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Mainland vs Free Zone vs Offshore
One table, every structure, the criteria that actually decide it — cost, local trading rights, tax treatment, visas, and setup time.
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| Criteria | Mainland | Free Zone | Offshore | Freelance Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical first-year cost | AED 16,000 – 20,000+ | AED 5,500 – 12,500 | AED 7,750 – 12,500 | AED 8,000 – 15,000 |
| Local UAE trading rights | Yes, directly | No — needs a distributor | No — holding only | Activity-dependent |
| Visa capacity | Scales with office size | Typically 1–2 in base package | None — cannot sponsor visas | 1 (yourself only) |
| Corporate Tax | 9% standard rate | 0% on qualifying income | No trading income to tax | Same rules as your income type |
| Office requirement | Physical, Ejari-registered | Flexi-desk accepted | Registered agent only | Shared desk arrangement |
| Typical setup time | 1 – 3 weeks | 3 – 7 working days | A few working days | 3 – 10 working days |
| Best for | Retail, F&B, UAE-facing services | Consulting, e-commerce, international B2B | Holding shares, IP, property, asset protection | Solo consultants and creatives |
Figures are typical 2026 ranges for a small, single-shareholder company and vary by emirate, free zone, and activity — see the linked guides below for the full breakdown behind each row.
Go deeper on each structure
Mainland vs Free Zone, in fullCost, trading rights, and where each wins
Cheapest free zones, rankedRAKEZ, SHAMS, Innovation City and more compared
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The real cost of a freelance visaEvery fee, before you apply
Best free zone for consultingMeydan, Innovation City, or SHAMS
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