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DMCC vs SPC Free Zone: Which Should You Choose?

Dubai’s premium free zone against one of Sharjah’s lowest-cost options: cost, visas and fit.

SPC Free Zone in Sharjah has one of the lowest published licence prices in the UAE, from AED 5,750. DMCC in JLT, Dubai starts at AED 35,484 but includes a flexi desk in a Dubai business district and one of the strongest free zone brands. Here is how they compare.

DMCC vs SPC Free Zone at a glance

	DMCC	SPC Free Zone
Location	Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai	Sharjah Publishing City, Sharjah
Entry price	From AED 35,484 (Basic Biz package: licence, registration, flexi desk; eligible for 1 visa)	From AED 5,750 (1-year licence, registration, lease agreement, no visa)
Visas	Jump Start package AED 43,780 with 1 visa included	Own residence visa from AED 4,495; employee visa from AED 5,665 (SPC calculator)
Renewal	From AED 20,265 for the licence, plus desk or office	Not published; multi-year licences discounted 10–20%
Best for	Trading, commodities, crypto and firms that want a prestige Dubai address	Freelancers, consultants, media and online businesses on a tight budget

SPC prices are published “from” prices on SPC’s cost calculator; visa figures exclude establishment card and medical. DMCC prices are DMCC’s official packages.

When SPC wins

Lowest cost to get licensed, especially for a solo founder.
Media, publishing and creative work, which is where SPC started.
You live in Sharjah or the northern emirates.

When DMCC wins

You want a Dubai address and a real desk in JLT.
Trading and commodities, where DMCC’s centres and network matter.
Banks and counterparties you deal with already know DMCC.

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Your business activityResidence visas neededWhere are you now?When do you want to start?

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Prices are DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges (checked October 2026). Your final quote confirms the live fee. Pro24 is based in Platinum Tower, JLT.

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DMCC vs SPC: FAQs

Is SPC Free Zone cheaper than DMCC?

Yes. SPC publishes licences from AED 5,750 a year without a visa; DMCC starts at AED 35,484 with its Basic Biz package, which includes a flexi desk.

Is SPC Free Zone in Dubai?

No. SPC Free Zone is in Sharjah. DMCC is in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai.

How much is a visa in SPC compared with DMCC?

SPC’s calculator shows an investor residence visa from AED 4,495 and an employee visa from AED 5,665, before the establishment card and medical. DMCC visas typically cost AED 3,500 to 6,000 each, and its Jump Start package (AED 43,780) includes one.

Related DMCC guides

Source & review. SPC figures from spcfz.ae (cost calculator). DMCC figures from DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges; other free zone figures as published by that authority on 28 October 2026 (see our UAE Free Zone Cost Index). Promotional prices change, so we confirm live prices before you pay. Reviewed by the Pro24 Advisory Team.