Free zone, mainland, or emirate — does it matter which I apply through?
A short explanation of how the three package types differ inside the application itself.
The application form works the same way regardless of package type — the difference is in the authority that ultimately issues your licence, and a few package-specific fields.
Free zone and emirate packages are tied to a specific authority (like IFZA, DMCC, or RAKEZ) and usually give you 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required. Mainland packages route through a Department of Economic Development and let you trade anywhere in the UAE, including bidding for government contracts.
If your package requires a physical office or flexi-desk, that's noted on the package page itself before you apply — you won't be asked to arrange it as part of the online form. Our team follows up separately if anything jurisdiction-specific is needed beyond what's collected online.
If you're unsure which is right for your activity, use the package comparison tool before applying — switching packages after submission means starting a new application.
Still stuck, or something's different for you?
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