DMCC vs IFZA vs RAKEZ: UAE Free Zone Comparison & Costs
IFZA typically has the lowest entry cost (from around AED 12,900 for a zero-visa licence), RAKEZ offers the most flexible visa-scaled packages (from around AED 6,010 for the licence alone), and DMCC sits at the premium end (commonly AED 20,000+) in exchange for stronger brand credibility, especially for commodities, trading and crypto-adjacent businesses. The right choice depends on your budget, visa needs, business activity and how much weight your industry places on jurisdiction reputation.
At Lynks, we help you compare free zones on the factors that actually affect your business — not just the headline licence fee — and handle the registration, documentation and visa process end to end.
Which Free Zone Fits Your Business?
DMCC, IFZA and RAKEZ are three of the UAE’s most popular free zones — each built for a different kind of business.
Cost & Visa Package Comparison
Indicative 2026 ranges — confirm your exact quote with Lynks, as fees vary by business activity, visa count and service provider.
DMCC licence fees generally start higher because they bundle stronger reputational value and sector-specific commodity trading privileges — not because the registration process itself is more complex.
DMCC licence fees
Roughly AED 20,000–35,000+ per year depending on licence type (e-commerce/service/trading/industrial), plus flexi-desk or office from AED 15,000–50,000+/year.
IFZA licence packages
From about AED 12,900 for a zero-visa package up to roughly AED 34,550 for a 3-visa package, with flexi-desk included in the standard packages.
RAKEZ licence packages
From about AED 6,010 (zero-visa government fee) up to roughly AED 22,010 for a 3-visa package; total setup with service fees commonly AED 18,000–32,500 depending on configuration.
Visa add-on costs
Each additional residence visa typically adds AED 4,000–7,000 across all three free zones, with RAKEZ and IFZA offering more gradual per-visa pricing than DMCC.
Costs to budget for beyond the licence
Establishment card, medical and Emirates ID fees, bank account minimum balances, insurance, and annual renewal charges apply regardless of which free zone you choose.
Setup Timeline by Free Zone
All three free zones can issue a licence quickly once documents are complete — the real time difference shows up at the visa stamping stage.
✅ The cheapest option on paper is not always the cheapest in practice — a free zone licence that does not match your activity, or a mainland company with no banking plan, can cost more to fix later than to set up correctly the first time.
Which One Should You Choose?
A quick guide based on what most founders are actually optimizing for.
Not sure which fits? Tell us your business activity, visa needs and budget and we’ll recommend the free zone that actually fits — not just the cheapest one.
How Lynks Helps You Choose the Right Free Zone
We compare free zones on the factors that affect your actual costs and timeline, not just the headline fee.
We don’t guarantee approval outcomes from any free zone authority — our role is to prepare a complete, compliant application and recommend the jurisdiction that genuinely fits your business.
FAQ'S
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to common questions about DMCC, IFZA and RAKEZ.
DMCC is a premium Dubai free zone known for commodities, trading and crypto, with higher fees and strong credibility. IFZA is a lower-cost, fast-setup Dubai free zone popular with startups and consultants. RAKEZ is based in Ras Al Khaimah and offers flexible, visa-scaled packages at a lower overall cost, including industrial and warehouse options.
On licence fee alone, IFZA and RAKEZ are generally the lowest-cost options, with IFZA zero-visa packages starting around AED 12,900 and RAKEZ zero-visa government fees from around AED 6,010. DMCC is typically the most expensive, commonly AED 20,000 and up.
Yes, in most cases. DMCC licence fees are generally higher than IFZA because DMCC offers stronger brand credibility, commodity-trading privileges and a Dubai address that carries particular weight with banks and international partners.
Both IFZA and RAKEZ offer tiered packages with visa allocations that typically range from zero up to three or more residence visas, with the licence fee increasing at each visa tier. Your exact quota depends on office type and package selected.
RAKEZ and IFZA licences are typically issued in about 5–10 working days, while DMCC usually takes 7–14 working days due to additional compliance checks. Residence visa stamping adds roughly 1–2 weeks per person across all three free zones.
DMCC is purpose-built for commodities trading and is the most recognized free zone in this sector, which can help with bank account approval and credibility with international trading partners — though IFZA and RAKEZ also support general trading licences at a lower cost.
There is no direct "transfer" between free zones. Moving your business to a different free zone generally means closing or migrating the existing licence and registering a new company, so it is worth comparing free zones carefully before you commit.
Tell us your business activity, budget, visa needs and whether banking credibility matters for your industry, and we will recommend the free zone that fits — based on your situation, not a generic ranking.
Get Expert Help Choosing the Right UAE Free Zone
Tell us your business activity and budget — we’ll recommend DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ or another free zone that genuinely fits, and handle the setup end to end.
With Lynks, you get a clear cost comparison, eligibility checked against your activity, and a fully managed registration process from start to finish.