The Best Freezones in the UAE to Start Your Business
The UAE is a great place to start a business due to its strategic location, business-friendly policies, and attractive incentives offered in its free zones. But entrepreneurs need to do research and pick the right free zone. They also need to know the rules in their area and have a good business plan to make sure they are successful.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to numerous free zones that offer attractive incentives and business-friendly policies to entrepreneurs looking to set up a business.
Here are some of the best free zones in the UAE to start your business:
✔️ Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC): The DMCC is the biggest and fastest-growing free zone in the UAE. It is in the middle of Dubai and offers a wide range of business services, such as trading goods, finance, and logistics.
✔️ Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO): DSO is a technology park in Dubai that helps high-tech industries work together. It has a lot of benefits, like letting foreigners own 100% of the business, not charging taxes, and making it easy to get visas.
✔️ Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM): ADGM is located in the capital city of Abu Dhabi and is the first financial free zone in the UAE. It provides a range of financial services, including banking, asset management, and insurance.
✔️ Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ): RAKEZ is located in the northern part of the UAE and offers a range of business activities, including industrial, trading, and service-based activities. It also gives incentives like letting foreigners own 100% of a business, not having to pay taxes, and getting a visa quickly.
✔️ Sharjah Media City (SHAMS): is in the emirate of Sharjah and is a hub for publishing, broadcasting, and advertising businesses. It also has benefits like letting foreigners own 100% of a business, not charging taxes, and making it easy to get a visa.
The UAE's free zones offer a wide range of business activities that entrepreneurs can start, including:
✔️ Trading and logistics: This includes businesses involved in the import and export of goods, as well as those involved in warehousing and distribution.
✔️ Technology and innovation: This includes businesses involved in software development, app development, and IT services.
✔️ Media and creative industries: This includes businesses involved in publishing, advertising, film production, and broadcasting.
✔️ Finance and professional services: This includes businesses involved in banking, insurance, legal services, and consulting.
✔️ Manufacturing and industrial activities: This includes businesses involved in manufacturing, assembly, and production.
It’s important to research the specific free zone you’re interested in to see which business activities are allowed and which incentives are offered. This can help you choose the right free zone and ensure that your business is set up correctly from the start.
The required certificate attestation for starting a free zone business in the UAE can vary, but typically include a passport copy and visa page, a business plan, proof of address, a licence application form, MOA and AOA, a bank reference letter, and an NOC from your current employer (if employed). It’s important to check with the relevant free zone authority for a complete list of required documents and work with a local legal expert to ensure a smooth application process.
The UAE’s free zones offer entrepreneurs a wide range of business activities that they can start, from trading and logistics to technology and innovation, media and creative industries, finance and professional services, and manufacturing and industrial activities. It’s important to research the specific free zone you’re interested in to understand which business activities are allowed and which incentives are offered. By doing so, entrepreneurs can choose the right free zone and ensure that their business is set up correctly from the start.