ANCFZ
Ajman
- Price
- fromAED 5,047Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~2 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 4 visas
Best for: Startups and innovators, Budget founders
View packages →
Freelancer Permit / Licence in the UAE
Work for yourself, legally, with a visa. 15 free zones issue it, from AED 5,047.
What is a freelancer permit / licence?
A freelancer permit lets an individual work under their own name for multiple clients. Many free zones offer freelance packages with a residence visa.
If you plan to hire staff or scale, a company licence is usually better than a freelance permit.
Who it's for
- Designers and developers
- Writers and photographers
- Consultants working solo
- Content creators
Example activities
How to get one
- Confirm your exact activities with our advisor.
- Choose a free zone and package below (or let us recommend one).
- Pay online and upload your passport copy and photo.
- Receive your licence, then visas and bank account support.
Free zones offering a freelancer permit / licence
AMCFZ
Ajman
- Price
- fromAED 5,149Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~2 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Freelancers, Content creators
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UAQ FTZ
Umm Al Quwain
- Price
- fromAED 5,665Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Lowest-cost founders, E-commerce and trading
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Ajman FZ
Ajman
- Price
- fromAED 5,768Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Budget traders, E-commerce sellers
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SHAMS
Sharjah
- Price
- fromAED 5,923Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~2 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Freelancers and content creators, Media and marketing agencies
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SPC
Sharjah
- Price
- fromAED 5,923Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: E-commerce sellers, Small traders
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RAKEZ
Ras Al Khaimah
- Price
- fromAED 6,180Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~5 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Budget startups, Manufacturers and industrial companies
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SRTIP
Sharjah
- Price
- fromAED 7,725Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~5 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Research and tech startups, Innovation projects
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Creative City
Fujairah
- Price
- fromAED 7,725Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Media and creative freelancers, Consultants on a budget
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Masdar
Abu Dhabi
- Price
- fromAED 12,875Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~10 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Clean-tech and sustainability startups, Tech companies wanting Abu Dhabi
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twofour54
Abu Dhabi
- Price
- fromAED 15,450Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~10 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Media, gaming and production, Content creators
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d3
Dubai
- Price
- fromAED 16,480Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~10 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Fashion and luxury brands, Designers and architects
View packages →
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
Freelancer Permit / Licence FAQs
How much does a freelancer permit / licence cost in the UAE?
In free zones it starts from around AED 5,047 (ANCFZ) for a licence without visas. Dubai zones and premium addresses cost more. Use our calculator for a full first-year estimate.
Which free zones offer a freelancer permit / licence?
15 free zones on our list, including ANCFZ, AMCFZ, UAQ FTZ, Ajman FZ, SHAMS, SPC.
Can I combine it with other licence types?
Many free zones let you combine activities from different groups — for example trading with consultancy — on one licence, sometimes for an extra fee.
How long does it take?
Usually 2–7 working days for the licence once documents are complete, then 1–3 weeks for residence visas.
Get your free, no-obligation quote
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