United Arab Emirates
IFZA Dubai Freezone
Dubai's most flexible and cost-efficient setup. No physical office requirement, several activities under one licence.
At a glance
Location
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Office
Not required; virtual office suffices
Activities
Several under one licence
Setup
3 to 7 working days, remotely
The International Free Zone Authority, located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, has become the default choice in recent years for consulting, technology, trading and service companies. The reason is simple: no physical office requirement, several activities under one licence, tiered visa packages and a total cost among the lowest in Dubai.
It can be formed remotely, without travelling to Dubai. A single visit covers the investor visa and Emirates ID. For early-stage ventures and one-person consultancies, IFZA is very often our first recommendation.
Why here
When this jurisdiction is the right choice.
- One of Dubai's lowest total setup costs.
- Licence without an office lease; visa count set by package.
- Broad activity list for consulting, software, trading and e-commerce.
- Incorporation completes without the founder travelling to Dubai.
Entity types
Which structure, for whom.
FZCO
Free zone company, one or more shareholders, limited liability.
Branch
IFZA branch of a foreign or UAE company.
Process
Formation step by step.
- 01Activity set and visa package selection
- 02Passport, photo, proof of address
- 03Name approval and application
- 04Licence and certificate (3 to 7 days)
- 05One visit for residence visa and Emirates ID
- 06Bank account and corporate tax registration
After formation
What has to happen every year.
- Annual licence renewal
- Corporate tax registration and return
- Accounting records; audit conditions per zone rules
- Health insurance and Emirates ID renewal for visa holders
Same country
Other options.
Mainland UAE Company
Unrestricted activity across the UAE and abroad. The structure for a business with local customers.
Open pageRAKEZ UAE Freezone
Ras Al Khaimah's cost-efficient zone for manufacturing, logistics and services. Forty-five minutes from Dubai.
Open pageRAC ICC UAE Offshore
A holding and asset company registered in the UAE but operating outside it. No office, no visas, low cost.
Open pageDMCC Dubai Freezone
The hub for commodities trade, and for crypto companies. Dubai's most prestigious free zone.
Open pageMeydan Dubai Freezone
Close to central Dubai, fully digital setup. Fast and economical for ventures and service companies.
Open pageFrequently asked
The in-country registry, licence and agent steps of the formation file run through our licensed formation partners in the relevant jurisdiction. Structure design, contracts, the bank file and the tax and notification effect on the Turkish side are managed by Defensible. Rates and thresholds summarise the headline rules at the time of writing; we check the current text together on your own file.
Can an IFZA company open a bank account?
Yes, though as in every free zone the bank wants real activity and a clear founder profile. We prepare the file in advance and pick the right bank; this is the longest step.
Let's work out which structure fits you in 15 minutes.
Tell us where you sell, who you are and what you are aiming at; we will say in the call which jurisdiction and entity type make sense. Formation itself is a separate engagement, scoped and priced there.
Book a 15-minute call