Fujairah Free Zone company setup, costs and visas
The only major UAE zone on the Gulf of Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz. Bunkering, shipping and trading businesses choose it for exactly that geography.
Fujairah Free Zone in numbers
Estimate as of 27 Jul 2026. The zone publishes no tariff. This figure is our market estimate; the zone confirms the fee in writing when you apply.
Who this zone fits and who it doesn’t
Fujairah Free Zone is built around one physical fact: its quay sits on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. For bunkering suppliers, ship-management, oil-trading and commodity houses that move cargo through one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs, that geography is the product: vessels call without transiting the Strait. It also fits manufacturers and re-exporters that want warehouse or industrial land at east-coast rates rather than Dubai ones.
It fits poorly if you are a solo consultant, agency or online founder. The zone requires a physical desk (there is no pure virtual package), the ecosystem is industrial rather than digital, and there is no Dubai or media-city address to trade on. For those profiles a flexi‑desk zone is usually cheaper and faster.
What the AED 9,500 licence covers and what sits beyond it
The AED 9,500 headline is the trade-licence line only. Before you can sponsor anyone, budget for the establishment/immigration card, the desk or facility lease (mandatory here), and per-visa costs (entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID and residence visa issuance) which typically add several thousand dirhams per person on top. Activity mix matters too: industrial or trading activities can require extra approvals, and combining several activity groups can push the licence above the entry tier. Model the full first-year figure with the setup-cost calculator.
Office, visas and substance in Fujairah Free Zone
Unlike zones that sell a paper flexi‑desk, Fujairah requires at least a physical desk, with warehouse and land options scaling up from there. Visa allocation is tied to the facility you lease rather than a fixed public cap: a desk supports a small team, while a warehouse or plot unlocks more. That model rewards businesses with genuine operations on the ground and is a weaker fit for anyone wanting the maximum visas on the minimum footprint. For the visa steps and costs, see our UAE visa guide. Setup runs a realistic 3–7 working days once documents are clean.
Fujairah vs the obvious alternatives
If the east-coast port is not essential to your model, three zones usually come up in the same shortlist:
| Zone | Best for | vs Fujairah |
|---|---|---|
| Hamriyah (Sharjah) | Heavy industry, larger port ecosystem | Bigger industrial base, but sits inside the Gulf: no Hormuz bypass |
| Creative City Fujairah | Media, freelancers, consultants | Cheaper, no-desk options, same emirate, but not for trading or industry |
| RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) | Broad low-cost industrial + commercial | Published packages from AED 6,000, often cheaper: no Gulf of Oman quay |
Choose Fujairah when the Gulf-of-Oman location or east-coast industrial land is doing real work for you. If it is not, RAKEZ usually wins on price and flexibility.
How to set up a company in Fujairah Free Zone
Activities and trade name
Choose the licensed activities and reserve a trade name. The activities decide which approvals you need, how banks read your file and whether your income can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate.
Documents and KYC
Passports, application forms and a clear account of where the money comes from. Free zone companies can be 100% foreign-owned, so no local sponsor is needed.
Licence and establishment card
The zone issues the licence (typically 3–7 business days). The immigration establishment card comes next and opens visa processing.
Visas and bank account
Each visa holder needs an entry permit, a medical test and an Emirates ID. The corporate bank account is opened in parallel and is usually the slowest step.
Fujairah Free Zone: questions founders ask
Why choose Fujairah Free Zone over a Dubai zone?
What is the real first-year cost beyond the AED 9,500 licence?
Does Fujairah Free Zone require a physical office?
Is Fujairah or Hamriyah better for an industrial or trading company?
Is Fujairah practical for a services company?
Where does the AED 9,500 figure come from?
Can this company do business on the UAE mainland?
Does 0% corporate tax apply here?
This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.