Fujairah
Fujairah Free Zone: real costs, licences and review
The UAE's only Indian Ocean port — bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
FromAED 12,000
Typical, 1 visaAED 25,000
Timeline5–15 days
Our rating7.4/10
Our view
Fujairah is on the Gulf of Oman rather than the Arabian Gulf, meaning cargo reaches it without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. For shipping, bunkering and oil storage that geography is the entire commercial case, and it is why Fujairah is one of the world's largest bunkering ports.
For a non-shipping business it is simply remote. Roughly two hours from Dubai across the mountains.
Key facts
| Emirate | Fujairah |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,000 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 25,000 |
| Issuance time | 5–15 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | Yes |
| Remote setup | Yes |
| Licence types | Commercial, Industrial, Professional / service |
| Established | 1987 |
Official source: www.fujairahfreezone.com
Honestly
What works
- Bypasses the Strait of Hormuz
- Major global bunkering hub
- Low industrial land cost
- Established since 1987
What doesn't
- Two hours from Dubai
- Relevance limited to shipping and industry
- Small business community
- Banking friction
Who this suits
- Shipping and bunkering
- Oil storage and trading
- Indian Ocean logistics
- Industrial operations
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.