National Free Zone Map by Emirate
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism's official registry of free-zone registrars across all seven emirates.
How to Read This Map
The UAE has dozens of free zones spread across all seven emirates, each run by its own registrar and each with its own activity focus, pricing, and facilities. This map is a starting orientation, not a ranking: the right zone depends on your activity, your need for physical space, your visa count, and where your customers and banks sit. Treat the table below as a directory of options to investigate rather than a shortlist, and remember that a single emirate can host very different zones, from premium financial centres to low-cost generalist registries.
Free Zones by Emirate
| Emirate | Free Zones / Registrars |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Masdar, twofour54, Abu Dhabi Airports FZ, KIZAD/KEZAD, ADGM |
| Dubai | DDA clusters, DIFC, DSO, Dubai Maritime City, Trakhees, DHCC, DMCC, Meydan, IHC, Dubai South, DWTC, DAFZA/CommerCity, JAFZA |
| Sharjah | SAIF Zone, Hamriyah, Publishing City, SRTIP, Shams |
| Ajman | Ajman Media City, Ajman Free Zone |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAKEZ, RAK Maritime |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ Free Trade Zone |
| Fujairah | Fujairah Free Zone, Creative City Fujairah |
Specialist vs Generalist Zones
Free zones broadly split into specialist and generalist registries, and knowing which you are looking at saves a lot of wasted comparison. Specialist zones are built around a sector or capability — financial services, media, healthcare, logistics, or industry — and bring an ecosystem and credibility that matters when your activity matches their focus. Generalist zones compete mainly on cost, speed, and a broad activity list, and suit service and digital businesses that do not need a sector-specific home.
- ●Specialist examples: DIFC and ADGM for finance, twofour54 for media, DHCC for healthcare, JAFZA and KEZAD for logistics and industry.
- ●Generalist examples: lower-cost zones competing on price and a wide activity range for service and digital businesses.
- ●Match the zone type to the activity before comparing prices across very different categories.
How to Verify
Zone names, mergers, branding, and the activities each registrar permits change over time, so confirm the current position with the authority rather than relying on a directory snapshot.
- ●Confirm the zone still exists under the name you expect and that it permits your exact activity.
- ●Confirm current pricing, office and visa requirements, and renewal costs directly with the zone.
- ●Where official registries are needed, cross-check against the relevant ministry or authority listing.
Last updated: February 2026
Sources & methodology: These guides are compiled from federal and emirate-level government sources, official registrar and free-zone authority publications, and official bank pages. Third-party consultant and agency websites are deliberately excluded. Fees, packages, and processes change — always confirm current figures directly with the relevant authority before committing.
This guide is educational and not legal or tax advice. Verify requirements with the relevant government authority, free-zone registrar, or a licensed professional before making setup decisions.
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