Ranking · 2026
The cheapest free-zone licenses in the snapshot, ranked by entry price — with the honest caveats: entry prices assume minimal packages, and renewals continue annually.
Methodology
Ranking
Creative City Free Zone Fujairah Hub soon The absolute minimum in the snapshot: AED 1,620* for a services license. Ideal for one-person international businesses.
Ajman Media City Free Zone Ajman Hub soon The cheapest purpose-built media zone with flat digital onboarding.
UAQ FTZ Umm Al Quwain Hub soon Entry from AED 5,370* with the fastest issuance tier (3–10 days) and a wide catalog.
RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah Hub soon Entry from AED 5,505* with the strongest trading and industrial support among budget zones.
Ajman Free Zone Ajman Hub soon Flat AED 5,555* standard pricing and 343 combinations — the most predictable of the cheap set.
How to choose
Entry prices assume the smallest package: one activity, no visas, flexi-desk. Every visa adds roughly AED 3,000 – 6,000*, and renewals repeat annually.
Watch for outliers in the raw data: some providers list amendment services (from AED 2,000*) that are not licenses — the ranking counts license packages only.
The cheapest license is not always the cheapest year-two: compare renewal schedules and establishment-card fees before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
In the snapshot, Creative City Free Zone starts from AED 1,620* for a services license — the lowest license package among 40 zones.
Yes: establishment card, visas, medical and Emirates ID are separate; renewals recur annually. Budget roughly the license fee per year plus per-visa costs.
Not necessarily — banks assess your business substance. But a complete KYC pack matters even more for budget zones without a well-known name.