What free zones must master to win the next decade

The UAE's free zones have always been ahead of the curve.

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But over the past three years, working closely with four of the country’s most ambitious zones, I've noticed a shift: the biggest competitive advantages are no longer structural, they're behavioural.

Founders today are evaluating free zones the way they evaluate high-growth tech companies. They expect transparency, immediate responsiveness, evidence of operational competence, and a digital journey that feels effortless. A compelling value proposition means little if the founder's first touchpoint is unclear, slow, or inconsistent.