Free Zone Explorer
45+ jurisdictions. One honest comparison.
As a channel partner across 45+ UAE free zones, we recommend the zone that fits your activity, visas and budget, not the one that pays the highest commission.
47Zones listed
7Emirates
100%Foreign ownership
47 zones · 0 selected to compare
Financial centreDubaiDIFC
Dubai International Financial Centre
Financial servicesFintechHolding
Free zone
Abu DhabiKEZAD
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi
IndustrialLogisticsManufacturing
Free zoneSharjahSAIF Zone
Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
TradingLogisticsLight industry
Offshore
Ras Al KhaimahRAK ICC
RAK International Corporate Centre
HoldingAsset protectionTrading
Free zone
SharjahSRTIP
Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park
ResearchTechnologyInnovation
Jurisdiction guide
Free zone, mainland or offshore?
The structure decides where you can trade, how many visas you get and how you are taxed. Here is the short version.
| Criteria | Free zone | Mainland | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership for most activities | 100% foreign ownership |
| Where you trade | Inside the zone and internationally; onshore via a distributor or dual licence | Anywhere in the UAE and internationally | Outside the UAE only |
| Office | Flexi-desk, office or warehouse in the zone | Physical office with registered Ejari | Registered agent address |
| Residency visas | Allocated by office package | Based on office size | Not available |
| Corporate tax | 0% on qualifying income for Qualifying Free Zone Persons; 9% otherwise | 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000 | Assessed case by case |
| Best for | Consultancies, e-commerce, international trading, startups | Retail, contracting, government contracts, local services | Asset holding, international trading |
General guidance only. Rules vary by activity and authority; your advisor confirms the position for your case in writing.
Still deciding?
