UAQ FTZ vs FFZ
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) (Umm Al Quwain) or Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) (Fujairah)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose UAQ FTZ for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 6,695 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 3 vs 7 working days)
- More activities on one licence (up to 7)
- Shared office options
- Popular with lowest-cost founders
- Popular with e-commerce and trading
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) is one of the UAE's oldest free zones and today one of its lowest-priced, licensing small traders, e-commerce sellers, consultants and freelancers. A no-visa licence is published from about AED 5,500 a year and a one-visa package from about AED 12,500, with monthly instalment plans offered. Licences are often issued within a few working days, and the zone sits between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah on the coast road.
Choose FFZ for…
- Room for more visas (up to 10 vs 6)
- Popular with oil and bunkering traders
- Popular with port-linked logistics
Fujairah Free Zone, run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA), is the UAE's main free zone on the Gulf of Oman coast, next to the Port of Fujairah and its large oil and bunkering terminals. It suits petroleum traders, ship suppliers, warehousing and light manufacturing companies that want to sit outside the Strait of Hormuz. Licences typically start around AED 9,000 to 15,000 a year, and setup usually takes one to two weeks.
UAQ FTZ vs FFZ side by side
| UAQ FTZ | FFZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Umm Al Quwain | Fujairah |
| Packages from | AED 5,665 | AED 12,360 |
| Renewal from | AED 5,665 | AED 11,330 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 10 |
| Typical setup | ~3 working days | ~7 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 7 | Up to 5 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office, Warehouse | Flexi-desk, Private office, Warehouse |
| Activity areas | Trading, E-commerce, Consultancy, Freelance, Media, Industrial | Trading, Industrial, Logistics, Maritime, Commodities |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2014 | 1987 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
UAQ FTZ in brief
Umm Al Quwain is the smallest emirate by population, and its free zone grew from its port. An Emiri decree in 1987 created a free zone inside Ahmed Bin Rashid Port, and operations started the following year. A dedicated free trade zone authority was later set up under a 2014 emirate law, which is why some directories show 2014 as the founding date.
Strengths
- Some of the lowest published licence prices in the UAE
- Instalment plans reduce the cash needed at the start
- Several activities can sit on one licence
- Quick digital setup, often in a few days
Watch out for
- Lower prestige than Dubai or Abu Dhabi zones
- Low-cost licences face tougher bank checks
- Promotional prices may rise at renewal
FFZ in brief
Look at a map and the case for Fujairah is obvious. Every other big UAE port sits inside the Arabian Gulf, behind the narrow Strait of Hormuz. Fujairah faces the open Gulf of Oman, so ships can call without passing through the strait. That geography made the Port of Fujairah one of the busiest bunkering hubs in the world, and the free zone beside it exists to serve the trade around that port.
Strengths
- Direct access to a major deep-water port outside the Strait of Hormuz
- Close to one of the world's leading bunkering hubs and large oil storage
- Airport, port and Oman road links in one place
- Warehouse and land options for traders and light industry
Watch out for
- Not the cheapest choice for service-only businesses
- Long drive to Dubai for meetings and client work
- Regional security incidents can affect port operations and insurance costs
UAQ FTZ vs FFZ: common questions
Which is cheaper, UAQ FTZ or FFZ?
On our current packages, UAQ FTZ starts lower at around AED 5,665, against AED 12,360 for FFZ. Compare renewal too: UAQ FTZ renews from about AED 5,665 and FFZ from about AED 11,330. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, UAQ FTZ or FFZ?
FFZ allows up to 10 visas, depending on the office you lease. UAQ FTZ allows up to 6.
Which is faster to set up, UAQ FTZ or FFZ?
UAQ FTZ is typically quicker at around 3 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a UAQ FTZ licence valid for business in Fujairah?
A free zone licence lets you operate inside the free zone and trade internationally. To sell directly to customers on the UAE mainland you usually need a distributor, a mainland branch or the right activity approvals, whichever zone you choose.
Can I move my company from UAQ FTZ to FFZ later?
Moving between free zones is possible but it is not a simple transfer. You normally register the new company or a branch in the other zone and then close or keep the old one, which means extra fees and visa paperwork. It is cheaper to pick the right zone at the start.
UAQ FTZ or FFZ? Ask an advisor
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place