Arakan

Free zones

Free zone costs and visasPackages, visas and renewal by zoneFree zone rules and taxAuthority, QFZP and audit rulesFree zones by emirateFree zone price indexCost calculatorFree zone setup guide

Mainland

Mainland licences by activityApprovals, fees and setup stepsBusiness activity look-upISIC activities and where they're allowedActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklist

Compare and plan

Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceAfter you incorporateSample setup report
Prefer a person? Talk to an adviserGet your AI setup advisory

For companies

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

For firms serving clients

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

For setting up

ScoutPlanning your UAE setupAtlasUAE setup reference

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions and PEP screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
Find the right appAll apps

For UAE companies

Your compliance managerComplyWhat applies to youScopeGovernance and board complianceGovern

Screening and records

Sanctions and PEP screeningVerifyStatutory records storageVault
How the platform worksFind the right app

Serve your clients

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)OnboardClients' regulatory complianceShieldClients' FTA complianceLedgerSanctions and PEP screeningVerify
Become an Arakan adviserAll apps

Library

Laws and rulebooksFederal, emirate, free zone and regulatorRegulatorsRegulatory updatesNew rules, circulars and consultationsLexara WeeklyThe week in UAE regulation

Topics

UAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

Learn

Explainer videosThe rules as steps, two minutes eachTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Search the law in LexaraAll resources
LearnPricing
Sign inStart free
Start free
Business setup

Free zones

Free zone costs and visasFree zone rules and taxFree zones by emirateFree zone price indexCost calculatorFree zone setup guide

Mainland

Mainland licences by activityBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklist

Compare and plan

Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceAfter you incorporateSample setup report
Prefer a person? Talk to an adviserGet your AI setup advisory →
Apps

For companies

ComplyGovern

For firms serving clients

OnboardShieldLedger

For setting up

ScoutAtlas

Screening, rules and records

VerifyLexaraVaultScope
Find the right appAll apps →
Compliance

For UAE companies

Your compliance managerWhat applies to youGovernance and board compliance

Screening and records

Sanctions and PEP screeningStatutory records storage
How the platform worksFind the right app →
For firms

Serve your clients

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)Clients' regulatory complianceClients' FTA complianceSanctions and PEP screening
Become an Arakan adviserAll apps →
UAE law

Library

Laws and rulebooksRegulatorsRegulatory updatesLexara Weekly

Topics

UAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

Learn

Explainer videosTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Search the law in LexaraAll resources →
LearnPricing
Sign in

Loading...

Apps/Atlas

Arakan Atlas · UAE setup reference

The facts behind a UAE company setup, in one place.

Free zones and mainland side by side: packages, fees, visas, licence activities and which zones permit them, with the source and the date checked where Atlas holds them. Facts only; for a recommendation, use Scout.

For: Founders, setup advisers and corporate service providers looking up the facts

Start free with Atlas Open Atlas

No card needed. One account works across every Arakan app.

What Atlas does

UAE setup reference

  • Every free zone and mainland emirate

    Packages and what each includes, visa allowances, share capital, office rules, renewal terms and the licensing authority.

  • Mainland licence activities

    Over two thousand activities with their ISIC classification, and the emirate fees where Atlas holds them.

  • Which zones permit an activity

    Permitted, permitted with conditions, needs an extra licence, or not permitted, and "no record" where Atlas doesn't know.

  • Side by side

    Compare up to six zones on the same facts, and price each one for your own visas, family and office.

  • The date on every fact

    Each zone, package and activity shows when it was checked against its source, or that it hasn't been checked yet.

  • Gaps shown as gaps

    A missing fee is never shown as zero, and an unknown permission is never shown as allowed.

How it works

  1. 1

    Find the zone or activity

    Search by name, emirate or business activity.

  2. 2

    Compare

    Put zones side by side on packages, visas and permissions.

  3. 3

    Price it

    Add your visas, family and office to see what each would cost.

Questions

Does Atlas recommend a zone?

No. Atlas holds facts, not advice. For a recommendation for your own business, use Scout.

How current are the figures?

Each figure shows the date it was checked. Where a fact hasn't been checked, or isn't held, Atlas says so.

Is it free?

Yes, with any Arakan account.

Works with

For setting up. The apps share your companies, documents and rules, so nothing is entered twice.

  • ScoutPlanning your UAE setup
  • LexaraUAE rulebook library

See all apps

Start free with Atlas.

Start free Already have an account? Open Atlas

Get started

Every regulation that applies
to your business. Found. Checked. Actioned.

Start free How pricing works
Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 11 apps on one company record.

Platform

  • Product
  • Solutions
  • All apps
  • Use in Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot
  • Explainers and demos
  • Help centre
  • Start free
  • Pricing
  • Security

Resources

  • Briefings & Lexicon
  • Industry Scenarios
  • Free Zones Guide
  • Certification
  • Institutional Guide

Free tools & guides

  • Free zone rules and tax
  • Free zone costs and visas
  • Mainland licence activities
  • Business activity look-up
  • Laws and rulebooks
  • Regulators
  • Regulatory updates
  • Arakan Lexara Weekly

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

11 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

Atlas

UAE setup reference

Verify

Sanctions and PEP screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

Business setup by activity

All 2,100+ activities
Trading & ServicesManufacturingReal Estate & Business ServicesPersonal & Social ServicesTransport, Storage & LogisticsConstruction & ContractingFinancial ServicesVirtual AssetsHealth & Social WorkEducationAgriculture & FishingProfessional & Technical ServicesAccommodation & Food ServicesMining & QuarryingUtilities & Energy
Free zone setup costsFree zone price indexSetup cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneWhich zones permit your activity

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).