UAE Free zones (What is the Best Free zone?)

Get personalized advice about tax, asset protection, offshore banking, residency, and citizenships:

Today I will be talking about UAE Freezones.
What is the best free zone? What are the benefits of registering your company in a free zone?

Unfortunately, I see lots of bad information out there, so I decided to film this video and clarify this once for all.

There are 45 UAE Free Zones at the moment and many more under construction.
As you probably already know, UAE has 3 types of companies: international companies, free zone companies, and onshore companies.

Onshore companies are quite complicated because UAE person needs to own shares in any of these companies. They come with many regulations and nuances and are not really appealing to many.
For most people, free zone companies are a way to go when they want to incorporate a business in UAE. But which one to choose?

From my experience, this doesn't really matter. The best is to go with the option that's most convenient for you.
Many people have this false belief that you will not be able to open a bank account if you don't form in one of these most famous free zones - this is not the case!

So don't worry - choose the one that's the most convenient, and that makes the most financial sense.

Who are we and what do we do?

We are Offshore Citizen team. We help people become global: get a second passport, set up a second residency, pay less taxes, do banking abroad, etc.

We have lots of interesting articles on different topics, we have relevant information up to date.

Author: Michael Rosmer

Feel free to join our community!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel

[OffshoreCitizen]

Get personalized advice about tax, asset protection, offshore banking, residency, and citizenships:

[jensg.]

It is also worth mentioning that not all free zones allow every business activity. Often, finding the best matching business activity from their list can require some creativity and research. Some free zones are also specialised. As a foreign exchange speculator (with my own money and no clients), I could only think of two free zones that directly offer exactly that business activity. Thinking a little further, I could of course consider the activity of a single-family office or, of course, a holding company if all I want is a visa to live/get residency in the UAE.

[thecontainerthecontents]

thank you Michael -- you are exactly correct -- many of these businesses will pressure you to sign up in one of the most expensive zones -- and claim you won't be able to get banking without forming in that pricey zone -- and meanwhile they say substance isn't a big deal or required, nor a residential lease.

So you'll be paying a good 10 thousand with those kind companies just to form... and you could've just opened a RAK freezone company or something less expensive like that and used the money towards creating real substance there -- which actually makes the real difference I think.

So they are taking advantage IMO, and misrepresenting what actually matters to the banks, because they know they cannot profit off you forming substance, but they do profit off you choosing an expensive dubai zone. Sneaky stuff.

Would you say the most important factor is having an office? Or having a residential lease to show the bank?

Because renting a home in dubai is not cheap. And there's laws there apparently not allowing people to sublet -- therefore if you rent, and then want to leave dubai most of the year -- you cannot even make use of that rental by renting it out to someone else -- or so i heard.

[MANCO]

Plz make an updated version of freezone company, thanks

[dexterspeights]

GREAT VIDEO FOR PEOPLE USING UAE as a BUSINESS HAVEN!

[svphasetwo]

Hello OC.. I'm looking to set up a trading company registered in Dubai. No physical business or imports to or through the UAE. The activity will be e-commerce brand selling in the UK/USA. I'm getting a lot of suggestions on IFZA - prices seem comparable and no audit requirements which suits me. So much conflicting information out there ! In your experience is this a good freezone post registration - I want to work with a zone that helps when there are problems / expansions / bank account issues etc. many thanks and excellent info as always !

[sunsetseeker]

Thank you for the content. I have a business would like to do work with me on PR Services. Can I do this as a Freelance setup as I will be managing this solo

[eldridgesawyer]

RAKEZ - Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone is the very best free zone in the U.A.E.

[certifiedmahtab]

Hello, For a software services can we do business with UAE mainland companies? if any promotion required inside the client premises to explain the software usage or clearing the doubts is it allowed? or everything should be on phone?

[heritshah]

Came here to learn about freezones but you didn't mention in detail about any!

[dataintech]

Which freezone is good to open an company to do forex currency trading company in Dubai?

And cost required for it?

Thx...

[DailyFortniteDose]

Hey Michael - what is the cheapest option If you only want Emirates ID?

[alexrappoport]

Great video as always, Mike. I see a lot of guys just open a random Freezone company just to get an Emirates ID. Is it true Mike? Is banking really difficult there as well?

[yasmineseba]

Thank you for this amazing video, what do you think sir of Ajman media city FREEZONE ? Due to your huge experience are they serious with their clients or not?

[MoosaMughal.]

hi mate. which freezone is best for just registering a company . having virtual office for all online digital marketing and online technology services provider

[walterrooks]

Good information. I am just in the process of considering do this. I spoke with someone from Businessspace at the Expo last week. If I have several business ideas do I need more than one license? Also, with the license I am afforded UAE visa/ID and can then lease an office so that opening a business banking account would be easier. Is that correct?

[KobyNaith]

Hello, thank you for this video. I'm in dubai and i'm really eager to know about freezone companies.

[raigonart]

Hi Mike which area is better for starting picture framing shop

[TGILCLOVERSG]

Hi, Thank you for your content. Very informative.
I am looking to see if Dubai FZ is a good option for my business?
I have a consulting company in Europe. Due to shortage of talent & cost, we want to recruit in South East Asia, working remotely for clients (Covid made this acceptable). But the hassle of setting up a legal entity in multiple countries is too high and I am wondering if a Dubai FZ company be a good option, where we can issue legal contract for Remote hiring e.g. in Sri Lanka or India? Our expected number for 2023 is hiring around 10-15 people through the Dubai FZ company (assuming it is possible). I should also add, in the near-term, we will not be providing services in UAE.
Thanks

[padmanabhanrajagopal]

Hi Mike, I am Raj. I have a question related to procurement process. If a company inside jebel ali free zone, placing an purchase order to a overseas supplier say the supplier is in China and instruct the supplier to ship the goods to the customer in France directly to avoid freight and handling cost of bringing into jebel ali free zone and to re export to the customer in France, will this process is compliance as per jebel ali free zone regulations or the goods needs to received into jebel ali free zone and then to re export to fulfill customer in France. Need your expert advise. If we can ship directly to customer will save a considerable cost and lead time benefits however I want to know if this process is legal. Thanks.