startwith AI

What business do you want to start?

Type an activity like “trading”, or describe your business in your own words — I’ll find the official activities, extra approvals, the best setup route and the cheapest zones.

Popular activities:

Or ask AI:

Emirate

Price shown

Cheapest free zones right now

Published by the free zones themselves · each zone shows its own checked date

#	Free zone	Package & what you get	Licence only
1	Fujairah Creative City Fujairah	AED 3,500 Media Package Licence, up to 10 activities, up to 10 shareholders, flexi desk 24/7, no visa	AED 3,500
2	Ajman NuVentures Ajman	AED 4,888 Zero Visa Package Licence, lease, MOA/AOA, commercial registry, share certificate, COI, incumbency, bank letter	AED 4,888
3	Ajman Media City Ajman	AED 4,999 Business Club Business licence, certificate of incorporation, commercial registry, co-working lease, MOA, share certificate	AED 4,999
4	SRTIP Sharjah	AED 5,500 Zero Visa Package Trade licence	AED 5,500
5	SPC Free Zone Sharjah	AED 5,750 Pay-as-you-go licence 1-year licence, company registration, first 5 activity groups	AED 5,750
6	SHAMS Sharjah	AED 5,760 Media package LLC licence, any 5 activities, flexi desk & lease agreement, no NOC (VAT included, e-channel extra)	AED 5,760
7	ADAFZ Abu Dhabi	AED 6,000 Starter Registration and licence fees	AED 6,000
8	RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah	AED 6,000 Biz Starter Up to 10 activities, up to 50 shareholders, bank account eligibility*, networking events	AED 6,000

Headline prices only — office, extra activities and government fees can be extra. Zones that don’t publish prices aren’t ranked. Not ranked here: RAK ICC (offshore, no visas), DIFC (USD, regulated), KEZAD (land-based), Dubai Healthcare City and International Humanitarian City (specialist), UAQ (conflicting figures) — see their pages.

Sentences are interpreted by AI to find matching activities. Please don’t include personal details.

How business activities work in the UAE

Every UAE licence lists the specific activities your company may carry out, chosen from the authority’s official list. Pick every activity you plan to do — trading the wrong goods or offering a service that isn’t on your licence can lead to fines.

Several activities on one licence: most zones allow a number of activities per licence, sometimes only within the same group.
Extra approvals: some activities, such as healthcare, education, food, transport or financial services, need approval from another authority before the licence is issued.
Names differ by zone: the same business can appear under different names, so try a few words if your first search finds nothing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find which free zones allow my activity?

Describe your business in your own words, or add each activity your company will do. We show the zones that have all of them on their official list first, sorted by price.

Can one licence cover several activities?

Usually yes, but each zone sets a limit and some charge for extra activities. The zone page shows the limit where it’s published.

What does “needs approval” mean?

Some activities need a green light from another authority before the licence is issued — for example, car rental needs approval from the RTA. This can add time and cost, so plan for it.

What if my activity isn’t found?

Try a shorter word, such as “trading” instead of “general trading company”, or a different term. Still nothing? tap “Get help on WhatsApp” on this page and our setup partner will check the exact activity name for you.

Can I add or change activities after I get my licence?

Usually yes, by amending the licence. Most authorities charge an amendment fee, and some activities need extra approvals before they can be added.

Is the activity search free to use?

Yes. Searching activities and comparing free zones on startwith.ae is free, and you don’t need to sign up.