BUSINESS SETUP
Free zone or mainland, decided on facts.
The choice is not about which licence is cheaper. It is about where your clients are, how you plan to bank, how many visas you need and how easily you can close it again.
THE DECISION
Four things that actually drive the choice.
Where your clients are
If you invoice UAE-based companies and government entities, mainland removes friction. If your revenue is international, a free zone licence is usually enough.
Banking
Account opening is decided by the bank, not the registrar. Substance, source of funds and a coherent business model matter more than the licence type. Some free zones are simply slower to bank than others.
Visa quota
Your quota follows your office arrangement. A flexi-desk carries a small allocation; more visas mean more space, and more space means more annual cost.
Exit
Closing a company properly takes longer than opening one. Ask what deregistration costs and how long it takes before you choose where to register.
COMPARISON
Free zone against mainland.
| Factor | Free zone | Mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100 percent foreign ownership | 100 percent for most activities |
| UAE market access | Restricted by activity | Direct |
| Office requirement | Flexi-desk upwards | Physical office, Ejari required |
| Visa quota | Tied to desk or office size | Tied to office area |
| Indicative first-year cost | To be supplied | To be supplied |
| Indicative renewal | To be supplied | To be supplied |
| Deregistration | To be supplied | To be supplied |
Rows marked to be supplied are placeholders. Costs shown anywhere on this site are indicative and are quoted properly after a conversation about your activity, visa count and banking plan.
GO DEEPER
The four pages behind this decision.
Free Zones
Which zone suits which business, and what each one really charges over three years.
OpenMainland
When a DED licence is the right answer, and the office and quota rules that come with it.
OpenCost Calculator
Build an indicative three-year cost including the renewals most quotes leave out.
OpenDocuments
Every document required, in order, with attestation and translation notes.
OpenQUESTIONS
Asked before every setup.
Is a free zone company allowed to work with UAE clients?
It can contract with them, but activities carried out inside the mainland may require a mainland presence or an agent. The answer depends on your specific activity, so we check it against your revenue model rather than giving a blanket yes or no.
What is the real first-year cost?
Licence, establishment card, e-channel registration, visa costs per person, medical and Emirates ID, and your office arrangement. The number most people are quoted covers the licence only. We quote the three-year cost so the renewal is not a surprise.
Does a company give me residency?
A licence gives you the right to apply for investor or employment visas within your quota. Residency then depends on medical clearance and Emirates ID issuance. It is a process, not an automatic outcome.
Do I need to be in the UAE to set up?
Part of the process can be done remotely, but visa stamping and Emirates ID biometrics require you to be here. We plan the trip around the steps that need you in person.