Mainland, free zone or offshore? One question decides it.
Who you sell to settles it in about eight out of ten cases. Answer it below and I'll point you to the page for your structure, with its starting price.
Structure finder
Three structures, three prices
Every entry price, published side by side.
Most affordable route
The most affordable way into the UAE is the Ajman free zone licence. If that works for you, it's the answer.
See the free zone page
01Mainland · DEDMainland company
Trade anywhere in the UAE, open a shop or office on the high street, and bid for government contracts.Full market accessGovernment clientsVisa quota by officeFrom AED 27,500 · AED 25,000 government + AED 2,500 my feeSee both fees for this setup
Most affordableFree zoneFree zone company
Full foreign ownership and a faster licence, set up inside one of 40+ zones such as IFZA, Meydan or DMCC.100% ownershipFast setupSector-specific zonesFrom AED 5,488 · AED 4,888 government + AED 600 my feeSee both fees for this setup
03OffshoreOffshore company
A holding structure for assets, IP and international trade. It cannot trade inside the UAE.Asset holdingInternational tradeNo office neededQuoted per case. No published price.See both fees for this setupSide by side
Three structures. Only one of them holds without trading.
- Yes:
- With conditions:
- No:
| Compare | Mainland AED 27,500Dubai Mainland, all inAED 25,000 government + AED 2,500 my fee | Free zoneMost affordable AED 5,488Ajman, all inAED 4,888 government + AED 600 my fee | Offshore Per caseNo published price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you can trade | Yes: Anywhere in the UAE | With conditions: Inside the zone and abroad | With conditions: Outside the UAE only |
| Ownership | With conditions: 100% for most activities | Yes: 100% foreign ownership | Yes: 100% foreign ownership |
| Residence visa | Yes: Yes, set by office size | Yes: Yes, per package | No: No |
| Office | With conditions: Required, with an Ejari | Yes: Not needed | No: Not allowed |
| Selling to UAE customers | Yes: Directly | With conditions: Through a distributor or branch | No: No |
| Can own Dubai property | Yes: Possible | Yes: Possible | Yes: Yes, in approved areas |
| Prices are where each one starts. | See mainland | See free zone | See offshore |
Choosing a structure
Three questions people ask before picking.
I sell online and some buyers are in the UAE. Which one?
If most of your buyers are in the UAE, mainland. A free zone company can only sell into the UAE through a distributor or a branch. If most are abroad, a free zone is the cheaper start.
Do I need an office to get a residence visa?
On mainland, yes. The office size sets how many visas you can hold. A free zone package includes visas without a physical office. Offshore cannot sponsor a visa at all.
Is the most affordable option good enough?
Often, yes. If your clients are abroad or inside the zone, an Ajman free zone licence at AED 4,888 government plus AED 600 my fee covers it. You only pay more when your activity, location or visa count needs it.
Rather talk it through
Still not sure which one? Tell me who you sell to.
I'll reply personally and point you to the right structure, with both fees, before you spend anything.