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ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

For firms serving clients

OnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA compliance

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ScoutPlanning your UAE setup

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
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I'm setting up a company in the UAEScout — Choose the right free zone or mainland licence before you pay for one.I run a UAE companyComply — Know what applies to your company and stay on top of it, whether it's a trading firm, a DNFBP or licensed by a financial regulator.I'm a firm serving clientsOnboard · Shield · Ledger · Verify — Deliver compliance, bookkeeping or KYC for many clients from one workspace.I'm researching UAE regulationLexara — Read the law itself and get answers that cite the article.

Free zones

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGM

Business activities

Mainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup report

UAE law

Laws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

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ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board complianceOnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA complianceScoutPlanning your UAE setupVerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you

Solutions

I'm setting up a company in the UAEI run a UAE companyI'm a firm serving clientsI'm researching UAE regulation

Free tools & guides

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMMainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup reportLaws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulationsRegulatory updatesArakan Lexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
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Free zonesAll free zonesBy emirateCosts and visasPrice indexCost calculatorFree zone comparisonMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMBest for startupsBest for freelancersCrypto / VASP licenceFree zone authoritiesSetup guideBusiness activities →UAE law →Tax and compliance terms →

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Free zone tools

By emirate Costs and visas Price index Cost calculator Free zone comparison Mainland vs free zone DIFC vs ADGM Best for startups Best for freelancers Crypto / VASP licence Free zone authorities Setup guide

Related

Business activities Qualifying Free Zone Person UAE Corporate Tax law Get a setup recommendation

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Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 10 apps on one company record.

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10 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Verify

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDMCDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDMCDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZ2454ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAORAKEZ
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

Arakan-managed document storage: AWS me-central-1 (UAE).

Regional Jurisdiction · Dubai

The Dubai
Matrix.

Explore 26 sovereign jurisdictions in Dubai. Each node offers unique statutory advantages.

Not sure which Dubai zone fits?

Start AI Interview

IHC

Best For:

DHCC

The Sovereign Health Node; Specialized Research & Clinical Hybrid.

Best For:Clinical Services & Healthcare Research

DIFC

Elite Financial Jurisdiction; The Gold Standard of Forensic Ease.

Best For:Fintech, Banking, and Global Corporate HQs

IFZA

High-Flexibility Startup Node; The 'Small Business Relief' Safe Harbor.

Best For:Small Business & Freelance Consultancies

DWC

Strategic Aviation Hub; High-Substance Logistics Node.

Best For:Logistics, Aviation, and Last-Mile Tech

DOC

The Shared Services Hub; Focused on Article 34 'Arm’s Length' Benchmarking.

Best For:BPO, Call Centers & Shared Services

DAFZA

High-Velocity Logistics Node; Bonded-Warehouse Specialist.

Best For:Logistics, Aviation, and Electronics Trade

DMC

The Sovereign Maritime Node; Specialized in Heavy Asset CIGA.

Best For:Ship Repair, Maritime Engineering & Yacht Mfg

DKP

The Knowledge Hub; Specialized in 'Educational' vs. 'Commercial' Revenue Splits.

Best For:HR, Training & Vocational Education

DSP

The Scientific Sovereign; High-Stakes R&D and IP Localization.

Best For:Life Sciences, Energy & Environment

DPC

Industrial Design District; High-Substance Manufacturing Hub.

Best For:Printing, Packaging & Publishing

GDP

The Precious Metals Node; Specialized in 'Reverse Charge' and Inventory CIGA.

Best For:Jewelry Manufacturing & Precious Metal Trade

DWTC

The Global Trade Node; Specialized in 'Exported Service' Logic.

Best For:Events, Management & Global Trade Hubs

DUCAMZ

Automotive-Sector Specialist; Clean Activity Ring-Fencing.

Best For:

DUQE

Port-Adjacent Generalist; Flexible but Less-Tested.

Best For:

D3

The Creative Epicenter; Specialized in Service-to-Product Revenue Decoupling.

Best For:Design, Fashion & Creative Luxury

DSO

Medium-Substance Tech Node; High Risk of Community Tainting.

Best For:Technology Hardware and R&D

DMCC

The Global Commodity Sovereign; High-Intensity Compliance Node.

Best For:Commodities, Crypto & Professional Services

DCC

The E-commerce Gateway; The 'Customs-to-Click' Forensic Trail.

Best For:E-commerce Logistics & Digital Trade

DFC

Single-Purpose Perishables Hub; Narrow but Defensible Scope.

Best For:

Meydan

High-Velocity Digital Node; The 'B2C Mainland' Compliance Frontier.

Best For:E-commerce, Digital Services, and Marketplace Traders

JAFZA

Industrial Powerhouse with Port-Integrated Audit Risks.

Best For:Global Logistics, Manufacturing, and Distribution

DIC

Global Tech Powerhouse; The Epicenter of 'Qualifying IP' Audits.

Best For:Software Development, Cloud Computing & SaaS

DIAC

The Academic Sovereign; The Intersection of Article 4 and Article 18.

Best For:Higher Education & Global Universities

DMC

Creative Powerhouse; High Sensitivity to 'Mainland Service' Reclassification.

Best For:Digital Content, Advertising & Marketing

DSC

The Creative Hub; Specialized in IP 'Exploitation' & Grant Accounting.

Best For:Film, TV & Music Production