UAE Free Zone

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Best free zone for a one-person consultancy

Independent shortlistFacts last verified 23 October 20265 zones

A one-person consultancy needs little more than a professional licence, a desk on paper and, usually, one visa. The choice comes down to price, whether you can set up remotely, and how easily a bank will accept the company.

Short answer

IFZA and Meydan are the common Dubai choices for remote founders. ANCFZ and UAQ FTZ publish lower prices and allow setup without a visit. SPC is a low-cost Sharjah option.

What to compare

Professional or consultancy licence
Covers advisory and service work.
Remote setup
Matters if you are overseas.
Visa cost on top
Most entry prices exclude the visa.
Banking
Banks judge the company and its owners, not just the zone. See the banking notes on each zone.

The shortlist

Not in a paid order. Each reason comes from the zone's profile on this site, which lists its sources and the date we checked them.

  1. IFZA

    Dubai

    Commercial and professional licences, no physical presence needed to incorporate, and widely used by consultants.

    Published entry price
    Not published
    Set up remotely
    Yes
    Facilities
    Office (IFZA Business Park)
    Banking notes

    Last verified 23 October 2026 · Full profile and sources

  2. Meydan FZ

    Dubai

    Fully online setup with a non-resident licence; its own FAQ prices a first investor visa separately.

    Published entry price
    AED 12,500
    Set up remotely
    Yes
    Facilities
    Flexi-desk, Office
    Banking notes

    Last verified 23 October 2026 · Full profile and sources

  3. ANCFZ

    Ajman

    Licence in about two hours with no visit, and up to 10 mixed activities.

    Published entry price
    AED 4,888
    Set up remotely
    Yes
    Facilities
    Office
    Banking notes

    Nothing published We have found no bank partnership announced by this zone and no reliable reports yet. Banks assess the company, its owners and its activity, so ask the zone which banks its companies use.

    Last verified 23 October 2026 · Full profile and sources

  4. UAQ FTZ

    Umm Al Quwain

    Licence without a visa and the same price for renewal on its LYTE package.

    Published entry price
    AED 5,500
    Set up remotely
    Yes
    Facilities
    Co-working, Executive office, Warehouse
    Banking notes

    Nothing published We have found no bank partnership announced by this zone and no reliable reports yet. Banks assess the company, its owners and its activity, so ask the zone which banks its companies use.

    Last verified 23 October 2026 · Full profile and sources

  5. SPC Free Zone

    Sharjah

    Professional services licence with a low published start price.

    Published entry price
    AED 5,750
    Set up remotely
    Not stated
    Facilities
    Flexi-desk, Co-working
    Banking notes

    Nothing published We have found no bank partnership announced by this zone and no reliable reports yet. Banks assess the company, its owners and its activity, so ask the zone which banks its companies use.

    Last verified 23 October 2026 · Full profile and sources

Before you pay a setup agent

  • Ask for the full year-one quote in writing: licence, desk, establishment card, each visa, medicals and Emirates ID.
  • Ask which exact activity name goes on your licence and check it covers what you will invoice for.
  • Ask whether the agent is paid by the zone, and whether a bank account is included or only an introduction.
  • Check the zone's own price page before you sign. We link to it on every zone profile.

Read next

General information only, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Prices and rules change; confirm with the free zone authority before you pay. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.