Area | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (mainland licence)
Business Setup in International City
Low-cost trading and warehousing beside Dragon Mart.
Business setup in International City means a Dubai mainland licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism against low-cost premises in the country-themed clusters off Al Awir Road. The district is best known for Dragon Mart, one of the largest concentrations of Chinese trade outside China, which makes it a natural base for importers, wholesalers and small distribution businesses.
We set the activity list against what you actually import and sell, secure the Ejari and the licence, then handle the staff visas and the bank account.
What should you know about International City?
Before you commit, these are the facts that decide how a company is licensed here and whether the property route to a Golden Visa is open to you: the ownership status, the licensing authority, where the local stock sits against the AED 2 million threshold, and how the area is reached. We confirm each of them for your exact plan before any fee is paid.
Why set up a company in International City?
The reasons that matter are the practical ones: what the licence lets you do, the visa allocation you get, the cost of the office or address the jurisdiction requires, and how quickly you can open a bank account and start invoicing. Here is where International City is genuinely strong for the kind of company most of our clients build, and where it is not the right fit.
Cost-led address
International City is priced for a business whose margin is in the goods, not the office.
Supply on the doorstep
Dragon Mart concentrates thousands of suppliers in one complex, a short drive from your unit.
Mainland trading rights
A mainland licence lets you sell to UAE customers directly, which is the point of basing a trading company here.
How can we help you set up in International City?
We are one accountable team for every step of setting up in International City: choosing the right licence and jurisdiction, arranging the office or serviced address the licence needs, processing your residence and family visas, opening the corporate bank account, and handling the Golden Visa where your property qualifies. You deal with one advisor, on one fixed quote, from the first question to a live company and a stamped visa.
- Accounting and Corporate Tax
- Mainland Company Setup
- Employment Visas
- Trade Licence Renewal
- Corporate Banking
Frequently asked questions
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Is International City suitable for a trading company?
Yes. It combines low-cost mainland premises with Dragon Mart next door, which is why importers and wholesalers cluster there.
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Is it a free zone?
No. International City is mainland Dubai, licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism, so you can sell directly into the UAE market.
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Can I store goods there?
Storage needs a unit approved for it and the matching activity on the licence. We check the unit before you sign rather than after.
Nearby and related
Sources
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, licences and permits dubaidet.gov.ae
- Invest in Dubai, the DET business licensing portal invest.dubai.ae
- UAE Government, verify a business licence u.ae
Set up in International City
Tell us what you are planning and we will reply with the right structure and a fixed quote.