Free Zones are special economic zones set up with the objective of offering tax free, and free customs duty benefits to expatriate investors. Free zones are designed for boosting international business by providing complete ownership to the foreign investors. Free Zones in Dubai and the UAE are governed pursuant to a special framework of rules and regulations applicable to concerned free zone. Free zones in Dubai are managed and operated by free zone authority. These free zones operate outside the federal Law or Laws of Ministry of Labor. A free zone company is the most fruitful legal entity that not only offers the benefit of 100% ownership to the investors or entrepreneurs but a host of other exclusive advantages that other legal forms do not have. Normally for setting up companies in UAE mainland, the expatriates need a local sponsor but through free zone companies the expatriate can set up their business without the local sponsor and he can enjoy 100% repatriation of capital profits. A free zone offers 100 % corporate and personal income tax benefit.
Most of the free zones in Dubai broadly offer trading, service, industrial, national industrial, and branch licenses to investors looking to set up their businesses. In UAE free zones are either attached to a port or industry specific.
In free zones you can set up different types of companies based on your requirements.
- Free Zone Establishment (FZE) – Single shareholder
- Free Zone Company ( FZC) – Two or more shareholders
- Branch Company – Branch of local company or branch of foreign company
MAJOR FREE ZONES IN UAE
The major free zone options in Abu Dhabi are:
Dubai is the business hub for many prestigious free zones among all emirates. The main free zone in Dubai are:
- Dubai Airport Free Zone
- Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Dubai South
- Jebel Ali Free Zone
- Dubai Multi Commodities Center
- Dubai Creative Clusters Authority
- Dubai Biotech Research Park
- Dubai International Financial Centre
- Dubai Logistics City
- Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Flower Centre
- Mohammad Bin Rashid Technology Park – Jebel Ali Area
- Heavy Equipment and Trucks Zone (HETZ)
- Meydan FZC
- Dubai Car and Automotive City (DUCAMZ)
- Dubai Health Care City (DHCC)
- Dubai Technology and Media
- International Humanitarian City
- Dubai Carpet Free Zone
- International Media and Production Zone
- Dubai Industrial City (DIC)
- Dubai Textile Village
- Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC)
- JLT Free Zone (JLT)
- Economic Zones World (EZW) – Jafza International, Techno Park, Gazeley, Dubai Auto Zone
- Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ)
- Dubai Media City (DMC)
UAE free zone benefits
- Tax Incentives
- 100% Corporate tax exemption
- 100% Personal income tax exemption
Investment Incentives
- 100% foreign ownership is allowed
- 100% repatriation of capital and profits possible
Very few restrictions on recruiting labor
- Shared services and synergies with other companies
- No bureaucratic red-tapism
- State of the art infrastructure