UAE is a prominent business location for foreign investors due to the enormous business benefits and infrastructure the country offers. The Free Trade Zones play a vital role in the business growth of the UAE. There are a few popular Free Zones in UAE that most of the investors choose due to various business benefits and business license packages the Free Zone offers to them. The Free Trade Zones offer a Plug-and-Play setup for the investors. It enables them to easily establish their Company and start business operations seamlessly.
Popular Free Zones in UAE
There are various ways in which foreign investor can establish their company in UAE. The easiest one is opening a free zone company and getting an investor visa.
Here is a list of popular Free Zones in UAE. The Free Zones in UAE offers cost-effective and attractive business license packages for investors to start a business easily.
1. Dubai Airport Free Zone
Dubai Airport Free Zone is one of the most prestigious Free Trade Zones in the world. It is home to some of the top companies. The Dubai Airport Free Zone offers a host of attractive business setup packages to investors.
Also, the investors can choose from a long list of business activities to set up their desired business. DAFZA offers various shared-desk and freelance opportunities with up to 3 years of UAE residence visa validity. It is highly beneficial for start-ups, budding entrepreneurs, and freelancers to start at a low cost and expand later.
DAFZA is strategically located in proximity to one of the world’s busiest airports, the Dubai International Airport. It allows companies operating in the Free Zone to easily conduct international trade via the Airport. It also helps in bringing in foreign investment and clients from other regions to UAE for conducting business.
Explore various business setup packages from DAFZA here.
2. Meydan Free Zone
Meydan Free Zone is one of the newest free trade zones in the UAE offering attractive business setup packages for investors from across the world.
The Free Zone is located at the Meydan Hotel and is a perfect choice for international businesses and investors who are frequent business travelers. The Free Zone is in proximity to the Polo Club and has easy access to hotel facilities.
It is a perfect place for business meetings and onboarding clients. The Free Zone offers a perfect business infrastructure and ecosystem for businesses to thrive and achieve long-term sustainability easily.
With more than 2000 business activities and business license packages starting from AED 12,500 for Zero Visa Quota, it is a perfect choice for international investors aiming to expand their presence in UAE.
3. Dubai China Center Digital Park
Dubai China Center is a newly incorporated Free Zone at the Dubai Silicon Oasis. The Free Zone offers cubicle type and executive office types along with a wide range of business activities.
The China Center Free Zone is one of the latest Free Trade Zones in Dubai offering attractive and low-cost company setup packages. The Free Zone offers a long list of business activities ranging from media, eCommerce, commercial, industrial, and services sectors.
The Free Zone has sophisticated office facilities, meeting rooms, conference rooms, etc. along with a growing business ecosystem ideal for startups. Entrepreneurs get access to a wide range of business support services along with attractive company setup packages the free zone offers.
4. Dubai Silicon Oasis – IFZA
Dubai Silicon Oasis – IFZA is one of the fastest-growing Free Trade Zone in Dubai. The Free Zone is a perfect choice for investors across various categories such as trading, services, commercial, etc. IFZA offers office facilities ranging from co-working spaces, Flexi-Desks, to fully customized office spaces for the investors.
The Free Zone offers a three-year investor visa along with the business license of choice for the investors. The entrepreneur can club uptown 3 business activities under the same business license.
It also offers a perfect business ecosystem for start-ups and entrepreneurs to easily start a company in the Free zone. There is minimal documentation for registering a company in IFZA. Also, the company formation process in the Free Zone is hassle-free and quick.
To know more about the latest Free Zone Packages, visit IFZA Dubai
5. Sharjah Media City
Sharjah Media City is another dynamic Free Trade Zone in the UAE that offers freelance permits and a host of low-cost business setup packages for entrepreneurs. The Free Zone is a perfect choice for freelancers and budding entrepreneurs to kick-start their business ventures.
The Free Zone offers a business License for media activities at as low as AED 8,050. Entrepreneurs can benefit greatly from the low-cost offerings and keep their overhead expenses low.
Sharjah Media City offers quick and minimal documentation and the investor can obtain the trade license in less than 2 working days after document submission. Avail of attractive discounts on the company setup packages from the Free Zone and easily scale up the business.
6. Sharjah Publishing City
Sharjah Publishing City is one of the most sought-after free zones among global investors to start a company in the UAE. The Free Zone offers one of the most competitive pricing to investors and also provides ample business facilities to investors.
The Free Zone provides office facilities ranging from shared offices to fully customized office spaces depending on the specific business requirements of the investors. SPC Free Zone offers a Freelance License for as low as AED 5,750 for a zero visa quota. Freelancers can benefit from the low-cost business packages offered by the SPC Free Zone.
Hence, in a nutshell, there are a few popular Free Trade Zones that support entrepreneurs to easily set up their company in UAE and keep the business setup cost low. At the same time, benefit from the ample business infrastructure and other facilities offered by the Free Zones.
Importance of Free Trade Zone in UAE
In UAE, the Free Trade Zones are an integral part of the business ecosystem and a strong force in supporting the overall economy. It offers entrepreneurs and business investors umpteen business benefits.
The foreign investors can own 100% shares in the Free Zone company with 100% autonomy in business operations, ability to transfer 100% profit to home country, save tax in the home country by applying for a tax residence certificate, obtain a 3 year UAE residence visa, and more.
The Free Trade Zones in UAE have a well-defined support system to provide all the required assistance to the investor for successfully registering and running the business in the UAE.
How Free Zones in UAE Support the Trade & Commerce Ecosystem?
There are more than 45 Free Trade Zones in UAE across the 7 Emirates offering various Business Licenses and more than 3000 business activities for entrepreneurs to establish their base in the region.
A few selected Free Zones are designated Free Zones that are Value-Added-Tax (VAT) exempted for certain transactions within the Free Zone jurisdiction. Also, there are Free Zones with in-house Customs Check Point for facilitating the easy entry and exit of goods entering and leaving the Free Zones.
Overall the Free Trade Zones play a vital role in boosting a country’s Trade and Commerce in many ways. It is a perfect gateway to the global markets and facilitates global business operations. Most of the Free Zones are closely located to the major transport lines in UAE to streamline the import-export and trading activities.
How to Choose the Right Free Zone in UAE?
The Free Trade Zones of UAE offer global investors a host of business benefits while setting up their companies in the Free Zone jurisdictions.
From a low-cost business license package with Virtual Office to a multi-year business license package, there is a wide variety of options that investors can choose from in the UAE.
Investors must judiciously choose the desired Free Zone by analyzing various factors such as their desired business activity, location of the Free Zone, office space requirements, visa quota availability, budget for company incorporation and allied business support services, etc.
Seeking assistance from Expert Business Consultants would help in arriving at the right Free Trade Zone for establishing your company in UAE.
The Business Consultants will assess the investor profile in detail and suggest favorable company incorporation options to select from making the process of setting up a company more streamlined.
Setting up a Company in UAE – How Easy is it for a Foreign Investor?
Setting up a company in UAE is a well-structured process. There are two major business jurisdictions in UAE to set up your company. It is the Free Zones and the Mainland of UAE.
Foreign investors choose the Free Zone over the mainland especially due to the availability of 100% foreign ownership and customs duty exemption for imports to the free zone, lower taxation as a whole in UAE and many more benefits.
Registering a Free Zone company in UAE is a very easy process that can be completed within a few steps and mostly in a day or two.
Easy Steps in Setting Up a Company in UAE Free Zones
Following are the steps to set up a company in UAE’s Free Trade Zones.
- Decide on the company name (up to 3 names to be shortlisted) and get approval from the respective authority, Free Zone in this case).
- Choose the right business activity and business license type from the Free Zone
- Submit the shareholder details, photograph, passport copy, and application form
- Make the fee payment for obtaining the trade license
- Get all the approvals required depending on the selected business activity
- Get the tenancy contract prepared for the office space
- Obtain the trade license and proceed to apply for the UAE Residence Visa
- Get a Corporate Bank Account for the company to conduct trade and record payments
Hence, in a nutshell, the Free Trade Zones play a vital role in the business ecosystem of the UAE. Foreign investors can easily start a business in the Free Trade Zones in the most hassle-free way. Investors choose UAE for setting up a business due to the ease of registering a company in the region and also due to the seamless running of the company.
To know more about the latest Free Zone Business License Packages in UAE and the cheapest free zones in UAE, connect with our expert Business Consultants right away to Choose the right Free Trade Zone for your business in UAE!
Contact Us: Aurion Business Consultants
