Running a business in a Dubai free zone

How it works, step by step

1. 1

   Know which employment rules apply to your zone

   While each free zone has its own specific rules and procedures, these are typically aligned with the federal labour law, which applies to most private sector employees across the UAE. So in most zones your staff contracts and workplace obligations follow the same broad federal framework you'd expect elsewhere in the country.

   Documents:Free zone rulebookEmployment contract
2. 2

   Check if you're in a financial free zone with its own framework

   Certain financial free zones, such as DIFC and Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ), operate under their own independent employment regulatory frameworks. If your company sits inside one of these, don't assume the federal rules apply — read that zone's own employment regulations directly.

3. 3

   Apply for staff work permits and visas through your free zone authority

   You can apply for a work permit and residence visa for your employee with the respective free zone authority. The authority regulating your zone is the body that processes these applications, so start there rather than looking for a separate federal channel.

   Documents:Work permitResidence visa
4. 4

   Understand how many visas your company can get

   The number of visas that a business can get depends on various factors such as the package they have signed up for. When you choose or renew your setup package, the visa allowance is one of the things it defines, so plan your hiring around what your package supports.

   Documents:Setup package
5. 5

   Ask about raising your visa quota when you grow

   If your team is outgrowing your current allowance, check with the respective free zone authority for the eligibility and scope for increasing the quota. Whether you can raise it, and by how much, is decided by the authority — not something to assume.

6. 6

   Always verify the current details on official websites

   Rules, packages and quotas can change, so refer to the websites of the free zones and the authorities across the UAE for the latest procedures. Treat the official pages as your source of truth before you commit to anything.

Fees and timelines may change — verify with the official source.

Real companies from Google Maps — live ratings and reviews.