University of Guilan Computational Sciences and Engineering 2783-2503 5 1 2025 04 01 Do Anzali free zone incentives facilitate ease of doing business? 97 114 9188 10.22124/cse.2025.31702.1121 EN Seyed Reza Miraskari Faculty of Management and Economics, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran Yasser Rezaei Pitenoei Faculty of Management and Economics, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran Journal Article 2025 09 16 The purpose of this study is examining the role of Anzali Free Zones incentives in ease of doing business by using the World Bank method and compare it with the situation in Iran in 2019. The ease of doing business is calculated based on 10 indicators, demonstrating that the Anzali Free Zone is ranked 93rd in 2019, better than the country (128). The Anzali Free Zone outdoes Iran in 5 out of 10 indicators of doing business index, including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, paying taxes and trading across borders. The Anzali Free Zone and Iran, however, have similar situations in five other indicators including registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. The incentives and benefits of investing in free zones made the ease of doing business in Anzali Free Zone better than in mainland Iran. In order to improve the ease of doing business index in Iran and the free zone, the relevant rules should be reviewed in order to achieve the goal of creating free zones.<strong><em> </em></strong>It is recommended that officials from relevant organizations, explain the various incentives offered by free zones to domestic and foreign economic activists so that increased investment can provide the basis for increased production and employment for the country. https://cse.guilan.ac.ir/article_9188_72cdafd4e027b4e0b836812466d7533c.pdf