Starts from AED 7,520 (Premium) — best for Design, fashion, art, and luxury brand companies seeking a prestigious address and a collaborative creative ecosystem..
Starts from AED 11,000 (Mid-Range) — best for Industrial, manufacturing, and trading companies requiring port access and warehousing facilities..
A comprehensive side-by-side analysis of key metrics.
Pre-computed year 1 and renewal costs for common business setups
Year 1 Total
AED 11,040
Annual Renewal
AED 7,520
Year 1 Total
AED 12,000
Annual Renewal
AED 12,000
Detailed Breakdown
Detailed Breakdown
Pre-bundled business packages offered by each zone
Freelance Permit Package
Starter TierAnnual Cost
AED 7,520
NoteThis is the cost for the permit only. Establishment Card and visa are additional costs. This package is part of the TECOM 'GoFreelance' program.
Commercial License with Co-Working
Standard TierAnnual Cost
AED 25,000
NoteEstimated starting package cost for a new FZ-LLC, including license, registration, establishment card, and one visa allocation with a flexi-desk facility.
Commercial License with Office
Premium TierAnnual Cost
AED 40,000
NoteEstimated cost, as office rental is the main variable. Calculated based on license fee of ~15,000 plus office rent at ~AED 200/sqft for a small 100 sqft unit, plus establishment card.
E-Office / Virtual Office Package
Starter TierAnnual Cost
AED 11,000
NoteThis is the most common entry-level package for startups and solo entrepreneurs. The annual renewal cost is also AED 11,000.
Executive Office Package (2 Visa)
Standard TierAnnual Cost
AED 16,000
NoteA step-up package for small teams requiring a physical office space. Several tiers exist with increasing visa quotas.
General Trading Package (7 Visa)
Premium TierAnnual Cost
AED 35,000
NoteAllows for broad trading activities without restriction to specific product categories.
A definitive category-by-category verdict based on real-time data and specific business priorities.
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority offers a lower starting price point at AED 11000
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority typically processes new licenses in ~2 days
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority allows up to ? visas without requiring a physical office space
Both jurisdictions are eligible for QFZP (0% tax on qualifying income)
Dubai Design District carries a premium market perception and positioning
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority wins for being both notably cheaper and consistently faster
Expand each category for an exhaustive side-by-side comparison
Executive summaries and competitive positioning
Dubai Design District (d3) targets businesses and professionals in the creative industries, including design, fashion, architecture, art, and digital media. [7] Its primary investor profile ranges from individual freelancers and startups, supported by incubators like in5, to major international brands and design houses such as Dior, Adidas, and Foster + Partners. [3, 22, 28] The free zone provides a comprehensive ecosystem with specialized facilities, showrooms, and co-working spaces to support this creative community.
Key Advantages
d3 is the definitive choice for creative-led businesses in design, fashion, and luxury that prioritize community, brand prestige, and collaboration. It's for companies who see their location as a strategic asset, not just an address.
Businesses involved in general trading, heavy industrial manufacturing, crypto/virtual assets, or those requiring large-scale logistics and warehousing. These sectors are better served by other specialized jurisdictions.
Hamriyah Free Zone is optimized for heavy industry, oil and gas, petrochemicals, maritime trade, manufacturing, and logistics. It targets a wide range of investors from SMEs to large multinational corporations seeking 100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions, and robust infrastructure for import, export, and manufacturing activities within the MENA region and beyond.
Key Advantages
Hamriyah Free Zone is the undisputed choice for heavy industrial, manufacturing, maritime, and petrochemical companies that require direct deep-water port access, large-scale facilities, and a dedicated industrial ecosystem.
Technology startups, crypto or virtual asset companies, tourism operators, or professional service consultancies seeking a prestigious city-center address and a dense networking environment.
Common questions answered transparently with real data
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority is currently more affordable for initial setup, with entry packages starting from AED 11,000. In the broader market context, Hamriyah Free Zone Authority is officially positioned as "Mid-Range".
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority typically processes new trade licenses faster, averaging around 2 days for issuance from the time of application submission. Furthermore, for Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, fully remote company setup is natively supported, meaning you do not need to be physically present in the UAE.
Dubai Design District: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements. Hamriyah Free Zone Authority: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements.
Dubai Design District: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa. Hamriyah Free Zone Authority: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa.
d3 is the definitive choice for creative-led businesses in design, fashion, and luxury that prioritize community, brand prestige, and collaboration. It's for companies who see their location as a strategic asset, not just an address.
Hamriyah Free Zone is the undisputed choice for heavy industrial, manufacturing, maritime, and petrochemical companies that require direct deep-water port access, large-scale facilities, and a dedicated industrial ecosystem.
