Transparency guide
The free zone fees most quotes leave out
The 8 costs to check before you sign
1. Visa costs quoted as the slot, not the visa
The most common trick. A package advertises visas 'included', but the price covers only the allocation slot on the licence (typically AED 1,500–2,500). The actual residence visa — entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID, stamping — adds roughly AED 4,000–6,000 per person on top. Always ask for the all-in per-visa figure in writing.
2. The immigration establishment card
Required before any visa can be processed, typically AED 2,000 or more, and rarely shown in the headline price. If a quote includes visas but not the establishment card, the number is incomplete.
3. Year-two renewal shock
Launch promotions discount year one; renewal reverts to the full tariff, and visa renewals land every two years on top. Before signing, get the zone's published renewal tariff and model years two and three — a cheap first year with an expensive renewal often costs more over three years than a straightforward tariff.
4. Activity groups and add-on approvals
Base licences cover a set number of activity groups. Adding activities, or selecting ones that need external approvals (education, health, food, financial services), carries extra government fees the sales quote may omit. Confirm your exact activity list is covered by the base fee.
5. 'Free' office that isn't usable
Flexi-desk and virtual office inclusions satisfy the licence, but some activities and some visa quantities require physical space under the zone's rules — at which point the real office cost appears. Ask what your visa count and activity actually require, not what the package includes.
6. Bank account realities
Zones advertise bank account 'assistance', but approval is the bank's decision and most business accounts carry minimum-balance requirements — commonly AED 25,000–50,000 for SME accounts — or monthly fees when you dip below. Budget for the balance requirement as working capital from day one.
7. Compliance filings nobody mentions
UAE companies face ongoing obligations — corporate tax registration and annual filing (9% above AED 375,000 profit, with a 0% band below and small-business relief subject to conditions), possible VAT registration at AED 375,000 turnover, ESR where applicable, and UBO declarations. None of this appears in a setup quote, and penalties for missed filings are real.
8. NOC, amendment, and exit fees
Changing shareholders, adding a manager, amending activities, or closing the company all carry fees. Liquidating a free zone company typically costs several thousand dirhams and takes months. Nobody plans to exit at setup — but the exit tariff is part of the true cost of choosing a zone.
Category ranges above are typical government and banking add-ons, last reviewed August 2026. Partner licence/visa line items live on each matcher outcome and structuring report. Specific zones and activities still vary — get the line-item quote first.
Why we publish this
CoreSpaces works through authorised free-zone partner relationships across Dubai, Ajman, and Sharjah. We publish the full-cost questions founders should ask so you can compare each option on the same basis before committing.
Want the all-in number for your specific setup? send a brief for an itemized quote across our partner zones.
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Book a consultationCommon questions
What are the hidden costs of a UAE free zone company?
The usual gaps between the advertised price and the real cost: visa processing beyond the allocation slot, the immigration establishment card, year-two renewal at full tariff, activity add-on approvals, physical office requirements triggered by visa count, bank minimum balances, ongoing tax and compliance filings, and amendment or exit fees.
Why do free zone quotes differ so much for the same thing?
Because quotes draw the line in different places. One agent quotes the licence only; another includes visa slots but not processing; a third includes everything. Comparing headline numbers without a line-item breakdown is meaningless — insist on an itemized, written quote covering year one and the renewal year.
Is the cheapest free zone actually cheapest?
Often not over three years. Zones with low headline licence fees can carry higher visa costs, stricter office requirements, or steeper renewals. Model the three-year total for your specific activity and visa count — that comparison frequently reorders the ranking.
How do I get a true all-in quote?
Ask for a line-item quote in writing that covers licence, all visa-related fees per person, establishment card, any activity approvals, office requirements for your visa count, and the renewal tariff. We provide exactly that — grounded in each zone's published tariff, never below it.