The most affordablefree zones,outside Dubai.
SHAMS, SPC, SPARK, RAKEZ, AFZA, ANCFZ and UAQ across Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. Lower setup cost, equally legitimate licence, same 100% foreign ownership. Right when budget matters more than the Dubai postcode.
SHAMS.
Sharjah Media City is affordable, fast and creative-friendly. Right for content creators, freelancers, agencies and small media-adjacent businesses. Two-day licence, low cost, broad activity list.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Match your activity to SHAMS' creative list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Sign flexi-desk lease.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated in 2 days.
- Solo founders, freelancers and creators
- Marketing agencies and content studios on a budget
- Bootstrapped teams that need a real licence fast
- Founders relocating to Sharjah residency
- Activity classification against SHAMS' creative list
- Application + KYC submission
- Flexi-desk lease, Sharjah-resident-friendly
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- Bank account introduction
SPC.
Sharjah Publishing City is built for publishing, e-learning, content production and intellectual-property businesses. Strong cultural and academic ecosystem, IP-friendly licensing.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Confirm publishing / IP activity classification.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit corporate documents.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Choose office or flexi-desk.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated.
- Publishers, e-learning and EdTech companies
- Authors, agents and rights-management businesses
- Content studios producing video and digital media
- IP-heavy companies needing a copyright-friendly base
- Activity mapping under SPC's publishing/IP categories
- Application + corporate documents
- Office or flexi-desk lease in SPC
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- IP and copyright registration support
SPARK.
Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) is the U.A.E.'s applied-research and deep-tech free zone. Built for R&D-led businesses in renewable energy, water, transport, environment, EdTech and digital. Sits next to the American University of Sharjah and University City.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Confirm activity matches SRTIP's research / tech list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Pick office, lab or industrial-park lease.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated.
- R&D-led startups in clean-tech, water, mobility and AgTech
- Deep-tech founders commercialising university research
- Industrial-tech and Industry 4.0 manufacturers
- EdTech and digital-health companies wanting an academic partner
- Activity classification under SRTIP's research / tech categories
- Choice of office, lab or industrial-park lease
- Application package, KYC and shareholder docs
- Establishment card, immigration file and visa quota
- Intros to SRTIP's accelerator, grant and university partners
RAKEZ.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone is the most cost-efficient industrial and SME licensing in the UAE. Industrial parks, plots, warehouses and offices at a fraction of Dubai pricing, with broad activity lists and 0% personal income tax.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Match activity to RAKEZ industrial / commercial list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Lease office, warehouse or plot.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + immigration file issued.
- Manufacturing, industrial and SME operators
- Cost-sensitive trading and import-export businesses
- Founders prioritising cost over Dubai address
- Logistics and warehousing at scale on a budget
- Activity classification across RAKEZ industrial / commercial categories
- Application + corporate documents
- Office, plot or warehouse lease
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- Banking introduction
AFZA.
Ajman Free Zone (AFZA) is one of the fastest and cheapest UAE free-zone licences. Right for first-time entrepreneurs, small trading and consulting firms, and bootstrapped founders who want a real UAE licence without Dubai overhead.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Confirm activity matches AFZA's list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Choose smart-office or flexi-desk.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated.
- First-time founders launching their first UAE business
- Small consulting, trading and service businesses
- Founders prioritising lowest possible cost
- Anyone testing the UAE market before committing to Dubai
- Activity confirmation under AFZA's commercial / service categories
- Application + KYC submission
- Smart-office or flexi-desk lease
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- Bank account introduction
ANCFZ.
Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone is purpose-built for startups and small businesses that want low setup cost, fast turnaround and a flexible activity list. Right for founders launching lean, freelancers and remote teams.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Confirm activity matches ANCFZ's list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Pick smart-office or flexi-desk.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated.
- Solo founders and freelancers seeking a credible licence
- Bootstrapped SMEs prioritising cost and speed
- Service businesses without a heavy physical footprint
- Remote-first teams that need a U.A.E. address with a visa
- Activity confirmation against ANCFZ's flexible list
- Smart-office or flexi-desk lease
- Application, KYC and shareholder docs
- Establishment card and visa quota provisioning
- Bank introduction with two U.A.E. banks
UAQ.
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone Authority offers the fastest-setup environment in the U.A.E. for SMEs. Light-touch process, broad activity list, and an entry-level price point with full ownership and tax benefits.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Match your activity to UAQ's list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Pick virtual office or flexi-desk.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota issued in days.
- SMEs that need a quick licence on a tight timeline
- Trading and consulting firms without a physical footprint
- Founders who want minimum bureaucracy
- Cost-conscious teams scaling 1–5 people
- Activity confirmation against UAQ FTZ's list
- Flexi-desk or virtual-office lease
- Application, KYC and shareholder docs
- Establishment card and visa quota provisioning
- Bank introduction with U.A.E. banks
Tell us your activity and team size. We'll come back with the right zone.
Activity, ownership, visa quota, banking, lease type and total year-one cost: assessed against every other-emirate zone and back to you within one business day.