List of Free Trade Zones in UAE
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Free-trade zones in the United Arab Emirates are areas that have a special tax, customs and import regime, and are governed by their own framework of regulations (with the exception of
UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as i ...
criminal law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It proscribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and Well-being, welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal l ...
).


Background

The UAE has a number of free zones across
Dubai Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...
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Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
,
Sharjah Sharjah (; ', Gulf Arabic: ''aš-Šārja'') is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the D ...
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Fujairah Fujairah City () is the capital of the emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. It is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, seventh-largest city in UAE, located on the Gulf of Oman (part of the Indian Ocean). It is the only Em ...
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Ajman Ajman ( '; Gulf Arabic: عيمان ''ʿYmān'') is the capital of the emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. It is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, fifth-largest city in UAE after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain. Loca ...
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Ras al-Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah (; ), often referred to its initials RAK, is the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the U.A.E. The city had a population of 191,753 in 2025, and is the sixth-most populous city in UAE after Dubai, Abu ...
and
Umm al-Quwain Umm Al Quwain (UAQ; Arabic: أم القيوين, pronounced: Arabic phonology, /ʔumː alqejˈwejn/, Gulf Arabic: Gulf Arabic, ʊm͜ː 'æl ge̞ˈwe̞n) is the capital and largest city of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emir ...
. Free zones may be broadly categorized as
seaport A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manc ...
free zones,
airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...
free zones, and mainland free zones. Free-trade zone exemptions are: * 100% foreign ownership of the enterprise * 100% import and export tax exemptions * 100% repatriation of capital and profits * Corporate tax exemptions for up to 50 years * No personal income taxes * Assistance with labor recruitment, and additional support services, such as sponsorship and housing. Each Free Zone is designed around one or more strict industry categories. An independent Free Zone Authority (FZA) governs each free zone, and is the agency responsible for issuing FTZ operating licenses and assisting companies with establishing their business in the FTZ. Each free zone has its own specific requirements regarding minimum capital requirements, office or warehouse space and permitted activities; with each possessing the relevant licenses and adequate legislation to enable their dedicated industry to flourish. Investors can either register a new company in the form of a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) or simply establish a branch or representative office of their existing or parent company based within the UAE or abroad. An FZE is a limited liability company governed by the rules and regulations of the Free Zone in which it is established. Except for acquiring nationality in the UAE, the provisions of the Commercial Companies Law (CCL) do not apply to FZEs, provided that the Free Zones have special provisions regulating such companies. Free zone companies can run business within the relevant zone or outside the UAE. Some free zones (including ADGM, JAFZA, DMCC, RAK FTZ) allow for inward redomiciliation of foreign companies, which means a transfer of a corporate seat of an existing company from abroad to the UAE free zone. There are a few Free Zones in UAE that offer Dual Business License for investors. It is expected to allow them to do business in the Free Zone as well as in the mainland of UAE using the same business license.


Free zones

A free zone authority is a designated economic area governed by its own set of regulations, which differ from those applicable to businesses outside the zone. Companies operating within free zones are typically non-customer-facing businesses, such as those involved in import/export, online operations, and other business activities that do not involve direct dealings with local customers. There are 46 Free Zones operating in UAE. The number is now 47 with the recently established Sharjah Communication Technologies Free Zone. ;Abu Dhabi * Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ) *
Abu Dhabi Global Market Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is an international financial centre and free zone located on Al Maryah Island in the United Arab Emirates's capital, Abu Dhabi. The financial centre was established in 2013 and became fully operational in Octobe ...
*
Khalifa Industrial Zone KEZAD or Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD Group () was launched by AD Ports Group on September 19, 2022, as part of the plan to consolidate and grow its Economic Cities and Free Zones offering. Background As part of its plans to achieve ...
* Industrial City of Abu Dhabi * Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones / ZonesCorp * Masdar City Free Zone * twofour54 * Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Group (KEZAD) ;Dubai * Dubai Airport Free Zone *Dubai Auto ZZone * Dubai Biotechnology & Research Park (DuBiotech) * Dubai Car and Automotive City Free Zone (DUCAMZ) * Dubai CommerCity Free Zone (DCC) * Dubai Design District * Dubai Flower Center * Dubai Gold and Diamond Park * Dubai Healthcare City * Dubai Industrial City (DIC) *
Dubai International Academic City Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), informally known as Academic City, is a university town in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates along the Dubai-Al Ain Road. The project was launched in May 2006 in liaison with Dubai Knowledge Park. ...
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Dubai International Financial Centre The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a special economic zone in Dubai covering , established in 2004 as a financial hub for companies operating throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) markets. DIFC is regulated ...
* Dubai Internet City (DIC) *
Dubai Knowledge Village Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), informally known as Academic City, is a university town in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates along the E 66 road (United Arab Emirates), Dubai-Al Ain Road. The project was launched in May 2006 in lia ...
* Dubai Logistics City * Dubai Media City * Dubai Multi Commodities Centre * Dubai Outsource Zone * Dubai Silicon Oasis * Dubai Science Park * Dubai Techno Park * Dubai Textile Village * Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone * International Media Production Zone * International Humanitarian City *
Jebel Ali Free Zone Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza; Arabic: (جافزا) المنطقة الحرّة لجبل علي al-Munṭaqa al-Ḥurra le Jabal ʿAlī) is a free economic zone located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, n ...
*Jumeirah Lakes Towers Free Zone * Dubai South or DWC * Dubai Production City * Meydan Free zone * DUQE Free zone ;Sharjah * Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) * Hamriyah Free Zone * Sharjah Airport International Free Zone * U.S.A. Regional Trade Center (USARTC) Free Zone * Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone * Sharjah Media City Free Zone (Shams) * Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) * Sharjah Communication Technologies Free Zone (COMTECH) ;Ajman *
Ajman Free Zone Ajman Free Zone (AFZA) () is a free trade zone and one of the designated freezones located in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE). First established in 1988, it is one of a number of unbonded free zones in the UAE offering offshore company setup a ...
* Ajman Media City Free Zone Ras Al Khaimah * Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) * RAK Maritime City Free Zone Authority (RMCFZA) * Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority * Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone * Ras Al Khaimah Media Free Zone Fujairah * Fujairah Free Zone * Fujairah Creative City Umm Al Quwain * Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQFTZ)


Free zones under construction

* Dubai Maritime City * Dubai Carpet Free Zone * Dubai Auto Parts City * Heavy Equipment and Trucks Zone * Mohammad Bin Rashid Technology Park * Dubai International Arbitration Center


See also

*
Free economic zone A free-trade zone (FTZ) is a class of special economic zone. It is a geographic area where goods may be imported, stored, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured and re- exported under specific customs regulation and generally not subjec ...
* List of free-trade zones in Dubai *
List of company registers This is a list of official business registers around the world. There are many types of official business registers, usually maintained for various purposes by a state authority, such as a government agency, or a court of law. In some cases, ...
* List of offshore financial centres * List of financial districts


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Free-trade zones in the United Arab Emirates Economy of the United Arab Emirates-related lists Geography of the United Arab Emirates Lists of companies of the United Arab Emirates Neighbourhoods in the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates geography-related lists