Quick answer: ANCFZ is the stronger first shortlist when you want an authority-published bundled package with a clear zero-, one- or two-visa total. SPC is more modular: its official Pay-As-You-Go licence starts with zero visas, then publishes separate prices for visa allocation, immigration services and optional support. For an e-commerce company, compare the complete package needed for your visa count, inventory model and banking file rather than comparing AED 4,888 with AED 6,875 as if the offers contain the same items.
Evidence check: Official ANCFZ and SPC package pages were checked on 27 July 2026. The figures below apply only to the named configurations. Activity approval, insurance, facilities, customs requirements and future renewal pricing can change.
ANCFZ vs SPC at a glance
| Decision factor | ANCFZ | SPC Free Zone | Practical reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package structure | Authority-published bundled packages from zero to ten visas | Zero-visa licence with separately priced services | ANCFZ gives a clearer bundled visa path; SPC gives more item-by-item choice |
| Named entry package | AED 4,888 for the one-year zero-visa Starter package | AED 6,875 for the one-year zero-visa Pay-As-You-Go licence | Both are official Year 1 figures, but their inclusions differ |
| Activities | Up to 10 mix-and-match activities | Up to five activities from more than 2,000 options | Exact e-commerce and related activity wording still needs authority confirmation |
| Visa approach | One-year one-visa package is AED 10,800 and includes listed ICP services | Visa allocation, establishment card, e-channel and visa processing are separate add-ons | Compare a complete one-visa basket, not the two zero-visa licences |
| Facilities | Lease agreement is included; confirm whether a selected package satisfies the operating and visa need | Flexi-desk supports visa availability; paid offices, storage and warehouses are published separately | Neither entry licence should be treated as inventory space |
| Renewal evidence | Official multi-year package prices are published; future annual renewal follows the approved price list | The Pay-As-You-Go page does not publish a renewal amount | Use ANCFZ’s named multi-year package for three-year planning; request SPC renewal in writing |
Official package cost comparison
The figures below deliberately keep unlike configurations separate. A zero-visa licence is not compared as though it were a complete one-visa company setup.
| Configuration | ANCFZ official amount | SPC official amount | Confidence and limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year zero-visa licence | AED 4,888 | AED 6,875 | High: official authority pages; package inclusions differ |
| One-year one-visa route | AED 10,800 bundled package | AED 14,290 calculated item basket before insurance and without in-country status change | High for listed components: SPC total is our arithmetic, not an authority bundle |
| One-year one-visa route with status change | AED 10,800; confirm whether status change is applicable to the applicant | AED 14,990 calculated item basket before insurance | Requires applicant check: inside/outside-country process changes the SPC basket |
| One-year two-visa package | AED 16,200 bundled package | Quote-based; repeat visa services and final configuration require confirmation | ANCFZ high; SPC requires verification |
| Three-year zero-visa package | AED 14,664 official three-year package | Quote-based because renewal is not published | ANCFZ high: authority package, not assumed annual renewal |
| Three-year one-visa package | AED 30,600 official three-year package | Quote-based because renewal and future immigration costs are not published | ANCFZ high; SPC requires verification |
| Health insurance | Mandatory for the visa process and excluded | Not listed in the Pay-As-You-Go add-on table | Excluded: obtain a current applicant-specific premium |
SPC calculation note: AED 14,290 is AED 6,875 licence + AED 1,600 visa allocation + AED 640 establishment card + AED 2,280 e-channel registration + AED 2,530 investor visa with Emirates ID + AED 365 medical test. Adding the published AED 700 change-of-status service produces AED 14,990. The applicable route and any further required items must be confirmed before payment.
What the ANCFZ package includes
ANCFZ’s official package table describes a broader bundled structure. This makes its one- and two-visa rows easier to use as planning figures, provided the selected activity and applicant process match the package.
| Included category | Published ANCFZ inclusion | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Company documents | Business licence, commercial registry, share certificate, incorporation and incumbency certificates | Confirm the final legal form and document set on the written quote |
| Ownership and activities | Unlimited shareholders and up to 10 mix-and-match activities | Activity combinations and external approvals remain subject to approval |
| Premises document | Lease agreement | A lease document is not the same as storage, retail or warehouse space |
| Banking document | Bank letter | A bank letter supports the application but does not guarantee account approval |
| Visa-package services | Security approval, e-channel registration and guarantee, establishment card, entry permit, applicable status change, medical, residence visa and Emirates ID processing | Use the named visa tier; applicant circumstances can still affect process and timing |
| Known exclusion | Health insurance | Insurance is mandatory during the visa process and must be budgeted separately |
What the SPC Pay-As-You-Go package includes
SPC’s official model starts with the licence and lets a company add immigration, support and facility services as needed. That flexibility is useful, but the AED 6,875 headline is not a one-visa all-in price.
| Published item | Official amount | How to treat it |
|---|---|---|
| One-year zero-visa licence | AED 6,875 | Base Pay-As-You-Go licence; up to five activities and up to 100 shareholders are published |
| Visa allocation | AED 1,600 | Quota allocation only; it is not the residence visa process |
| Establishment card | AED 640 | Add where the immigration route requires it |
| E-channel registration | AED 2,280 | Confirm current immigration requirements and renewal exposure |
| Investor visa with Emirates ID | AED 2,530 | Medical, applicable status change and insurance are separate |
| Change of status | AED 700 | Relevant to the applicable in-country route; do not add automatically to every applicant |
| Medical test | AED 365 | Published add-on; confirm service level and current government process |
| Banking assistance | AED 2,000 optional service | Assistance is not bank approval and is excluded from our licence-and-visa basket |
| Company stamp | AED 250 optional item | Add only if required for the operating workflow |
Which package fits an e-commerce company?
A licence label alone does not establish that every online-selling model is approved. Confirm the exact activity wording, product category and operating route. Food, cosmetics, medical products, precious metals and other controlled goods can involve additional approvals.
| Founder profile | Stronger first shortlist | Why | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa online service or marketplace test | ANCFZ | Lower official zero-visa Year 1 and named three-year package | Exact activity, payment gateway, renewal route and whether a lease document is sufficient |
| One investor visa and preference for a bundled figure | ANCFZ | Official one-visa package includes the listed ICP process components | Insurance, applicant status and any activity-specific approval |
| Founder wants itemised immigration add-ons | SPC | Official page publishes separate visa, establishment, e-channel and medical amounts | Which add-ons apply and the written renewal amount |
| Business may add a paid office, storage or warehouse | SPC deserves a facilities quote | SPC publishes several facility categories and per-square-metre starting figures | Unit availability, lease term, deposits, utilities, customs and activity suitability |
| Several related activities under one licence | Compare both | ANCFZ publishes up to 10 mix-and-match activities; SPC publishes up to five | Whether the exact activities can legally sit together and whether external approval applies |
Visas, office needs and inventory
Visa planning
ANCFZ publishes complete one- to ten-visa package rows, while SPC publishes a zero-visa licence and modular add-ons. If a founder needs a residence visa, compare the same applicant status, visa duration, medical route, Emirates ID, insurance and establishment requirements. A quota allocation is not the same as an issued residence visa.
Office and flexi-desk planning
ANCFZ includes a lease agreement in its package list. SPC states that visas are available on a flexi-desk and separately publishes offices, retail, storage and warehouse facilities. Ask what physical access is included, whether the premises satisfy bank substance checks, and what changes when more visas are added.
Inventory and fulfilment
A low-cost licence does not provide storage, fulfilment, customs registration or product approvals. An online seller using a third-party logistics provider should document that arrangement. A seller holding stock should price the facility, insurance, customs and transport route separately.
Banking and payment-gateway readiness
Neither free zone can guarantee a corporate bank account or payment gateway. ANCFZ lists a bank letter among its company documents. SPC publishes optional banking assistance at AED 2,000. Both are support inputs, not approval decisions.
| Readiness item | Why it matters | Useful evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Exact activity and products | Banks and gateways assess whether the licence matches the revenue model | Activity approval, product catalogue and supplier information |
| Commercial substance | A low-cost licence alone may not explain how the business operates | Website, domain email, contracts, invoices, fulfilment agreement and premises evidence |
| Source of funds | Ownership and startup funding must be understandable | Bank statements, shareholder profile and funding trail |
| Transaction profile | Cross-border goods, refunds and marketplace payouts affect risk review | Expected volumes, countries, currencies, counterparties and payment flow |
| Product risk | Some goods attract enhanced compliance or external approvals | Supplier documents, product registrations and approval records where applicable |
Use the banking difficulty checker and 46-bank comparison hub to prepare the file before applying.
Mainland sales, customs and tax questions
An e-commerce licence does not by itself answer how physical goods enter the UAE, where inventory is held, or which entity handles mainland distribution. Confirm customs registration, importer-of-record responsibility, product approvals and fulfilment arrangements for the chosen model.
Free-zone status also does not automatically remove VAT or corporate-tax obligations. Registration and treatment depend on the facts of the business. Use qualified tax advice for the actual supply chain and keep evidence of contracts, imports, exports and customer location.
Hidden-cost checklist
| Cost or risk | ANCFZ question | SPC question |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | What is the current mandatory premium for the applicant? | Is insurance required and what is the current premium? |
| Renewal | Which approved price list and duration will apply after the selected term? | What is the written renewal for the same licence and add-ons? |
| Immigration | Does the named visa package cover the applicant’s exact status route? | Which of allocation, establishment card, e-channel, visa, medical and status change apply? |
| Facility | What access does the included lease agreement provide? | Is flexi-desk sufficient, or is an office, storage unit or warehouse required? |
| Activity approval | Can all selected e-commerce and related activities be combined? | Can the five selected activities be combined, and are external approvals needed? |
| Goods movement | Who handles customs, fulfilment and product approvals? | Who handles customs, fulfilment and product approvals? |
| Banking support | What does the included bank letter contain? | What is included in the optional AED 2,000 assistance service? |
| Amendment or cancellation | Request current authority charges before signing | Request current authority charges before signing |
Read the full UAE free-zone hidden-cost guide and use the cost calculator with the same visa and office assumptions for both zones.
Practical verdict by use case
Choose ANCFZ first when
You want a lower official zero-visa entry figure, a published multi-year package, up to 10 mix-and-match activities, or a bundled one-visa route with the listed immigration components. Confirm insurance, the exact e-commerce activity and the operating premises.
Choose SPC first when
You prefer a modular zero-visa licence, want to see several immigration add-ons itemised, or need a separate quote for office, storage or warehouse space in Sharjah. Obtain the renewal in writing and calculate the full visa basket before comparing it with ANCFZ.
Shortlist neither automatically when
The business needs regulated-product approvals, a complex import route, large warehousing, a premium Dubai address or a specialised banking profile. In those cases, operating fit can outweigh the licence headline.
Alternatives and related comparisons
Review the full ANCFZ profile and SPC profile. Other useful shortlists include SHAMS for media and service activities, Ajman Free Zone for Ajman alternatives, RAKEZ for trading or facility-led operations, and IFZA or Meydan Free Zone when a Dubai route matters.
Related decisions: ANCFZ vs SPC comparison page, SPC vs SHAMS, IFZA vs SPC, e-commerce licence guide, free-zone finder and UAE Free Zone Cost Index.
Official sources and confidence
- ANCFZ official 2026 licence-cost and package table
- SPC official Pay-As-You-Go package and service table
Confidence: high for the named official Year 1 package amounts, ANCFZ multi-year packages and the listed inclusions. SPC one-visa totals are transparent arithmetic from official add-ons, not an authority-issued bundle. SPC renewal, insurance, activity eligibility and a complete facility-led setup require verification.
Read how price confidence is labelled or report changed authority data. UAE Freezone Compare is an independent private comparison platform and is not ANCFZ, SPC Free Zone or a UAE government authority.
ANCFZ vs SPC FAQs
| Is ANCFZ or SPC lower cost for a zero-visa e-commerce company? | For the named official one-year zero-visa packages, ANCFZ is AED 4,888 and SPC is AED 6,875. Confirm the exact activity and inclusions before deciding; the figures are not complete operating costs. |
|---|---|
| Which has the clearer one-visa price? | ANCFZ publishes a bundled one-year one-visa package at AED 10,800. SPC publishes modular add-ons; the relevant official items total AED 14,290 before insurance and without an in-country status change, or AED 14,990 with the published status-change item. |
| Does ANCFZ’s AED 4,888 package include a visa? | No. It is the official one-year zero-visa Starter package. ANCFZ separately publishes one- and multi-visa package rows. |
| Does SPC’s AED 6,875 package include a visa? | No. The official Pay-As-You-Go page describes a one-year zero-visa licence. Visa allocation and immigration services are listed separately. |
| Can either licence support more than one activity? | ANCFZ publishes up to 10 mix-and-match activities; SPC publishes up to five activities from more than 2,000 options. The authority must still approve the exact combination. |
| Which is better for holding inventory? | Neither entry licence includes inventory space. SPC publishes separate storage and warehouse options. ANCFZ users should obtain a facility or fulfilment solution suited to the activity and customs route. |
| Is bank-account opening guaranteed? | No. ANCFZ includes a bank letter and SPC offers optional banking assistance, but banks independently assess the company, activity, shareholders, source of funds and transaction profile. |
| How should I compare renewal? | ANCFZ publishes named multi-year package amounts, which are stronger evidence than assuming repeated annual renewal. SPC does not publish Pay-As-You-Go renewal on the source page, so request the same-configuration renewal in writing. |
Request a matched ANCFZ or SPC quote
Use the same activity, visa count, applicant status, shareholder count, office need and inventory model for both quotes. UAE Freezone Compare can request a suitable current market quote without charging the user a service fee. Authority, bank, visa and payment-gateway approval are not guaranteed.
Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team
Reviewed by: UAE Business Setup Research Team
Official sources checked: 27 July 2026