The most affordablefree zones,outside Dubai.
SHAMS, SPC, RAKEZ, AFZA across Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman free zones. Lower setup cost, equally legitimate licence, same 100% foreign ownership. Right when budget matters more than the Dubai postcode.
SHAMS.
Sharjah Media City is affordable, fast and creative-friendly. Right for content creators, freelancers, agencies and small media-adjacent businesses. Two-day licence, low cost, broad activity list.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Match your activity to SHAMS' creative list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Sign flexi-desk lease.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated in 2 days.
- Solo founders, freelancers and creators
- Marketing agencies and content studios on a budget
- Bootstrapped teams that need a real licence fast
- Founders relocating to Sharjah residency
- Activity classification against SHAMS' creative list
- Application + KYC submission
- Flexi-desk lease, Sharjah-resident-friendly
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- Bank account introduction
SPC.
Sharjah Publishing City is built for publishing, e-learning, content production and intellectual-property businesses. Strong cultural and academic ecosystem, IP-friendly licensing.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Confirm publishing / IP activity classification.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit corporate documents.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Choose office or flexi-desk.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated.
- Publishers, e-learning and EdTech companies
- Authors, agents and rights-management businesses
- Content studios producing video and digital media
- IP-heavy companies needing a copyright-friendly base
- Activity mapping under SPC's publishing/IP categories
- Application + corporate documents
- Office or flexi-desk lease in SPC
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- IP and copyright registration support
RAKEZ.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone is the most cost-efficient industrial and SME licensing in the UAE. Industrial parks, plots, warehouses and offices at a fraction of Dubai pricing, with broad activity lists and 0% personal income tax.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Match activity to RAKEZ industrial / commercial list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Lease office, warehouse or plot.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + immigration file issued.
- Manufacturing, industrial and SME operators
- Cost-sensitive trading and import-export businesses
- Founders prioritising cost over Dubai address
- Logistics and warehousing at scale on a budget
- Activity classification across RAKEZ industrial / commercial categories
- Application + corporate documents
- Office, plot or warehouse lease
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- Banking introduction
AFZA.
Ajman Free Zone (AFZA) is one of the fastest and cheapest UAE free-zone licences. Right for first-time entrepreneurs, small trading and consulting firms, and bootstrapped founders who want a real UAE licence without Dubai overhead.
- 01Stage 1 / 4
Confirm activity matches AFZA's list.
- 02Stage 2 / 4
Submit application + KYC.
- 03Stage 3 / 4
Choose smart-office or flexi-desk.
- 04Stage 4 / 4
Licence + visa quota activated.
- First-time founders launching their first UAE business
- Small consulting, trading and service businesses
- Founders prioritising lowest possible cost
- Anyone testing the UAE market before committing to Dubai
- Activity confirmation under AFZA's commercial / service categories
- Application + KYC submission
- Smart-office or flexi-desk lease
- Establishment card, immigration file, visa quota
- Bank account introduction
Tell us your activity and team size. We'll come back with the right zone.
Activity, ownership, visa quota, banking, lease type and total year-one cost: assessed against all four Northern Emirates zones and back to you within one business day.