VERIFIED 2026 · FORMENZO
Can you get a UAE residence visa with a free-zone company?
Yes. A UAE free-zone company can sponsor your residence visa as its owner or employee. The cheapest all-in route in 2026 is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 10,800 — the licence plus one residence visa, including the entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. A free-zone residence visa is typically valid for two years and is renewable.
Formenzo publishes real, all-in 2026 figures, confirmed in writing, with no sales call. See the full Cost Index or the open price dataset (CC-BY).
Build your exact price →By the Formenzo Research Team · compare all 9 zones
What the AED 10,800 route covers
The Ajman NuVentures figure is a complete package: the trade licence, all government and authority fees, Formenzo's setup work, and every stage of the visa itself — entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and passport stamping — with nothing billed separately. If you would rather hold residency through another emirate, one-visa packages run from AED 12,500 at Fujairah Creative City or SRTIP up to AED 24,450 at Meydan in Dubai; the visa-inclusive ranking lists all nine.
Who picks this option
Three profiles dominate: freelancers relocating to the UAE who need an Emirates ID for tenancy and banking, remote workers formalising their tax residency, and employees converting a company-sponsored visa into sponsorship through their own entity.
Two things founders ask
Can the company also sponsor my spouse and children? Yes — once your own residence visa is stamped you can apply to sponsor dependants; their permits are processed separately from the company package.
Do I have to be in the UAE for the process? Partly. The entry permit can be arranged before you travel, but the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics must be completed in person inside the country.