Compare Dubai Healthcare City vs Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Dubai Healthcare City
VerifiedDubaiFree Zone

Dubai Healthcare City

The Verdict

Starts from AED 68,455 (Premium) — best for Healthcare providers, clinics, medical support services, and wellness companies seeking a prestigious, regulated, and specialized healthcare ecosystem..

Starting From
AED 68,455
Setup Time
10 days
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority
More Affordable
VerifiedSharjahFree Zone

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

The Verdict

Starts from AED 11,000 (Mid-Range) — best for Industrial, manufacturing, and trading companies requiring port access and warehousing facilities..

Starting From
AED 11,000
Setup Time
2 days

Feature Comparison

A comprehensive side-by-side analysis of key metrics.

Starting From
AED 68,455
Starting From
AED 11,000
Price Positioning
Premium
Price Positioning
Mid-Range
Visa Cost (All-in)
AED 4,200
Visa Cost (All-in)
AED 4,500
Health Insurance/yr
AED 800
Health Insurance/yr
AED 800
Setup Time
10 days
Setup Time
2 days
Remote Setup
Yes
Remote Setup
Yes
Bank Account Help
Yes
Bank Account Help
Yes
UAE Pass
Yes
UAE Pass
No
Max Visas (No Office)
0
Max Visas (No Office)
0
Golden Visa
Yes
Golden Visa
Yes
Dependent Sponsorship
Yes
Dependent Sponsorship
Yes
QFZP (0% Tax)
Yes
QFZP (0% Tax)
Yes
Corporate Tax 9%
Yes
Corporate Tax 9%
Yes
Audit Required
Required upon renewal
Audit Required
Mandatory for all
VAT Designated Zone
Yes
VAT Designated Zone
Yes
Total Activities
48
Total Activities
36
Mixed Activities
No
Mixed Activities
Yes

Cost Scenarios

Pre-computed year 1 and renewal costs for common business setups

Dubai Healthcare City

Year 1 Total

Annual Renewal

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Year 1 Total

AED 12,000

Annual Renewal

AED 12,000

No breakdown available

Detailed Breakdown

license and registrationAED 11,000
facilityAED 1,000
government feesAED 0
third party servicesAED 0

License Packages

Pre-bundled business packages offered by each zone

Dubai Healthcare City

1 Packages

N/A - License + Lease Model

Custom Tier

Annual Cost

Custom

1 Visa Included
Private Office

NoteDHCC operates on a traditional license plus mandatory physical lease model, rather than offering all-in-one 'packages'. Businesses must lease a facility within the free zone, the size of which determines the visa quota (approx. 1 visa per 100 sqft).

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

3 Packages
Most Popular

E-Office / Virtual Office Package

Starter Tier

Annual Cost

AED 11,000

1 Visa Included
3 Activities
Virtual Address
Eligibility to apply for one residence visa

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 Tier

Annual Cost

AED 16,000

2 Visas Included
5 Activities
Private Office
Dedicated unfurnished office space (~10 sqm) Water and electricity bills included

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 Tier

Annual Cost

AED 35,000

7 Visas Included
Private Office
General Trading activity permitted Dedicated office space (~10 sqm)

NoteAllows for broad trading activities without restriction to specific product categories.

Who Wins Where?

A definitive category-by-category verdict based on real-time data and specific business priorities.

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Budget Priorities

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority offers a lower starting price point at AED 11,000

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Setup Speed

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority typically processes new licenses in ~2 days

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Visa Capacity

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority allows up to ? visas without requiring a physical office space

Tie

Tax Optimization

Both jurisdictions are eligible for QFZP (0% tax on qualifying income)

Dubai Healthcare City

Brand Prestige

Dubai Healthcare City carries a premium market perception and positioning

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Lean Startups

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority wins for being both notably cheaper and consistently faster

Detailed Feature Breakdown

Expand each category for an exhaustive side-by-side comparison

Agricultural License
No
Agricultural License
No
Commercial Trade License
Yes
Commercial Trade License
Yes
Crypto Virtual Assets License
No
Crypto Virtual Assets License
No
E Commerce E Trader License
Yes
E Commerce E Trader License
Yes
Freelance Permit
Yes
Freelance Permit
Yes
General Trading License
No
General Trading License
Yes
Holding Company License
Yes
Holding Company License
No
Industrial Manufacturing License
No
Industrial Manufacturing License
Yes
Innovation And Tech License
No
Innovation And Tech License
No
Professional Services Consultancy License
Yes
Professional Services Consultancy License
Yes
Tourism Hospitality License
Yes
Tourism Hospitality License
No

About Each Zone

Executive summaries and competitive positioning

Dubai Healthcare City

DHCC is a specialized free zone targeting the healthcare, medical education, and wellness sectors. It attracts a wide range of investors including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment suppliers, and wellness centers. The primary investor profile consists of healthcare professionals, clinical and non-clinical service providers, and corporations within the life sciences and wellness industries seeking a regulated environment that adheres to international best practices.

Key Advantages

Operate within the world's largest dedicated healthcare free zone, creating an unmatched ecosystem for collaboration and growth.
Gain instant credibility under an independent regulatory framework (DHCR) that is aligned with international best practices in healthcare.
Benefit from core free zone advantages including 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax eligibility, and full repatriation of profits.
Leverage the integrated community of clinics, hospitals, and the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) for research and education.
Ideal Target

Healthcare providers, clinics, medical support services, and wellness companies seeking a prestigious, regulated, and specialized healthcare ecosystem.

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

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

Unrivaled Maritime Access: Leverage a 14-meter deep-water port and 7-meter inner harbor, ideal for global logistics and shipping.
Unmatched Industrial Scale: Operate from the UAE's second-largest industrial free zone, spanning over 30 million square meters.
Specialized Industry Hubs: Gain a competitive edge in dedicated zones for Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, and a purpose-built Food Park.
Total Business Control & Tax Freedom: Benefit from 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate and personal taxes, and full repatriation of profits.
Ideal Target

Industrial, manufacturing, and trading companies requiring port access and warehousing facilities.

Things to Watch Out For

Hidden costs and common objections — with honest rebuttals

Dubai Healthcare City

Hidden Costs
Mandatory physical office lease, which significantly increases the baseline cost.
Additional regulatory fees for clinical activities from DHCR.
Refundable security deposits for both the facility lease and for employee visas.

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

Hidden Costs
Mandatory audit report for renewal after year 2 (or a waiver fee)
Visa costs are separate from the advertised package price
Refundable security deposits for facilities and employee visas

Ask The Experts

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 Healthcare City: 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 Healthcare City: 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.

Healthcare providers, clinics, medical support services, and wellness companies seeking a prestigious, regulated, and specialized healthcare ecosystem.

Industrial, manufacturing, and trading companies requiring port access and warehousing facilities.