Every free zone links the number of residence visas you can sponsor to your package and office space. Plan this early — it affects your cost.
The general rule
- Flexi-desk: usually up to around 6 visas, depending on the zone
- Shared or small private office: more, often based on office size
- Warehouse or larger facilities: higher quotas for operational teams
The owner's (investor or partner) visa normally counts towards the quota.
Family visas don't use the company quota
Once you hold a residence visa and meet the salary or income requirement, you can sponsor your spouse and children under your own file — they don't use your company's allocation.
What each visa involves
- Establishment card for the company (once)
- Visa allocation in your package
- Entry permit (or change of status if you are already in the UAE)
- Medical fitness test
- Emirates ID biometrics
- Residence visa issued (usually digital)
Planning tips
- Count who will actually live in the UAE in the next 12 months.
- Choose a package with one spare visa if you expect to hire.
- Remember upgrading office type later is possible but often costs more than starting right.
Use our cost calculator to see how visa numbers change your total.
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About the author
Freezone King Advisory Team is the business-setup advisory team at Freezone King, a Sky Palace Tourism company. We help founders compare UAE free zones and handle licences, visas, banking and tax end to end.