Free Zones for Education in Dubai (2026)
The 7 Dubai free zones that license education activity, ranked by published year-1 cost, with visa quotas and setup times. Data as of July 2026.
Take the matching quiz7 free zones in Dubai license education activity. Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 12,900–30,000 as of July 2026. International Free Zone Authority has the lowest firm published entry cost at AED 12,900–30,000. Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Media City, Dubai South Free Zone price on request or publish only indicative figures, so their costs are not directly comparable. Meydan Free Zone reports the shortest setup at 1–5 days. Which one fits depends on your visa count, office type and banking needs.
Dubai free zones licensing education
Ranked by published year-1 example cost, lowest first. Figures are typical packages as of July 2026, not quotes.
| Free zone | Year 1 cost | Typical visa ceiling | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Academic City | AED 7,500–90,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai Internet City | AED 7,500–90,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai Knowledge Park | AED 7,500–90,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai Media City | AED 7,500–90,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| International Free Zone Authority | AED 12,900–30,000 | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai South Free Zone | AED 15,000–50,000 * | 50 | 5–14 days |
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 22,600–24,300 | 50 | 1–5 days |
* Indicative or quote-based — that zone does not publish firm package pricing, so the figure is not directly comparable with the rest.
Questions
Which free zone in Dubai is best for education?
7 free zones in Dubai license education activity. Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 12,900–30,000 as of July 2026. International Free Zone Authority has the lowest firm published entry cost at AED 12,900–30,000. Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Media City, Dubai South Free Zone price on request or publish only indicative figures, so their costs are not directly comparable. Meydan Free Zone reports the shortest setup at 1–5 days. Which one fits depends on your visa count, office type and banking needs.
How many free zones in Dubai allow education activity?
7 of the 52 free zones FreezoneMatch scores list education among their licensed activities in Dubai: Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Media City, International Free Zone Authority, Dubai South Free Zone, Meydan Free Zone. As of July 2026.
What does an education licence cost in Dubai?
Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 12,900–30,000 as of July 2026, based on each zone's published example package. The lowest is International Free Zone Authority at AED 12,900–30,000. These are typical package figures, not quotes — final cost depends on visa count and office type, and 5 of these zones price on request.
How many visas can an education company get in Dubai?
Visa quotas in Dubai are driven mainly by office type rather than by zone choice — a flexi-desk caps you low almost everywhere. Among these zones, Dubai South Free Zone models the highest typical ceiling at 50. Confirm the quota for the specific office package you intend to take.