Choosing a zone before settling the visa count
Visa quota is usually the constraint that forces a package upgrade later.
Free zone company formation, with the zone chosen for your business
There are dozens of UAE free zones and they are not interchangeable. We recommend one on the basis of your activity, visa count and customers — not on which pays the best commission.
- 100% ownership
- Zone chosen on fit
- Audit and tax planned upfront
Dubai-based since 2015Office in Barsha Heights, Dubai
Formation to filingOne firm across the whole company lifecycle
Fees stated upfrontYou see the number before work starts
A named contactYou know who is handling your file
Verify Regulator-conferred credentials and a live Google review rating are the two highest-value additions to this strip. Neither is displayed until Aizaa supplies evidence.
What’s included
- A written shortlist of suitable zones with the trade-offs stated
- Activity approval and trade name reservation
- Licence application, incorporation documents and licence issue
- Establishment card and immigration file
- Residence visa processing for shareholders and staff
- Flexi-desk, shared or physical office arrangement as the package requires
- Corporate tax registration and a documented view on qualifying income
- A first renewal calendar, including any audit requirement
Who this is for
- Businesses selling internationally or to other free zone companies
- Consultants, agencies, technology and e-commerce businesses
- Founders who want a predictable package and fast issue
- Holding structures for regional operations
Who it is not for
We would rather say so now than three weeks in.
- Businesses whose customers are mainly UAE mainland entities and end consumers
- Businesses that must tender for government work
Process
How it works
Each step says what we do and what we need from you, so nothing stalls on an unasked question.
Requirements
Activity, visa count, premises, customers and three-year plan.
Zone shortlist
Two or three zones compared in writing on the points that affect you.
Application
Name, activity approval and incorporation documents prepared and filed.
Licence issue
Licence, establishment card and immigration file.
Visas
Residence visas including medical and Emirates ID steps.
Registrations and calendar
Corporate tax registration, VAT where relevant, and your renewal and audit dates.
Ready to start? We can open the file this week.
The rules
What actually differs between zones
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Permitted activity list | Determines what you may invoice for, and whether you can add activities later without changing zone |
| Visa allocation | Usually tied to the package and office type; adding visas can mean upgrading both |
| Office options | Flexi-desk to full premises; affects visas, cost and credibility with banks |
| Audit at renewal | Many zones require audited financial statements; plan the audit before the renewal month |
| Banking reputation | Banks form views about zones and activities; this affects account opening time |
| Corporate tax | 0% applies to qualifying income where conditions are met — this is a documented assessment, not an automatic status |
Requires verification Specific package contents, visa quotas and audit rules must be confirmed against each authority's current terms at the time you apply. We confirm them in writing as part of the shortlist rather than quoting last year's brochure.
What goes wrong
Common mistakes
These are the ones we are asked to unpick most often.
Assuming free zone status means no corporate tax obligations
Registration is required. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income where the conditions are met.
Missing the audit requirement until renewal month
Many zones require audited statements. An audit arranged in week one of the renewal window is routine; one arranged in the last week is not.
Taking the cheapest package for a UAE-facing business
If your customers are mainland companies and consumers, the savings usually evaporate.
Why Aizaa
Four reasons you can check
We shortlist, and we say why
In writing, on the factors that affect your business.
Audit and tax planned at formation
Not discovered at renewal.
One firm afterwards
Books, returns, renewal and audit under one roof.
No pressure to decide today
A written comparison is useful even if you go elsewhere.
Who handles this
Your named specialist
Assigned when your file opens
Every Aizaa engagement has one named person responsible for it. You get their direct line — not a shared inbox and not a ticket number. If they are away, you are told who is covering and when they are back.
Verify Photograph, credential and direct contact details to be supplied before this page is published. Nothing is asserted here that Aizaa has not confirmed.
Sources and review
Every figure on this page was checked against the issuing authority’s own publication:
Last reviewed 22 September 2026 by named reviewer required.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
The cheapest package is rarely the cheapest outcome once visas, office upgrades and audit requirements are counted. We will tell you which is cheapest for your specific requirement, which is a different question and a more useful one.
Generally not directly. The usual routes are a mainland distributor, a branch, or a separate mainland licence. If most of your revenue will come from UAE customers, factor that in before choosing.
They register like everyone else. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on income that does not qualify, as published by the Ministry of Finance. The assessment should be documented rather than assumed.
Many free zones require audited financial statements for licence renewal. We confirm the requirement for your zone at formation and put the date on your calendar.
It depends on the zone and the package, and is usually tied to office type. Tell us the headcount and we will shortlist on that basis.
Still have a question? Message us on WhatsApp
Page last reviewed 22 September 2026. Regulatory content on this page is reviewed at least quarterly and whenever the issuing authority publishes a change. Read our content disclaimer.