Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi or Dubai mainland
Compare Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi with Dubai mainland for the same activity, facilities and visa needs. The mainland figure is an official licence estimate, so it sits beside the free-zone package in the table but is never ranked against it.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, selling abroad or in free zones. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi and Dubai Mainland; decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
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.
| Metric | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu DhabiFree zone | Dubai MainlandMainland |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi AED 9,450 12 months · published package | Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate |
| Lowest package price | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi AED 9,450 12 months · published package | Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent |
| Licence issued in | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi 24 hours The authority advertises free-zone company setup in 24 hours. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi AED 5,000 | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Industrial, Logistics, Trading | Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial |
| Facility options | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Industrial plots, Warehouse, Office | 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
|
| Visa options | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing. |
| Remote paperwork | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi No | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Activity guides catalogued | Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland 2,327 |
| Next step | Explore Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi | Start with Dubai Mainland |
Check before choosing
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi guideDubai Mainland
- Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
- Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions
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FAQ
Can a free-zone package be set against the mainland licence estimate?
The mainland column shows the official licence estimate, which excludes rent, visas and approvals, so it is never ranked against a free-zone package. Confirm the activity, premises and visa plan to get a like-for-like quote.
Which costs less on published figures, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi or Dubai Mainland?
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi and Dubai Mainland; decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.