Q3 2026$397M raised27 deals49 new startups215 open rolesTracker

Where should you actually register?

Every founder has to answer this before they can hire, bank, or invoice — and almost everyone offering an answer earns a commission on it. We do not. These pages carry what the first year actually costs, how many people each licence really lets you hire, and what founders say caught them out. Where we have not verified something, we leave it blank and say so.

We list every jurisdiction we know of, including ones we are still checking — knowing a zone exists is worth more than a tidy list of the few we have finished. Pages marked “being verified” carry what applies to any free zone plus a link to the official source.

START HERE

Fintech licensing in the UAE: DIFC, ADGM or mainland
Which licence does a UAE startup actually need?

RESIDENCE ROUTES

UAE Golden Visa
Founders with a funded or notable venture, investors meeting the capital thresholds, and people whose profile fits the exceptional-talent category — d
UAE Green Visa
Skilled employees classified in MoHRE occupational levels one to three, holding at least a bachelor’s degree, on a salary of AED 15,000 a month or mor

FREE ZONES & MAINLAND

ADGMFree zone · Abu DhabiBeing verified
Ajman FZFree zone · AjmanBeing verified
DAFZAFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
DIFC
Technology companies that want a common-law jurisdiction and an address next to the region’s financial institu
Free zone · DubaiChecked September 2026
DMCCFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
DUQEFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
DWTCFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
CommerCityFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
d3Free zone · DubaiBeing verified
Dubai Internet CityFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
Dubai Media CityFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
DSOFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
Dubai SouthFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
HamriyahFree zone · SharjahBeing verified
IFZAFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
JAFZAFree zone · DubaiBeing verified
KEZADFree zone · Abu DhabiBeing verified
Masdar CityFree zone · Abu DhabiBeing verified
Meydan
Founders who want a Dubai address and a fast, low-friction setup without renting an office — and particularly
Free zone · DubaiChecked September 2026
RAK DAOFree zone · Ras Al KhaimahBeing verified
RAKEZFree zone · Ras Al KhaimahBeing verified
SAIF ZoneFree zone · SharjahBeing verified
SHAMS
Solo founders, consultants, and small media, software or e-commerce businesses billing customers outside the U
Free zone · SharjahBeing verified
twofour54Free zone · Abu DhabiBeing verified