IFZA vs UAQ Free Zone: Side-by-Side Comparison
IFZA gives you a Dubai address and easier banking, which matters for trading and client credibility. UAQ is considerably cheaper but comes with banking friction and distance from Dubai's ecosystem.
- Startups
- Freelancers
- Small businesses
- Budget businesses
- Holding companies
- Companies not needing physical UAE presence
- Very affordable
- Extremely fast setup
- Wide activity range
- Extremely cheap
- Fast setup
- Simple process
- Newer reputation
- Banking can be slower
- Location outside main Dubai hubs
- Very remote
- Minimal business community
- Banking difficult
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Find Your Free ZoneKey differences at a glance
| IFZA | UAQ FTZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | dubai | umm al-quwain |
| License from | AED 5,750/yr | AED 5,500/yr |
| Annual renewal | AED 5,750 | AED 5,500 |
| Setup time | 1-2 business days | 2-3 business days |
| Min share capital | None | None |
| Established | 2018 | 1988 |
| License types | trading, service, e-commerce, freelancer | trading, service, industrial, e-commerce |
| Office options | flexi desk, virtual office, shared office, private office | flexi desk, virtual office, shared office |
Cost breakdown
IFZA
- License (starting from)
- AED 5,750/yr
- Annual renewal
- AED 5,750
- Visa packages
- 1 visa
- ~AED 3,500
- 3 visas
- ~AED 9,000
- 6 visas
- ~AED 16,000
UAQ FTZ
- License (starting from)
- AED 5,500/yr
- Annual renewal
- AED 5,500
- Visa packages
- 1 visa
- ~AED 2,800
- 3 visas
- ~AED 7,000
Which one should you pick?
Pick IFZA if
You need Dubai credibility, client meetings, or smoother UAE banking.
See full IFZA profilePick UAQ FTZ if
You're optimizing purely for cost and don't need a Dubai presence.
See full UAQ FTZ profileFrequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, IFZA or UAQ FTZ?
UAQ FTZ is cheaper. Its license starts at AED 5,500/year vs AED 5,750/year for IFZA — a difference of AED 250 per year at the entry tier. Actual costs depend on visa count, office type, and activity.
How long does setup take at IFZA vs UAQ FTZ?
IFZA advertises 1-2 business days and UAQ FTZ advertises 2-3 business days. Real-world timelines depend on how quickly you submit documents, pay fees, and complete KYC.
Where are IFZA and UAQ FTZ located?
IFZA is in Dubai (Dubai Silicon Oasis area, Dubai). UAQ FTZ is in Umm Al Quwain (Umm Al Quwain emirate).
What license types does each offer?
IFZA issues trading, service, e-commerce, freelancer licenses. UAQ FTZ issues trading, service, industrial, e-commerce licenses. Pick the zone that covers the license type matching your business activity.