Business Setup
Mainland or Free Zone: choosing a UAE structure
The choice is driven by where you intend to trade, who your clients are, and how you plan to staff the entity — not by which licence is cheapest.
6 min read
Insights
Notes from the files we handle.
Practical writing on UAE business setup, corporate compliance and operating in the Emirates. Written by the team that does the work, for people deciding whether to start.
Latest
Written to be useful before you engage anyone.
Each piece covers a decision we are asked about repeatedly. Where rules and fees are set by an authority and revised periodically, we say so rather than quoting a number that ages badly.
- Business Setup
What UAE business setup actually involves
Incorporation is the visible part of a longer sequence. Knowing the full order of operations is what keeps a timeline realistic.
7 min read
- Corporate Services
After incorporation: the obligations that continue
The licence is the beginning of an annual cycle. Most avoidable penalties come from obligations that were never assigned to anyone.
5 min read
Free Zone Guides · UAE
Compare All 8 UAE Free Zones We Set Up Companies In
Every free zone has a different trade-off between cost, speed, address prestige, and physical infrastructure. Browse the full guide for each below, or book a consultation and we'll match you to the right one.
The 8 Free Zones at a Glance
Dubai
Meydan Free Zone
A fully digital Dubai free zone with 60-minute instant licensing, guaranteed corporate banking, and up to three activity groups on one licence.
Best for digital businesses & e-commerce
View Guide — Meydan Free ZoneDubai Silicon Oasis
IFZA
One of the UAE's most cost-competitive free zones, combining a genuine Dubai address with some of the lowest entry-level licence fees in the emirate.
Best for consultants & cost-conscious SMEs
View Guide — IFZASharjah
SPC Free Zone
Sharjah's lowest-cost free zone, purpose-built for publishing and media, with a dual-licensing route into the Sharjah mainland.
Best for publishing, media & trading
View Guide — SPC Free ZoneAjman
Ajman Free Zone
One of the UAE's longest-established free zones, operating since 1988 with genuine Ajman Port access at a notably low cost.
Best for trading & light manufacturing
View Guide — Ajman Free ZoneAjman
ANC Free Zone
A fully digital, AI-assisted free zone launched in 2024, built for speed with up to ten activities on a single unified licence.
Best for tech, blockchain & gaming
View Guide — ANC Free ZoneSharjah
SHAMS
A cost-conscious Sharjah free zone built for freelancers and digital businesses, with no mandatory annual audit for renewal.
Best for freelancers & media
View Guide — SHAMSDubai
Dubai South
Direct access to Al Maktoum International Airport and the Jebel Ali Port corridor, for businesses that need both air and sea logistics.
Best for logistics & e-commerce fulfilment
View Guide — Dubai SouthDubai
DAFZA
Dubai's airport-adjacent free zone next to Terminal 2, purpose-built for aviation, cargo, pharmaceuticals, and family office structures.
Best for aviation, cargo & family offices
View Guide — DAFZA
Have a specific question?
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