A UAE free zone visa in 2026 typically costs AED 3,400 to 6,500 per person all-in for a two-year residence visa, covering the entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, visa stamping and basic health insurance. The exact figure depends on the free zone you choose, whether you apply from inside or outside the country, and whether the visa is for an investor or an employee. On top of the per-visa cost, every free zone company also needs an establishment card and an immigration card, at roughly AED 1,500 each per year, before it can sponsor a single visa.
This guide breaks down the real cost of a free zone visa component by component, ranks the cheapest and most expensive free zones, gives a zone-by-zone comparison for eight of the most popular authorities, and explains the hidden fees that rarely appear in a headline quote. Every figure below reflects 2026 government fee schedules and typical free zone service charges, and we explain exactly how we verify them at the end.
What Does a UAE Free Zone Visa Cost?
A free zone visa is a UAE residence visa sponsored by a free zone company. It is usually valid for two years, though some zones offer three-year packages. The total cost is made up of several separate fees paid to different authorities, which is why a single all-in number is hard to find until you are partway through an application.
| Cost Component | Indicative AED (2026) | Notes |
| Entry permit | 1,100 to 2,200 | Lower if applying inside the UAE, higher from outside |
| Change of status (inside UAE) | 500 to 700 | GDRFA status amendment plus typing charges |
| Medical fitness test | 270 to 1,020 | Standard, fast-track or VIP processing |
| Emirates ID | 370 (2-year), 470 (3-year) | Federal ICP fee |
| Visa stamping | 850 to 1,500 | Final residence visa, investor or employee |
| Basic health insurance | 1,000 to 2,000 | Mandatory on every visa; rises with age |
| Indicative all-in, inside UAE | 3,400 to 5,500 | Per person, two-year visa |
| Indicative all-in, outside UAE | 4,500 to 6,500 | Per person, two-year visa |
Some free zones bundle these items into a single per-visa fee, while others charge each line separately. Always confirm the exact inclusion list against your specific zone quote, because a package advertised as visa included sometimes excludes the medical test, Emirates ID or insurance.
Free Zone Cost Index: The Exact All-In Cost Per Visa
The BCL Free Zone Cost Index below turns the component fees into a single planning figure. It reflects the total government-collected cost plus standard free zone service charges for one two-year residence visa, and separates the true all-in per-visa cost from the one-time, company-level charges that founders often forget.
- Inside-country application, employee visa: roughly AED 3,400 to 4,500 per person.
- Inside-country application, investor or partner visa: roughly AED 3,800 to 5,000 per person, slightly higher than an employee visa.
- Outside-country application: add AED 1,000 to 2,000, almost entirely explained by the higher entry permit fee.
- Company-level cards, charged once per year regardless of visa count: establishment card and immigration card at roughly AED 1,500 each.
Read the per-visa figure and the company-level figure as two separate budgets. A single founder sponsoring only their own investor visa still pays both the per-visa cost and the full card cost, which is why the first visa in any free zone always looks more expensive than the second or third.
Zone-by-Zone Free Zone Visa Cost Comparison
Free zone pricing is competitive and changes often, so treat the table below as an indicative 2026 comparison rather than a fixed quote. Starting license prices are for a zero-visa package. The one-visa Year 1 figure is the typical all-in including license, flexi-desk, cards, visa processing, medical, Emirates ID and basic insurance.
| Free Zone | Emirate | License From (AED) | Indicative 1-Visa Year 1 (AED) | Typically Suited For |
| IFZA | Dubai | 12,900 | 19,500 to 21,500 | Consultancy, trading, holding, Dubai address |
| Dubai South | Dubai | 12,500 | 19,000 | Logistics, aviation, digital-first setups |
| JAFZA | Dubai | 25,000+ | 45,000 to 100,000+ | Large trading, warehousing, strong banking |
| RAKEZ | Ras Al Khaimah | 6,000 | 14,000 | Industrial, warehousing, dual licensing |
| SHAMS | Sharjah | 5,750 | 12,000 to 14,000 | Media, freelancers, service businesses |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | 6,500 | 12,000 to 14,500 | Instant license, multiple activities |
| KIZAD (KEZAD) | Abu Dhabi | 9,450 | 16,000 to 20,000 | Manufacturing, logistics, Khalifa Port access |
| UAQ FTZ | Umm Al Quwain | 5,500 | 12,500 | Budget general trading and services |
Note that the per-visa cost itself is broadly similar across zones because most of it is federal government fee. The large gaps you see between zones are driven mainly by the license and office component, not by the visa. A Dubai address from IFZA or Dubai South carries a premium that matters for client perception and banking, while the northern-emirate zones trade some of that prestige for a materially lower entry price.
Cheapest Free Zones for Visas
For founders optimising purely for cost, the most affordable routes in 2026 are consistently the northern-emirate and Sharjah zones.
- UAQ FTZ, SHAMS and SPC Free Zone lead on entry price, with zero-visa licenses from roughly AED 5,500 to 6,500.
- RAKEZ is the strongest value for anything industrial or warehouse-based, with all-inclusive bundles from around AED 6,000 and visas processed in about five business days.
- Among Dubai-based zones, IFZA and Meydan are the cheapest credible options for a genuine Dubai license, both starting near AED 12,500 to 12,900.
Most Expensive Free Zones for Visas
At the other end of the range sit the premium zones, where the higher cost buys reputation, banking access and specialised infrastructure rather than a more expensive visa as such.
- DIFC is the most expensive mainstream route, with Year 1 costs that can exceed AED 100,000 once a physical office is included.
- JAFZA, DMCC and DAFZA sit in the premium tier, starting around AED 25,000 and rising well beyond AED 100,000 for a trading company with warehouse space.
- These zones are chosen for banking ease and credibility. DMCC, JAFZA and Dubai Gold and Diamond Park are among the few zones rated easy for corporate account opening.
All-In Versus Excluded Costs: Our Methodology
A visa quote is only useful if you know what it does and does not contain. To keep the figures in this guide honest and comparable, BCL Globiz applies a consistent all-in definition across every zone.
What Our All-In Figure Includes
- Entry permit or change of status, whichever applies to your situation.
- Medical fitness test at standard processing speed.
- Emirates ID federal fee for the matching visa duration.
- Residence visa stamping.
- Basic health insurance, which has been mandatory on every UAE residence visa since 2025.
What We List Separately, Not Inside the Per-Visa Figure
- Establishment card and immigration card, because they are annual company-level costs shared across all visas.
- The trade license and office or flexi-desk fee, which belong to company formation rather than the visa.
- Refundable deposits, PRO handling and premium fast-track upgrades, which are optional or situational.
- Dependent visas, which are budgeted per family member on top of the sponsor visa.
Whenever a free zone advertises a low bundled number, we recommend asking for the same all-in breakdown, so you are comparing like with like rather than one zone’s sticker price against another zone’s true cost.
Prerequisites: Cards You Need Before Sponsoring Any Visa
Before a free zone company can sponsor even one visa, it needs two active cards. If either lapses, existing visas cannot be renewed and new ones cannot be issued until the card is restored, usually with a late penalty on top.
- Establishment card, at roughly AED 1,500 per year, which allows the company to act as a sponsor.
- Immigration card issued by the ICP, at roughly AED 1,500 per year, which registers the company with the immigration system.
Combined, these come to about AED 3,000 per year regardless of how many people you sponsor. Some zones, such as Ajman Free Zone, also require a one-time e-channel registration of around AED 2,300 and a refundable establishment deposit that is returned when the file is closed.
Investor or Partner Visa Versus Employee Visa
| Feature | Investor or Partner Visa | Employee Visa |
| Sponsored by | Own free zone company | Free zone company as employer |
| Validity | 2 years, some 3 years | 2 years |
| Indicative all-in cost | AED 3,800 to 5,000 | AED 3,400 to 4,500 |
| Employment contract | Not required | Required, MOHRE labour contract |
| Salary requirement | None | Depends on activity and zone |
Founders weighing which jurisdiction fits their activity often start with our Dubai Free Zone List guide before committing to a specific authority.
Visa Allocation by Office Type
Each office package supports a maximum number of visas. If you need more than your package allows, you upgrade the office rather than buy visas individually.
- Smart or virtual office: zero to one visa.
- Flexi-desk: one to three visas, depending on the zone.
- Executive office: three to six visas.
- Standard small office: four to eight visas.
- Larger office or warehouse: more, typically calculated by square footage.
Step-by-Step Visa Process
Step 1: Establishment and Immigration Cards
The free zone company applies for the establishment card and immigration card. Each typically takes two to five business days.
Step 2: Entry Permit
Applied through the free zone portal or a typing centre. Validity is 60 days and extendable, with issue in two to five business days.
Step 3: Enter the UAE or Change Status
The applicant enters on the entry permit, or if already inside the UAE applies for a change of status.
Step 4: Medical Fitness Test
A mandatory blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre, with results in one to three days. A same-day option is available at higher cost.
Step 5: Emirates ID and Biometrics
Fingerprints and photograph at an ICP centre. The card is delivered in five to ten days.
Step 6: Visa Stamping
The final residence visa is recorded electronically, as visas are no longer physically stamped in the passport since 2022. This takes three to five business days after the earlier steps. End to end, the full process usually runs two to four weeks.
Renewal Cost by Free Zone and Visa Type
UAE residence visas renew every two years, or every three years on some long-term packages. Renewal repeats the medical test, Emirates ID and stamping, plus a fresh year of insurance, so the cost is close to the original visa rather than a discount.
| Renewal Item | Indicative Cost (AED) | Frequency |
| Visa renewal per person | 2,500 to 3,500 | Every 2 to 3 years |
| Health insurance renewal | 1,000 to 2,000+ | Annual |
| Establishment card renewal | 1,500 | Annual |
| Immigration card renewal | 1,500 | Annual |
| Trade license renewal | Same as initial license | Annual or per license term |
Renewal cost varies by zone in line with the initial package. Budget zones such as UAQ FTZ, SHAMS and RAKEZ renew cheaply, while premium zones such as JAFZA and DMCC carry higher renewal fees. Investor visas usually renew at a slightly higher rate than employee visas, mirroring the gap at first issue.
Hidden Fees: Deposits and PRO Handling
The costs that surprise founders are rarely in the headline quote. Three categories account for most of the gap between an advertised price and the amount that actually leaves your account.
Refundable Security Deposit
Some visa categories and nationalities require a refundable security deposit held by immigration as a guarantee against overstay. For first-degree dependent relatives this is commonly around AED 1,020, though several zones set their own amounts. It is returned once the visa is cancelled and the person exits or changes status, and refunds typically take several weeks to process.
Dependent Visa Deposit
Sponsoring family members carries its own deposit and permit fees on top of the dependent visa itself. As a live example, RAKEZ applies a deposit of about AED 3,310 on an investor or partner dependent visa renewal, and family entry permit fees run around AED 1,035 when the dependent is inside the UAE and AED 365 from outside. Deposits are refundable in principle but must be actively reclaimed after cancellation.
PRO Service Charges
Public relations officer, or PRO, charges are the service fees a setup agent or the zone charges for handling typing, submissions and government liaison on your behalf. These are not government fees and are not standardised, typically ranging from AED 1,000 to 3,000 per transaction depending on the provider and the complexity of the case. A transparent quote should show PRO handling as a separate line rather than folding it invisibly into the visa cost.
Dependent Visas
Once your investor or employee visa is issued, you can sponsor a spouse and children, provided your salary meets the threshold, which is typically AED 4,000 per month plus accommodation, or AED 10,000 per month all-in. Sponsoring parents requires a higher income, often around AED 20,000 per month, plus a larger deposit.
A dependent visa costs a similar amount to an investor or employee visa, roughly AED 4,000 to 5,500 per dependent including medical, Emirates ID and insurance, before adding the refundable deposit. Children can generally be sponsored up to age 18, or up to 25 if studying, while unmarried daughters can be sponsored without an age limit.
Visa Cancellation
On company closure, resignation or relocation, visas must be formally cancelled through MOHRE for the labour side and the ICP for immigration. Indicative fees are around AED 120 to 180 for the labour card, AED 70 to 100 for the immigration visa and AED 40 to 70 for the Emirates ID, so roughly AED 230 to 350 per person in total.
Employees receive a 30-day grace period after cancellation to secure new sponsorship or leave the UAE. Overstaying beyond the grace period currently incurs a fine of about AED 50 per day.
How We Verify These Costs: Sources and Transparency
Immigration and free zone fees are revised periodically, so every figure in this guide is dated and cross-checked rather than quoted once and left to age.
- Official fee schedules. Federal components such as the entry permit, Emirates ID and status amendment are taken from ICP and GDRFA published fees. Emirates and free zone charges are checked against each authority’s own package pages and cost calculators.
- Cross-referencing. Where a figure varies between sources, we present a realistic range rather than a single optimistic number, and we flag whether it applies inside or outside the UAE.
- Last verified date. The pricing in this guide was reviewed in July 2026. Because authorities can adjust fees at any time, we recommend confirming the current figure at the point of application.
- What we exclude. Marketing figures such as unusually high visa quotas or from prices with no breakdown are treated with caution and excluded unless the official authority confirms them.
BCL Globiz is a Dubai-based accounting and business consultancy. We are not affiliated with the UAE Government or any official authority, and the figures here are indicative planning guidance rather than a formal quotation.
What We See Most Often at BCL Globiz
The single biggest budget surprise is health insurance. Cost summaries often quote AED 1,000 to 2,000 for basic cover, but for applicants over 45, those with pre-existing conditions, or anyone wanting coverage accepted at most private hospitals, real annual premiums reach AED 3,000 to 6,000 or more. Build that into the budget from the start.
The most overlooked compliance step is keeping the establishment card and immigration card current. If either lapses, sponsored visas cannot be renewed and no new visas can be issued until the cards are restored, with late penalties added on top. A short annual reminder prevents an expensive scramble later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a UAE free zone visa cost in 2026?
Roughly AED 3,400 to 6,500 per person for a two-year residence visa, inclusive of entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, stamping and basic insurance. Add the establishment card and immigration card at about AED 1,500 each per year at company level.
Which free zone has the cheapest visa?
The per-visa cost is similar everywhere because most of it is federal fee. The cheapest overall setups are in UAQ FTZ, SHAMS, SPC Free Zone and RAKEZ, where the surrounding license and office costs are lowest. The cheapest Dubai options are IFZA and Meydan.
How long is a UAE free zone visa valid?
Most are valid for two years. Some long-term and Golden Visa packages extend to three, five or ten years. Medical, Emirates ID and insurance are redone at each renewal.
Can I sponsor my family on a free zone visa?
Yes, subject to a salary threshold of about AED 4,000 per month plus accommodation, or AED 10,000 all-in. A dependent visa costs roughly AED 4,000 to 5,500 each, plus a refundable deposit.
How long does the visa process take?
Typically, two to four weeks from entry permit to stamping. The medical and Emirates ID steps require the applicant to be physically in the UAE.
What happens to my visa if my company closes?
Visas must be cancelled through MOHRE and the ICP, at roughly AED 230 to 350 per person. Employees then have a 30-day grace period to find new sponsorship or leave the UAE.
How BCL Globiz Can Help
Choosing the right free zone, budgeting the true all-in cost and keeping your cards and renewals compliant is exactly the kind of work BCL Globiz handles every day for founders and growing companies in the UAE. We match the zone to your activity, prepare an itemised written quote with no hidden lines, and manage the visa, renewal and compliance steps so nothing lapses.
To get a tailored estimate or to talk through your setup, reach our team at info@bcl.ae or on +971 55 942 9740. We usually respond within a few business hours.
