Licensing

Dubai Free Zone Company Setup

Full ownership, fast setup and packaged costs across 30 plus free zones.

Fixed price quoted up front
Mainland and every free zone
Licence, visas, banking, one team
Most licences in days, not weeks

A free zone company is registered inside one of Dubai's designated economic zones, each with its own authority, licence list and package pricing. Free zones were built to attract foreign investment, so they offer full foreign ownership, a fast and predictable process, and bundled packages that combine the licence, a desk and a visa allocation into one price.

The trade off is scope. A free zone licence is designed for business conducted with customers outside the UAE, inside the same zone, or through a distributor. If most of your revenue will come from selling directly to UAE mainland customers, that structure adds a step later, which is why the jurisdiction decision should follow your customers rather than the headline price.

The basics

Each free zone is a separate jurisdiction with its own registrar, rules and licence categories. Dubai has more than 30, including IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, DAFZA, JAFZA, Dubai South, DIFC and Dubai Internet City, and each one leans towards particular sectors: commodities, media, technology, logistics, finance or general trading.

Free zone companies benefit from full foreign ownership and no personal income tax. They fall under the 9% corporate tax regime, though a qualifying free zone person may access a 0% rate on qualifying income where the substance and transaction conditions are met. Most zones accept a flexi desk rather than a full office, which is what keeps the entry cost low.

Why it works

100% foreign ownership

No local partner and no local service agent. The company is yours outright from day one.

Fast, predictable setup

Many zones issue a licence within a few working days once documents are complete, because everything sits with one authority.

Packaged pricing

Licence, desk and visa allocation are bundled, so your first year cost is known up front with fewer moving parts.

Flexi desk accepted

Most zones satisfy the office requirement with a shared desk, which removes the largest fixed cost of a mainland setup.

Tax efficiency

No personal income tax, and a qualifying free zone person may access a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income.

Sector clustering

Choosing the zone that matches your sector puts you next to your customers, suppliers and the regulator that understands your activity.

Compare
FactorMainlandFree zone
Selling to UAE mainland Via distributor or branch Direct
Foreign ownership 100% Up to 100% on most activities
Office requirement Flexi desk accepted Physical office with Ejari
Setup speed Days Slightly longer
Entry cost Lower Higher
Visa quota Fixed by package Scales with office size
Scope

Zones group activities into a handful of licence categories. Most businesses fall into one of these.

  • Trading and general trading
  • Consultancy and professional services
  • E-commerce and online retail
  • Media, marketing and design
  • Technology, software and IT services
  • Logistics, freight and shipping
  • Holding company for shares and assets
  • Education, training and coaching
Cost

Free zone packages start lower than mainland because the desk replaces a leased office. What moves the price is the zone itself, the number of activities on the licence and the number of visas in the package. A zero visa package is the cheapest entry point, and each visa added increases both the package tier and the per person processing cost.

What makes up the cost

  • Free zone authority registration and licence fee
  • Flexi desk or office facility charge
  • Establishment card and visa allocation
  • Medical, Emirates ID and stamping per visa
  • Our professional fee, quoted as a fixed amount up front
Paperwork
  • Passport copies for every shareholder and the manager
  • Passport size photographs on a white background
  • Three proposed company names in order of preference
  • A short description of the intended business activity
  • Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement
  • Curriculum vitae for certain professional and consultancy licences
  • Board resolution and corporate documents where a company is the shareholder
  • No objection certificate if you are already sponsored in the UAE
The process
01

Choose the right zone

We match your activity, budget and visa needs to the zones that actually fit, rather than defaulting to whichever pays the largest commission.

02

Reserve the company name

We submit your preferred names to the authority and clear the one that passes their naming rules.

03

Submit the application

We prepare the application, activity selection and shareholder documents and file them with the free zone registrar.

04

Initial approval and payment

The authority issues initial approval, then package and government fees are settled.

05

Licence and lease issued

Your trade licence, incorporation certificate and flexi desk or office lease are issued together.

06

Establishment card and visas

We process the establishment card, then residence visas including medical, Emirates ID and passport stamping.

07

Corporate bank account

We prepare a bank ready file, match you to suitable banks and support you through compliance to a live account.

Why Layerz

We advise on the structure that fits your activity and customers rather than the package that is easiest to sell. You get a fixed quote with government fees itemised separately, a dedicated advisor from first call to licence, and the same team afterwards for visas, banking, accounting and renewals.

Get a free consultation
Faq

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers on cost, ownership, documents and timelines.

Ask us anything Ask us anything
  • 1. How much does a free zone company cost in Dubai?
    Packages generally start from around AED 12,500 for a zero visa licence and rise with the zone, the number of activities and the visa allocation. We give you a fixed quote with the free zone fees itemised separately from our professional fee.
  • 2. Which free zone is best in Dubai?
    There is no single best zone. IFZA and Meydan are cost effective general purpose options, DMCC suits commodities and trading, DAFZA and JAFZA suit logistics, DIFC suits financial services and Dubai Internet City suits technology. We recommend based on your activity, budget and visa needs.
  • 3. Can a free zone company do business in mainland Dubai?
    Not directly in most cases. To sell into the mainland market you would typically appoint a distributor or register a mainland branch. If most of your customers are UAE based, we will usually recommend a mainland licence instead.
  • 4. How many visas can I get with a free zone licence?
    The allocation is set by your package and facility. A flexi desk commonly allows between one and six visas, and taking a physical office in the zone increases the quota.
  • 5. Do free zone companies pay corporate tax?
    Free zone companies fall within the UAE corporate tax regime, but a qualifying free zone person may access a 0% rate on qualifying income where the substance and transaction requirements are met. Other income is taxed at 9% above the threshold.
Keep reading

Dubai Mainland Company Formation

Trade anywhere in the UAE, with up to 100% foreign ownership.

Read guide

E-Commerce License

Sell online legally, from a marketplace storefront to your own platform.

Read guide

Dubai Offshore Company Setup

A holding and international trading vehicle, without UAE residence visas.

Read guide

Enquire about your dubai free zone company setup

Tell us what you are planning and we will reply with the right structure and a fixed quote.