Arakan

For companies

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

For firms serving clients

OnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA complianceBecome an Arakan adviserGet clients through Arakan

For setting up

ScoutPlanning your UAE setupAtlasUAE setup reference

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions and PEP screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
Free guidesFree zonesBusiness activitiesUAE laws and rulebooksRegulatory updates
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Watch

Explainer videos and demosThe rules as steps, and Arakan at workLexara AcademyDFSA and VARA masterclasses

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Tax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara WeeklyThe week in UAE regulation

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ScoutBusiness setup
Costs and visasPackages, visas and renewal by zoneRules and taxAuthority, QFZP and audit rulesBy emiratePrice indexZones ranked by costCost calculatorFree zone authoritiesBest for startupsBest for freelancersSetup guide
Licences by activityApprovals, fees and setup stepsActivity look-upISIC activities and where they're allowedPermissions by zoneIncorporation documentsBusiness plan review
Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceSetup toolsSample setup reportAfter you incorporate
Talk to an adviserGet your AI advisory

In Scout · Business setup

Free zones
Costs and visasRules and taxBy emiratePrice indexCost calculatorFree zone authoritiesBest for startupsBest for freelancersSetup guide
Mainland
Licences by activityActivity look-upPermissions by zoneIncorporation documentsBusiness plan review
Compare and plan
Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceSetup toolsSample setup reportAfter you incorporate
Talk to an adviser
Apps

For companies

ComplyGovern

For firms serving clients

OnboardShieldLedgerBecome an Arakan adviser

For setting up

ScoutAtlas

Screening, rules and records

VerifyLexaraVaultScope

Free guides

Free zonesBusiness activitiesUAE laws and rulebooksRegulatory updates
Find the right appAll apps →
Learn

Watch

Explainer videos and demosLexara Academy

Read

Tax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Weekly

Use Arakan

In your AI assistantHelp centre
All resources →
Pricing
Start freeSign in

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
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
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  • Use in Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot
  • Explainers and demos
  • Help centre
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Resources

  • Briefings
  • Tax and compliance glossary
  • Compliance scenarios
  • Free zone guide
  • Jurisdiction guide
  • Academy and certification
  • Guides and decks

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

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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
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDubai Media CityDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDubai Maritime CityDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZtwofour54ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAO
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

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

UAE Regulators

Every UAE regulatory authority,
explained.

60 authorities govern business compliance in the UAE. Understanding which ones apply to your business — and why — is the foundation of any compliance programme.

Back to free zones

Not sure which regulators apply to you?

Arakan's discovery engine maps every authority that applies to your entity automatically — based on your jurisdiction, activity, and legal form.

Get started free

Federal Authorities (22)

Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly SCA)

sca

Federal

Central Bank of the UAE

cbuae

Federal

Banking licenses, payment services, insurance, and financial institution prudential rules.

BankingInsurancePayments

Central Directorate of Civil Defence — UAE

civil-defence

Federal

Federal (Cross-Regulator / Federal Decree-Laws)

federal

Federal

Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data (formerly UAE Data Office)

udo

Federal

Personal data protection, privacy obligations, and data controller registration.

Data protectionAll sectors

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Customs

customs

Federal

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Identity & Residency

eida

Federal

Federal Tax Authority

fta

Federal

Corporate Tax, VAT, Transfer Pricing, and Pillar Two compliance for all UAE businesses.

TaxAll sectors

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

moccae

Federal

Ministry of Economy and Tourism — AML/CFT & Commercial Supervision

moe

Federal

AML/CFT supervision for DNFBPs — real estate, gold, legal, accounting, and trust services.

AMLReal estateGoldLegalAccounting

Ministry of Education — National Qualifications (formerly National Qualifications Authority)

naqaa

Federal

Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure

moei

Federal

Ministry of Finance

mof

Federal

Pillar Two global minimum tax, country-by-country reporting, and government fee compliance.

TaxMNEsPillar Two

Ministry of Health and Prevention

mohap

Federal

Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

mohre

Federal

Employment contracts, WPS payroll, Emiratisation quotas, and worker welfare standards.

EmploymentAll sectors

Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

moiat

Federal

Ministry of Interior

moi

Federal

National Library and Archives

nra

Federal

National Media Authority (formerly UAE Media Council / National Media Council)

nmc

Federal

Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority

tdra

Federal

UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (goAML) — DPMS cash-transaction reports

cbuae-dnfbp

Federal

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

vara

Federal

Virtual asset services — licensing, AML, custody, and market conduct for VASPs.

Virtual assetsCryptoDeFi

Emirate & Free Zone Authorities (38)

Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone

adfza

Emirate

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development

added

Emirate

Abu Dhabi Municipality

adm

Emirate

ADGM Registration Authority

adgm-ra

Emirate

Company registration, annual filings, and corporate governance for ADGM entities.

CorporateADGMAbu Dhabi

Ajman Department of Economic Development

ajman-ded

Emirate

Ajman Free Zone

ajman-fz

Emirate

Department of Economy and Tourism — Dubai

ded-dubai

Emirate

Department of Health — Abu Dhabi

doh

Emirate

DIFC Commissioner of Data Protection

difc-commissioner-data-protection

Emirate

DIFC Registrar of Companies

difc-roc

Emirate

Company registration, annual filings, and corporate governance for DIFC entities.

CorporateDIFC

Dubai Airport Freezone Authority

dafza

Emirate

Dubai Development Authority

dda

Emirate

Dubai Financial Services Authority

dfsa

Emirate

Financial services in DIFC — asset management, capital markets, banking, insurance.

Financial servicesDIFC

Dubai Health Authority

dha

Emirate

Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA)

dhcc

Emirate

Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority

diez

Emirate

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts

difc-courts

Emirate

Dubai Land Department

dld

Emirate

Real estate registration, broker licensing, and property transaction compliance in Dubai.

Real estateDubai

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

dmcc

Emirate

Free zone licensing, annual audits, and commodity trade compliance for DMCC members.

Free zoneCommoditiesDubai

Dubai Municipality

dubai-municipality

Emirate

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

dso

Emirate

Financial Services Regulatory Authority — ADGM

fsra

Emirate

Fujairah Free Zone

fujairah-fz

Emirate

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

hamriyah

Emirate

Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority

jafza

Emirate

Free zone licensing, customs, and trade facilitation compliance for JAFZA members.

Free zoneTradeDubai

Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi

kizad

Emirate

Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai

khda

Emirate

Meydan Free Zone Authority

meydan-fz

Emirate

RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO)

rakdao

Emirate

RAK International Corporate Centre

rak-icc

Emirate

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone

rakez

Emirate

Real Estate Regulatory Authority — Dubai

rera

Emirate

Roads and Transport Authority — Dubai

rta

Emirate

Security Industry Regulatory Agency

sira

Emirate

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone

saif

Emirate

Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD)

sedd

Emirate

twofour54 — Abu Dhabi Media Zone

twofour54

Emirate

Umm Al Quwain Free Zone

uaq-fz

Emirate

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