai
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
Sharjah
Named on the UAE government free-zone list. Separate from Hamriyah and Shams.
AskVi profile: not published
Hamriyah Free Zone
Sharjah
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Sharjah Media City (Shams)
Sharjah
Named on the UAE government list as Sharjah Media City. Separate from SAIF Zone and Hamriyah.
Ajman Free Zone
Ajman
Public-sector free zone. Separate from Ajman Media City and from Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone.
Ajman Media City
Ajman
Named on the UAE government list. Separate from Ajman Free Zone.
AskVi profile: not published
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone
Umm Al Quwain
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
Ras Al Khaimah
Operating free zone. Not the RAK ICC registry for international business companies.
Innovation City
Ras Al Khaimah
Named beside RAKEZ on the UAE government list. Not RAK ICC.
AskVi profile: not published
Fujairah Free Zone Authority
Fujairah
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Creative City
Fujairah
Named on the UAE government free-zone list.
AskVi profile: not published
Named for a later profile
IFZA, SPC and Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone now have profiles. These three were not confirmed on the 6 May 2026 government list used above. They are not ranked.
International Free Zone Authority (IFZA)
Dubai
Separate licensor from Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Sharjah Publishing City (SPC)
Sharjah
Separate from SAIF Zone, Hamriyah and Shams.
Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone (ANCFZ)
Ajman
Separate from Ajman Free Zone and Ajman Media City.
Free zone vs mainlandMeydan vs IFZAOffshore vs free zoneRAK ICC vs JAFZARAK ICC vs RAKEZ