U.A.E. Free Zone Locations Compared
On this page, you’ll find an overview of free trade zones* in the United Arab Emirates. Please note that while the format of this website does not providesufficient space for each free zone to be described in detail, this page should enable you to narrow down your choice to one or two suitable locations. Our specialists are always on hand to provide in-depth advice.
To date, free trade zones have been established in the emirates of Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), Ajman and Fudschaira. Within these free trade zones, companies may be founded without the involvement of a native shareholder. These companies also enjoy special tax privileges.
Different zones within the free trade zone system are differentiated by the type of business they promote. This can be seen clearly from the example of Dubai:
Jebel Ali Free Zone | Mainly significant as a freeport zone |
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre | Facilitates the handling of raw materials |
Dubai Media City | International productions |
Knowledge Village | Branches of international universities |
Gold and Diamond Park | Trade in gold and diamonds |
Dubai Car and Automotive City | For the automobile industry |
Dubai Maritime City | Maritime services |
Dubai Aid City | International healthcare |
Furthermore, it is not only the free zones within an emirate which differ from one another. The individual emirates are always in competition with one another as free zones and so conditions, advantages and disadvantages differ from emirate to emirate
The ideal location for your enterprise
Privacy Management Group is domiciled in the United Arab Emirates. Based on our experience, we have identified the U.A.E. free trade zones (free zones) that we believe to be most relevant for the majority of prospective company owners.
The following comparison should in no way be taken to mean that, having spoken with you personally and considered your individual requirements, we will not recommend a different free trade zone if we feel to be better suited for your company. Our comparison takes only around 92% of relevant considerations into account;the exceptions here prove the rule.
The relevant U.A.E. free tradezones in comparison
Free zone | Available licence types (possible areas of business activity) |
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK Free Zone) | Industry, trade, import & export, services, e-commerce, national industry, media, etc. |
Dubai (Jebel Ali Freezone) | Trade, industry, services or national industry |
Ajman (Ajman Free Zone) | Trade, e-commerce, services. |
The available licence types alone will often allow you to determine which free zone is best suited for your proposed business activities. If you are yet to make a decision, the following comparison may be of assistance.
Free Zone Corporation | Corporate Income Tax (CIT) | Office Rental Costs | Complexity of Formation Process | Visa and Residency | Banks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ras Al Khaimah | 0% | low | medium | complex | ++ |
Jebel Ali | 0% | medium | high | very complex | ++ |
Ajman | 0% | low | low | easy | ++ |
The above comparison does not automatically mean that weview the Dubai Free Zone of Jebel Ali as not recommendable overall. For example, the intended purpose of your enterprise might renderJebel Ali far more suitable than other free zones despite the relative disadvantages represented above. However – and it is for this reason that we provide these comparisons at all – there are a number of basic pros and cons for each location. Our aim to present these in an easy-to-understand way. As such, the table below provides a further comparison, compiled on the basis of our experiences:
Free Zone | Duration of Formation | Requirements | Bureaucracy |
---|---|---|---|
Ras Al Khaimah | +/- | +/- | +/- |
Jebel Ali | - | +/- | +/- |
Ajman | ++ | + | +/- |
And how do ratings agencies regard these locations with regard to the financial securityof future development?
Free Zone | Rating Agency | Year of Valuation | Valuation |
---|---|---|---|
Ras Al Khaimah | Standard & Poors | 2012 | A/AA-1 |
Jebel Ali | Moody's | 2013 | Ba2 |
Ajman | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Need More Detailed Information?
Privacy Management Group can offer you a personal consultation on location or via telephone or email. Additionally, you can use the following links to find out moreabout the Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman free zones and to view and compare our fees and services.