Free zone or Dubai mainland

Q: Can a free-zone company invoice UAE clients?

It can invoice, but selling into the mainland market often needs a mainland distributor or agent arrangement. If most of your revenue is onshore UAE, price the mainland route properly before choosing.

Q: Do I still need an office in a free zone?

You need the facility your package includes, which can be a flexi desk or virtual office. Mainland DET expects Ejari-registered premises, which is a different cost line entirely.

Free zones are faster and cheaper but limit how you sell inside the UAE. Dubai mainland under DET buys onshore trading rights and asks for registered premises in return.

Ajman Free Zone starts AED 7,345 lower with no visa (AED 5,555 against AED 12,900 for IFZA).

Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.

Side by side

Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.

Last updated 6 September 2026. Each figure comes from the same source as its guide page.
Metric	IFZAFree zone · updated 4 Sep 2026	Ajman Free ZoneFree zone · updated 4 Sep 2026	Dubai MainlandMainland · updated 6 Sep 2026
From, no visa	IFZA AED 12,900 12 months · package price	Ajman Free Zone AED 5,555 12 months · package price	Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent
From, one visa	IFZA AED 20,650 12 months · package price	Ajman Free Zone AED 11,000 12 months · package price	Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate
From, two visas	IFZA AED 26,400 12 months · package price	Ajman Free Zone AED 17,171 12 months · package price	Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate
Lowest available price	IFZA AED 12,900 12 months · package price	Ajman Free Zone AED 5,555 starting price	Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent
Licence issued in	IFZA 3–5 business days	Ajman Free Zone <24h	Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published
Residency visa in	IFZA 1–2 business days	Ajman Free Zone 1–3 calendar days	Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published
Renewal price	IFZA AED 12,900	Ajman Free Zone Same as package price	Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published
Licence types	IFZA Commercial, Professional, Industrial	Ajman Free Zone Services, Commercial, Industrial, Free Lancer, E-Commerce, General Trading	Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial
Facility options	IFZA Flexi desk, Smart office, Office	Ajman Free Zone Virtual Office, Office, Warehouse, Land, Retail	Dubai Mainland Confirm the premises are suitable for the exact activity before signing a lease or paying for fit-out. Ejari registration alone does not establish activity approval. 2 moreShow less Ejari registration: DLD publishes AED 177.75 through the app/website and AED 220 through a trustee. Confirm company-tenant channel eligibility; rent, deposits and fit-out are separate. The trustee fee components total AED 219.75 with 5% VAT on the partner fee, while DLD prints AED 220. Confirm the payable amount.
Visa options	IFZA Investor or partner visa against the licence for shareholders 3 moreShow less Employment visas up to the allocation in the package, priced from zero to three visas Dependant sponsorship once the primary residency and Emirates ID are issued Establishment card is issued first and gates every visa that follows	Ajman Free Zone Investor or partner visa against the licence for shareholders 3 moreShow less Employment visas against the facility and package you hold Dependant sponsorship after the primary residency is issued Plan roughly ten days in the country for residency steps, longer than the Dubai lane	Dubai Mainland Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing.
Remote paperwork	IFZA Yes	Ajman Free Zone Yes	Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published
Activity guides catalogued	IFZA 447	Ajman Free Zone 525	Dubai Mainland 9

Check before choosing

IFZA

The lowest possible first-year cost, where Ajman is materially cheaper
Warehouse, land or industrial operations that need real premises
Activities carrying a third-party approval before licence issuance, which breaks the fast timeline

Read the IFZA guide

Ajman Free Zone

Anyone who needs a Dubai address on the licence, invoices and bank record
Founders on a tight trip, since residency steps on the ground run longer than IFZA
Activities restricted to warehouse or land facilities when you only want a desk package

Read the Ajman Free Zone guide

Dubai Mainland

Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions

Read the Dubai Mainland guide

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FAQ

Can a free-zone company invoice UAE clients?

It can invoice, but selling into the mainland market often needs a mainland distributor or agent arrangement. If most of your revenue is onshore UAE, price the mainland route properly before choosing.

Do I still need an office in a free zone?

You need the facility your package includes, which can be a flexi desk or virtual office. Mainland DET expects Ejari-registered premises, which is a different cost line entirely.

Still torn?

Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.

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