Fees as of October 2026. Last updated 13 October 2026. Government fees are each authority's published starting price, checked on 13 October 2026.
When I say "Ajman" in this post, I mean Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone (ANCFZ). It is a different free zone from Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), and many websites mix the two up. Here is the full bill for the three cheapest free zones I work with.
This is not every free zone in the UAE. Other zones, like Sharjah Publishing City and Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone, also sell low-cost licences. They are not on my price list, so I don't quote them here. When I say "cheapest", I mean cheapest of the zones I price.
| Free zone | Government fee (AED) | My service fee (AED) | Total (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman (ANCFZ), no visa | 4,888 | 600 | 5,488 |
| Ajman (ANCFZ), 1 visa | 10,800 | 1,500 | 12,300 |
| RAKEZ | 6,000 | 1,000 to 5,000 | 7,000 to 11,000 |
| SHAMS | 6,875 | 1,000 to 5,000 | 7,875 to 11,875 |
| Meydan, licence only (for comparison) | 12,520 | 2,500 | 15,020 |
| IFZA (for comparison) | 12,900 | 1,000 to 5,000 | 13,900 to 17,900 |
- Ajman (ANCFZ), no visa
- Government fee (AED)
- 4,888
- My service fee (AED)
- 600
- Total (AED)
- 5,488
- Ajman (ANCFZ), 1 visa
- Government fee (AED)
- 10,800
- My service fee (AED)
- 1,500
- Total (AED)
- 12,300
- RAKEZ
- Government fee (AED)
- 6,000
- My service fee (AED)
- 1,000 to 5,000
- Total (AED)
- 7,000 to 11,000
- SHAMS
- Government fee (AED)
- 6,875
- My service fee (AED)
- 1,000 to 5,000
- Total (AED)
- 7,875 to 11,875
- Meydan, licence only (for comparison)
- Government fee (AED)
- 12,520
- My service fee (AED)
- 2,500
- Total (AED)
- 15,020
- IFZA (for comparison)
- Government fee (AED)
- 12,900
- My service fee (AED)
- 1,000 to 5,000
- Total (AED)
- 13,900 to 17,900
Fee sources, checked 13 October 2026: ANCFZ, RAKEZ, SHAMS, Meydan. IFZA publishes no fixed price, so that row is a typical starting figure from my price list.
For RAKEZ, SHAMS and IFZA, my service fee is AED 1,000 to 5,000, depending on your package. Ask me for your exact number on WhatsApp.
The cheapest zone on my list
On my list, Ajman (ANCFZ) is the cheapest at AED 5,488 all in, with no visa. RAKEZ is AED 6,000 and SHAMS is AED 6,875 in government fees. With my fee of AED 1,000 to 5,000, that is AED 7,000 to 11,000 for RAKEZ and AED 7,875 to 11,875 for SHAMS. The Dubai free zones I work with start at AED 12,520.
So the three cheapest are in Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. Not one is in Dubai. If a Dubai address matters to your clients, factor that in.
Is the cheapest price the full price?
No. The price above is the licence. Before you pay, ask about these extra costs:
- A visa, plus the medical test and Emirates ID for each visa holder.
- Office rent, if you need more than the desk or lease in the package.
- Attestation of documents from your home country, if the zone asks for it.
- Renewal next year. The government renewal fee is set by the zone. My renewal fee is AED 1,000.
I show the visa cost in the next sections. The rest depends on your case, so I quote it before you start.
What each cheap package gives you
Price is only half of it. The other half is what you get. The cheapest RAKEZ package allows one business activity. Ajman (ANCFZ) and SHAMS allow more than one on a single licence.
| What you get | Ajman (ANCFZ) | SHAMS | RAKEZ (Basic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activities on one licence | Up to 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Workspace | Lease agreement | Flexi desk | Co-working access |
| Visa in the cheapest package | No | No | No |
- Activities on one licence
- Ajman (ANCFZ)
- Up to 10
- SHAMS
- 5
- RAKEZ (Basic)
- 1
- Workspace
- Ajman (ANCFZ)
- Lease agreement
- SHAMS
- Flexi desk
- RAKEZ (Basic)
- Co-working access
- Visa in the cheapest package
- Ajman (ANCFZ)
- No
- SHAMS
- No
- RAKEZ (Basic)
- No
Sources: ANCFZ packages, SHAMS packages, RAKEZ instant licence.
Why does the activity count matter?
An activity is the type of business your licence allows, like "IT consulting" or "general trading". If you do two kinds of work, you need both on your licence. A licence with only one activity can be the cheapest today and the most expensive next year.
What a visa adds
In Ajman (ANCFZ), one visa moves the government fee from AED 4,888 to AED 10,800. My fee moves from AED 600 to AED 1,500. Your total becomes AED 12,300.
For RAKEZ and SHAMS, the visa cost depends on the package. Ask me and I will send both numbers, split the same way.
Every visa holder also needs an Emirates ID, and a medical test if aged 18 or over. Visa quota means how many visas your licence allows. Check the quota before you pick a package, if you plan to hire or bring family later.
Do I need a company visa at all?
Not always. If you already live here on an employer visa, ask me whether you need a company visa on day one. Check your job contract, and ask your employer about a no-objection letter (NOC). Read starting a business while employed first.
Which zone suits freelancers
If you do several kinds of work, look at SHAMS or Ajman. The SHAMS standard package lets you choose 5 business activities. For a single skill, RAKEZ has a freelancer permit with one activity.
RAKEZ says its freelancer permit targets media and education professionals. It allows only one activity per permit. If you do design and video editing, one activity will not cover you. On RAKEZ's own site, the freelancer permit does not start cheaper than the Basic company licence. Compare the freelancer permit and the Basic licence before you pick.
Freelance permit or company?
A permit suits one skill. A company licence can carry more activities: up to 10 in Ajman (ANCFZ) and 5 in SHAMS.
Working with clients in Dubai
Yes, with limits. A free zone company can work inside its free zone and with clients abroad. To sell directly in the UAE market, it must use a licensed mainland distributor or open a mainland branch.
RAKEZ says the same thing on its FAQ page: its companies trade within the UAE only through an agent. If you pick a Dubai free zone instead, there is a Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit. It costs AED 5,000 for six months and is for eligible companies holding a Dubai Unified Licence.
If most of your customers are in the UAE, compare this with a mainland licence. My post on mainland vs free zone walks through it.
How to choose between the three
Choose by your work first, then by price. If all three cover your activities, Ajman (ANCFZ) is the cheapest on my list. If they don't, the cheapest one that covers you wins.
This is how I usually match people to a zone:
| If you... | Look at first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Do one simple thing and need no visa | Ajman (ANCFZ) or RAKEZ Basic | Lowest government fees on my list |
| Do several different things | Ajman (ANCFZ) or SHAMS | More activities on one licence |
| Teach or do one media skill | RAKEZ freelancer permit | Built for one person, one activity |
| Need your own visa this year | Ajman (ANCFZ) with 1 visa | Clear all-in price on my list |
- Do one simple thing and need no visa
- Look at first
- Ajman (ANCFZ) or RAKEZ Basic
- Why
- Lowest government fees on my list
- Do several different things
- Look at first
- Ajman (ANCFZ) or SHAMS
- Why
- More activities on one licence
- Teach or do one media skill
- Look at first
- RAKEZ freelancer permit
- Why
- Built for one person, one activity
- Need your own visa this year
- Look at first
- Ajman (ANCFZ) with 1 visa
- Why
- Clear all-in price on my list
This table is a starting point, not a rule. Your exact activity name decides it. Send me what you do, and I will check it against each zone's activity list.
When cheapest is the wrong choice
The cheapest free zone is the wrong choice when it can't do what you need. Three cases matter most.
First, you need more activities than the package allows. Second, you need a visa soon, and the visa route costs more than another zone's. Third, your customers want a Dubai address or a mainland licence.
If none of these cases fit you, go cheap. Honestly, that is what I'd do. You can move to a bigger zone when the business earns it. For the full picture of costs across Dubai, see my Dubai business setup cost breakdown or compare jurisdictions side by side.
What about bank accounts?
Banks decide who gets an account, not me and not the free zone. Expect the bank to ask what you do and where your clients are. Be ready with clear answers.
Still not sure
Get your exact number for each zone in the cost calculator. Or send me what you do on WhatsApp. I will check it against each zone's activity list.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. For your personal case, speak to a registered tax advisor.
I set up companies in Dubai and the northern emirates. My fee and the government fee are always quoted separately.
