Jurisdictions
IFZA — International Free Zone Authority
One of Dubai's most accessible free zones for consultants, e-commerce and remote-first businesses — set up in days, without visiting the UAE.
- Setup from
- AED 12,900 (0-visa package)
- Typical timing
- 3–5 working days
- Visa capacity
- 0 to 6, package-dependent
- Office format
- flexi-desk (Dubai Silicon Oasis) or private office
Is IFZA right for you?
Yes, if
- You run a consulting, IT, e-commerce, marketing or professional-services business with no need for a physical shopfront
- You want to register remotely and only travel to the UAE for the visa medical and biometrics
- You want one of the widest activity catalogues in the UAE (1,500+ approved activities) without paying DIFC- or DMCC-level fees
- You want predictable, package-based pricing rather than a custom DMCC-style quote
Not the best fit, if
- Your business needs a shopfront, warehouse or industrial premises — see Mainland or an industrial zone instead
- You specifically need the DMCC/DIFC brand recognition for banking or institutional counterparties — see DMCC or DIFC
- Your activity requires DFSA financial-services regulation — that sits in DIFC, not IFZA
Licence types & activity policy
- Commercial, Professional/Service, Industrial, General Trading and Holding licence categories, covering 1,500+ approved activities
- Up to 3 activities can typically sit on one licence within the same category; combining activities across categories or adding activities later carries an extra fee
- Regulated activities (education, healthcare, financial services, media broadcast) require an external authority NOC before IFZA will issue the licence — this is separate from IFZA's own process and adds time
Documents — individual shareholder
- Passport copy (valid, min. 6 months)
- Passport-size photo (white background)
- UAE visa/Emirates ID copy, if currently a resident
- Proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement)
- Signed application form and initial approval documents (A&D prepares)
Documents — corporate shareholder
- Certificate of Incorporation of the parent company, attested
- Memorandum & Articles of Association, attested
- Certificate of Good Standing / Incumbency, attested (if the parent company is older than 12 months)
- Board resolution approving the IFZA investment and appointing a signatory, attested
- Passport copy of the authorised signatory
"Attested" generally means notarised in the country of origin, then legalised through that country's foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, or apostilled where the Hague Convention applies. A&D manages this chain for the client.
Setup process
1Confirm business activity and licence category
2Reserve trade name and receive initial approval (24–48h)
3Submit shareholder/manager documents and sign incorporation papers (e-signature accepted)
4Pay licence fee; IFZA issues the trade licence and Certificate of Incorporation
5Apply for the Establishment (immigration) Card
6Apply for entry permit, complete medical test and Emirates ID biometrics in the UAE (visa route only)
7Open the corporate bank account once the licence and Establishment Card are in hand
Office, visas & banking
- Flexi-desk in Dubai Silicon Oasis included in most packages; private office available for higher visa quotas
- Visa quota is tied to the package chosen at setup, not to the office size, unlike DMCC/Meydan
- A&D prepares the banking file (activity description, expected turnover, source of funds) but cannot guarantee account approval — that decision sits entirely with the bank
Tax
9% UAE corporate tax applies above AED 375,000 annual profit; qualifying free-zone income can access the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person rate subject to conditions (real substance, qualifying activity, audited accounts). VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 taxable turnover. A&D's Tax, Accounting & Compliance service reviews QFZP eligibility case by case.
Price table
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| 0-visa licence, flexi-desk | from AED 12,900 / year |
| 1-visa licence | from AED 14,900 / year |
| 3-visa licence | from AED 19,900 / year |
| 6-visa licence | from AED 26,900 / year |
| Establishment Card | from AED 2,000 |
| Per-visa processing (entry permit, medical, EID) | from AED 3,800 per person |
Renewal / amendments / closure
- Annual renewal: licence fee re-charged at the same package tier (AED 12,900–15,000 indicative), plus the Establishment Card renewal
- Common amendments: adding an activity, changing shareholding, changing the manager — each carries a separate authority fee
- Closure: cancel visas first, settle any fines, submit deregistration application, obtain bank account closure letter, receive the liquidation certificate
Final price depends on activity, structure and visa quota — request a fixed quote.
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REF · IFZA
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