Business Setup in Umm Al Quwain: UAQ FTZ Costs and Who It Suits.
UAQ FTZ is the most transparent all-in free zone package in the UAE. The UAQ START package costs AED 12,500 all-in with one investor visa, covering the trade license, visa, Emirates ID, medical, establishment card, e-channel, and co-working. No hidden fees, no separate billing for establishment cards or e-channel. That figure matches Fujairah Creative City at the 1-visa level and undercuts SHAMS by approximately AED 9,165. For a solo founder who needs a UAE trade license and residence visa at the lowest all-in cost, with a clear single invoice covering every government fee, UAQ FTZ is one of the strongest options in the market. We have set up over 200 UAQ FTZ companies. Here is the 2026 picture.
What UAQ FTZ Setup Actually Costs in 2026: Every Fee Listed.
Three scenarios cover the full range from the zero-visa starter license to the 3-visa team package. All UAQ FTZ figures are all-in: license, visa, Emirates ID, medical, establishment card, e-channel, and co-working in a single invoice. No separate billing for components.
Cost
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
| UAQ FTZ zero-visa all-in package (license, registration, establishment card, co-working) | 7,500 |
| Year-One Total | AED 7,500 |
| Health insurance not required without a visa. Annual renewal: AED 7,500. | |
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
| UAQ START all-in package (license, registration, investor visa, Emirates ID, medical, establishment card, e-channel, co-working) | 12,500 |
| Health insurance (mandatory per visa holder) | 800 to 1,500 |
| Year-One Total | ~AED 13,300 to AED 14,000 |
| Annual renewal: AED 12,500 (same as year one). No price increases on renewal. | |
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
| UAQ FTZ 3-visa all-in package (license, 3 investor visas, Emirates IDs, medicals, establishment card, e-channel, co-working) | 23,100 |
| Health insurance (mandatory, per visa holder) | 2,400 to 4,500 |
| Year-One Total | ~AED 25,500 to AED 27,600 |
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
| UAQ START 1-visa all-in package | 12,500 |
| Dedicated office upgrade (annual) | 15,000 to 30,000 |
| Additional visas beyond the package (per visa) | ~4,200 |
| Health insurance (mandatory, per visa holder) | 800 to 1,500 |
| Setup and advisory fee (our service) | 3,500 |
| Year-One Total (1 Visa, Dedicated Office) | ~AED 31,800 to AED 47,500 |
UAQ FTZ all-in packages include every government fee in a single invoice. Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE visa holders at AED 600 to AED 1,500 per person per year and is not included in any package. Annual renewal is at the same price as year one for all standard packages. Additional visas beyond the package limit cost approximately AED 4,200 each.
UAQ START, UAQ PLUS, or UAQ PRO: Which Package Fits.
UAQ FTZ has three main package tiers. The START package covers most solo founders and small teams. PLUS and PRO add higher visa quotas and dedicated office space. If you are deciding between a free zone and a mainland structure more broadly, our UAE mainland vs free zone comparison guide covers the full trade-off in ownership, trading rights, and cost.
Step 1
- 1 investor visa, Emirates ID, medical, establishment card, e-channel, co-working: all included
- Service, consulting, IT, media, e-commerce, and general trading activities
- 100% foreign ownership, QFZP 0% qualifying tax
- Remote setup; no UAE visit until biometrics
- Annual renewal at the same AED 12,500, no increases
- 2 investor visas, both included in the all-in price
- Same activity scope as START: service, consulting, IT, media, trading
- Co-working desk for both visa holders
- Upgrade to dedicated office available
- Annual renewal at the same price
- 3 investor visas, all included in the all-in price
- Co-working for all three visa holders
- Additional visas at approximately AED 4,200 each beyond the 3-visa base
- Dedicated office upgrade available
- Annual renewal at the same price
Calculate Your UAQ FTZ Setup Cost.
Adjust the inputs for a realistic year-one estimate. All figures use verified 2026 UAQ FTZ package pricing. Health insurance is added at AED 1,150 per visa holder as a mid-range estimate.
Step 2
Your UAQ FTZ Setup, Itemised
An estimate from current published rates, not a quote. Government fees change.
UAQ FTZ package prices are all-in: license, visa(s), Emirates ID(s), medical(s), establishment card, e-channel, and co-working in a single invoice. Health insurance at AED 1,150 per visa holder is the only mandatory cost not in the package. Annual renewal is at the same price as year one.
What We Handle, and What You Handle.
UAQ FTZ setups are the most straightforward in the UAE. The all-in package covers almost everything. Here is the honest split of what remains.
What’s Included
✓ We Handle
- Package selection: START vs PLUS vs PRO based on visa count and activity
- Activity code confirmation against UAQ FTZ’s permitted list
- UAQ FTZ portal submission and application management
- Establishment card filing coordination (included in package)
- E-channel registration coordination (included in package)
- Visa entry permit, status change, and Emirates ID coordination
- Bank introduction (Wio Business, Mashreq NEO, Emirates NBD, RAKBank)
- UBO registration (Cabinet Resolution No. 58 of 2020)
- Corporate tax registration on FTA EmaraTax within 3 months of license issuance
- Year-1 PRO support, renewal reminders, and compliance calendar
● You Handle
- Passport copies, photographs, and proof of residential address
- Brief business description (UAQ FTZ requires this at application)
- Biometrics and Emirates ID collection (any ICP Customer Happiness Centre)
- KYC documents for bank account (source of funds, business plan)
- Corporate shareholders: MEA apostille and UAE embassy legalisation (2-4 weeks)
- Indian resident founders: FEMA ODI filing with RBI before first intercompany payment
- Health insurance arrangement (AED 800-1,500 per visa holder per year)
Consulting, IT, and Digital Service Businesses
UAQ FTZ for Indian Founders: Cheapest UAE Visa Route and FEMA Reality.
UAQ FTZ vs SHAMS vs Fujairah Creative City vs SPC: The Full Cost Table.
Banking Reality for UAQ FTZ Companies.
A Few of the UAQ FTZ Setups We Ran Last Year.
Anonymised at the founder’s request. We can connect you with a reference in your sector on the scoping call.
UAQ START for an Indian Digital Marketing Consultant at AED 12,500 All-In
Indian founder needed a UAE trade license and investor visa for invoicing UK and GCC clients. Compared UAQ FTZ START, SHAMS, and Fujairah Creative City. Chose UAQ FTZ after confirming no client required a Sharjah or Dubai address. AED 12,500 all-in. Mashreq NEO account in 9 working days. ODI filed with RBI before first intercompany payment. Year-one total AED 13,800 including health insurance. Three-year saving vs SHAMS: AED 27,495.
UAQ PLUS for a UK SaaS Founder Who Needed Two UAE Residence Visas
UK founder and co-founder both needed UAE residence visas for a SaaS company serving European clients. UAQ PLUS at AED 17,580 all-in for 2 visas versus SHAMS at approximately AED 30,830 for the same outcome. Wio Business account in 4 working days. Three-year saving vs SHAMS: AED 39,750.
Nigerian Founder Chose SHAMS Over UAQ FTZ After Confirming a UAE Enterprise Client Required Sharjah Address
Nigerian founder initially chose UAQ FTZ START for cost. During due diligence, confirmed that a UAE enterprise client’s procurement system required a Sharjah or Dubai address on the vendor registration form. Switched to SHAMS at AED 21,665 all-in. The address requirement was discovered before the license fee was paid. The AED 9,165 premium was justified by the specific client requirement.
Questions We Hear on Most UAQ FTZ Scoping Calls.
FAQ
What Does AED 12,500 All-In Actually Include?
The UAQ START AED 12,500 all-in package includes: the trade license for year one, establishment card (MOHRE), e-channel registration (non-refundable component and security deposit), one investor visa entry permit, status change and Emirates ID processing, medical fitness test coordination, and a co-working flexi-desk. Every government fee is covered in a single invoice.
The only mandatory cost not in the package is health insurance at AED 800 to AED 1,500 per visa holder per year. Annual renewal is at the same AED 12,500 with no price increases on standard packages.
Is UAQ FTZ Cheaper Than SHAMS?
Yes, significantly. UAQ START all-in 1-visa is AED 12,500. SHAMS all-in 1-visa including the refundable e-channel deposit is approximately AED 21,665. The difference is AED 9,165 per year, or approximately AED 27,495 over three years.
SHAMS offers two features UAQ FTZ does not: a dual license pathway to Sharjah mainland and a visa capacity of up to 50 on premium packages. If neither of those features is relevant to the business, the AED 9,165 annual premium for SHAMS has no operational justification.
Can I Set Up a UAQ FTZ Company Without Visiting Umm Al Quwain?
Yes. The full UAQ FTZ license registration and document submission is remote. No visit to Umm Al Quwain is required at any stage. For the investor visa, biometrics and Emirates ID collection require a physical appointment at any ICP Customer Happiness Centre across the UAE, including in Dubai or Sharjah. No trip to Umm Al Quwain is required.
Does a UAQ FTZ Company Qualify for the UAE 0% Corporate Tax Rate?
Yes. UAQ FTZ is a designated free zone. Companies can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate on qualifying income under Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023, subject to adequate substance in the free zone, qualifying income from free zone or foreign sources, and non-qualifying income below the de minimis threshold (the lower of 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million per tax year).
The corporate tax position is identical to a SHAMS, Fujairah Creative City, or IFZA company. The emirate of Umm Al Quwain does not affect the tax treatment. UAE mainland client revenue counts toward the de minimis threshold and must be tracked from month one.
How Many Visas Can I Get Through UAQ FTZ?
The START package includes 1 visa. PLUS includes 2. PRO includes 3. Additional visas beyond the package limit cost approximately AED 4,200 each. Dedicated office upgrades increase the visa quota further. UAQ FTZ’s maximum visa quota on the standard package range is lower than SHAMS (up to 50). For businesses that need more than 6 to 8 visas on a flexi-desk configuration, SHAMS or a physical office in any UAE free zone is the more scalable choice.
Do You Guarantee the Bank Account Opens for UAQ FTZ Companies?
No consultancy can guarantee bank approval. The bank decides based on its own KYC review. We pre-screen files against each bank’s actual criteria for UAQ FTZ entities before submission and recommend the bank most likely to approve the founder’s profile and nationality first. Wio Business is the fastest opening option for clean UAQ FTZ files, activating in 3 to 7 working days. If a major commercial bank declines, we have tier-2 and digital bank alternatives that almost always approve cleanly.