The cheapest official all-in package we found costs AED 9,999 for the first year, from the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone, with a 2-year visa, Emirates ID, medical test and basic health insurance. In Dubai, a GoFreelance permit costs AED 7,520, plus AED 2,000 for the establishment card and AED 4,600 or AED 5,042 for the visa: about AED 14,120 before insurance.
The permit lets you work, the visa lets you stay, and the establishment card links the two. Compare quotes on all three.
Official figures from the free zones, GDRFA, ICP and EHS, and the published prices of six firms, checked 27 September 2026.
These are the prices the licensing authorities publish on their own websites, checked on 27 September 2026. The permit and the visa are separate fees on some routes and bundled on others.
| Route | Official price | What is included | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAQ Free Trade Zone freelance permit | AED 9,999 first year; same price on renewal | Permit, 2-year residence visa, medical test, Emirates ID, basic health insurance, co-working | Also sold from AED 1,818 a month; 2 related activities; family sponsorship allowed |
| Ajman Media City packages | AED 12,121 (Freedom) or AED 12,999 (Visionary) | Licence with freelance activities, 1 visa, Emirates ID and medical | A trade licence with an investor visa, not a separate freelance permit; Visionary renews at AED 8,999 |
| RAKEZ freelancer permit | Permit from AED 6,100; visa AED 3,800 or AED 4,620 | Permit and 1 visa, priced separately | VAT extra; AED 985 more if the visa is activated inside the UAE; 1 activity; no corporate bank account |
| Dubai GoFreelance (Dubai Development Authority) | Permit AED 7,520; establishment card AED 2,000; visa AED 4,600 (1 year) or AED 5,042 (2 years) | Hot desk in Dubai Media City, Internet City, Design District or Knowledge Park | About AED 14,120 to AED 14,562 in year one before health insurance; the permit renews at AED 7,500 |
| SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) freelance package | AED 15,520 all-inclusive | 1 visa | Offer page is undated |
| Abu Dhabi Freelancer Licence (mainland) | AED 1,200 basic | 6 activities; open to residents, including full-time employees | Residence visa fees extra; issued in 10 working days |
| MOHRE freelance work permit (federal) | Fee not published | For people on self-sponsored residence | Required for the Green Visa |
Official prices as published on 27 September 2026. The RAKEZ visa price is published for investors and partners; RAKEZ does not say whether it applies to freelancers. Ajman Free Zone (AED 6,000 in a 2021 post), Dubai Airport Freezone and twofour54 publish no current price. No freelance permit holder may hire or sponsor staff.
Free zone packages usually include these. On routes that price the visa separately, and for the Green Visa, you pay them yourself.
| Item | Fee | Issuer and time |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates ID | AED 100 per year of residence, plus AED 100 smart service fee | ICP, 5 days |
| Medical fitness test | AED 250 | EHS federal centres, 24 hours; the regular DHA service in Dubai is also AED 250 |
| Change of status inside the UAE | AED 500 | ICP; GDRFA in Dubai also charges AED 500 |
| Residence permit, Dubai | AED 200, plus AED 10, AED 10 and AED 20 delivery; AED 100 more a year beyond 2 years | GDRFA Dubai, 48 hours |
| Residence permit, other emirates | AED 100 application, AED 100 a year, AED 100 smart service fee | ICP, 2 days |
| Health insurance | Required for the visa; not included in most packages | Included in the UAQ package |
After entering on the entry permit you have 60 days to complete residence; staying longer costs AED 50 a day (ICP).
Compare providers that list Freelancer Visa, freelance permits, self-employment, Green Residency or related PRO services among their current Emirae.Pro offerings. Filter by listed service scope, UAE coverage and working languages, then review the included work before submitting a request.
10 provider profiles listed from live Emirae.Pro data
Creation Business Consultants is an Australian and British owned advisory firm working on UAE company formation and the structuring decisions around it, with published experience across the MENA region measured…
EZONE is a business setup consultancy licensed by Dubai's Department of Economic Development. The name is shared with a number of unrelated businesses in the UAE and internationally, from restaurants…
We are most useful when a founder or operating business wants the UAE setup path to feel less fragmented and more operational from day one. A lot of providers stop…
We are usually the right fit when a founder or operating business wants the UAE launch to stay practical after the licence is issued. Many providers can process registration. Fewer…
We help people who want to start a business in the UAE without getting lost in paperwork, mixed advice and unnecessary delays. Many founders come to us when they already…
Start Any Business is a corporate service provider licensed in the UAE to arrange company formation and the government paperwork that follows it. The name is unusually literal: the proposition…
The Visa Services is a visa application specialist working from Dubai, holding a free zone licence in the DMCC jurisdiction since 2017. The distinction that matters most about this firm…
Accountax is a professional accounting and tax consultancy serving businesses across the United Arab Emirates. We help startups, SMEs, family businesses, and established companies manage their accounting, taxation, and financial…
15+ YEARS OF UAE GOVERNMENT & BUSINESS SUPPORT EXPERIENCE Azfar Mirza | Freelance PRO & Legal Advisor | Founder, AZFAREBA CONSULTANCY With over 15 years of hands-on experience in the…
From projects and corporations to innovation and private family interests, Honora brings specialist capabilities together around the ambitions of our clients. We are a Dubai-based consultancy structured as an ecosystem…
In Dubai the Green Visa is issued by GDRFA, in the other emirates by ICP. Every official source names a MOHRE permit; none says a free zone permit can replace it. If you plan to hire staff or need several activities, compare the freelance permit and a company: some company packages with a visa cost about the same.
The official packages itemise these lines. Ask for the same breakdown from any consultant, and for the price of year two.
Send one request and compare quotes from visa consultants on Emirae.
Checked 27 September 2026. Consultant prices come from six firms' own websites on the same date.
Short answers with the official source behind each one, checked 27 September 2026.
Our team can explain how the platform works before you submit a freelancer visa request.
Contact usDescribe the proposed services, client relationships, permit status, professional background, current UAE location and immigration record. Relevant consultants can review the work model and define the proposed permit, Green Residency or residency-processing scope.
Emirae.Pro helps users compare providers. The selected consultant performs the agreed work, while the applicant remains responsible for accurate information and the relevant permit, licensing and immigration authorities make their own decisions. Contact details remain protected until the applicable point in the current Emirae.Pro request workflow.