How much does IFZA company formation cost in Dubai?
An IFZA company licence commonly starts from AED 12,900 for a zero-visa package. The full first-year cost depends on the visa allocation, establishment card, residence visa, status change, medical test, Emirates ID, health insurance, office option, business activity, external approval and setup assistance selected.
Zero-Visa Licence
For overseas founders, consultants and companies that do not need UAE residence immediately.
One-Visa Allocation
For a shareholder or employee who needs a UAE residence visa through the company.
Two to Four Visa Allocations
For founders who plan to add a partner, employee or small UAE team.
Corporate Shareholder or Branch
For an existing foreign or UAE company establishing an IFZA subsidiary or branch.
Indicative IFZA Licence Package Cost
| Licence Package | Indicative Fee | Visa Allocation | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-Visa Licence | AED 12,900 | 0 | Remote founders, overseas consultants and non-resident companies. |
| One-Visa Allocation | AED 14,900 | 1 | One shareholder, manager or employee requiring UAE residence. |
| Two-Visa Allocation | AED 16,900 | 2 | Founder plus partner or first employee. |
| Three-Visa Allocation | AED 18,900 | 3 | A small company preparing to build a UAE team. |
| Four-Visa Allocation | AED 20,900 | 4 | Growing SMEs with several shareholders or employees. |
These figures are indicative partner package amounts and are not a final quotation. Promotions, tariffs and third-party fees may change. Request a written cost breakdown before payment.
Estimate Your IFZA First-Year Setup Cost
Use this calculator for an initial estimate. It includes the selected licence package and common immigration charges shown below. Medical, Emirates ID, insurance, office upgrades, activity fees, external approvals, translation, attestation and professional service fees are not included.
Calculator assumptions: establishment card AED 2,000 when a company visa is processed, basic visa fee AED 3,750 per applicant, status change AED 1,600 per applicant and investor or partner add-on AED 1,000 per applicant. Final charges and promotions must be confirmed before application.
What Is IFZA Dubai?
IFZA stands for the International Free Zone Authority. It provides Dubai Free Zone company formation and business licensing through its headquarters and business community in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
IFZA works through a network of Professional Partners who review the investor’s requirements, prepare the proposal and coordinate the application. The company licence and incorporation documents are issued under the IFZA Free Zone framework.
IFZA is commonly considered by consultants, professional service companies, trading businesses, e-commerce sellers, technology firms, overseas founders and foreign companies establishing a branch or subsidiary in Dubai.
Is IFZA a Government Free Zone?
IFZA is the licensing authority for its Dubai Free Zone business community. It should not be confused with a private company-formation consultant. IFZA issues the Free Zone licence and formation documents, while authorised Professional Partners help investors prepare and submit their applications.
Questions about IFZA’s legal ownership, governance or institutional structure should be answered using current IFZA corporate disclosures and the investor’s formation documents rather than descriptions published by third-party websites.
Is IFZA a Good Free Zone for Your Business?
IFZA May Be Suitable When
- You want a Dubai Free Zone company with 100% foreign ownership.
- The company provides consultancy, digital, technical or professional services.
- You operate an e-commerce, trading, import-export or distribution business.
- You want to begin the incorporation remotely.
- You need zero to four initial visa allocations.
- You want flexible desk or office options in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Another Setup May Be Better When
- You need a physical mainland retail shop or restaurant.
- The company requires a large warehouse or heavy industrial facility.
- You need unrestricted direct trading throughout the mainland.
- A sector regulator requires a different jurisdiction or facility.
- Government contracts require a mainland establishment.
- Your staffing plan requires a larger office-linked visa allocation.
Benefits of IFZA Company Formation
| IFZA Feature | Practical Meaning for the Investor |
|---|---|
| 100% foreign ownership | Foreign individuals and eligible corporate shareholders can own the company without a local shareholder. |
| Remote incorporation | Standard registration can normally begin without the shareholder travelling to Dubai. |
| Professional and Commercial options | Suitable licence options are available for service businesses and product-trading companies. |
| Multiple activities | Compatible activities can be included under one licence, subject to current IFZA rules. |
| Visa package choices | Investors can select a licence based on the number of residence visas expected. |
| Workspace options | Flexi-desk, dedicated and private office options are available according to the business requirement. |
| Capital and profit repatriation | IFZA promotes full repatriation, subject to banking, tax, legal and compliance requirements. |
| Professional Partner support | Applications are prepared and coordinated through IFZA’s Professional Partner network. |
IFZA Licence Types
Professional Licence
For consultancy, technical services, digital work, management services and other businesses earning revenue from professional skill or expertise.
Commercial Licence
For businesses buying, selling, importing, exporting or distributing goods covered by the selected trading activity.
Branch Registration
For an existing foreign or UAE company establishing a branch under its parent-company identity and approved scope.
A General Trading activity is normally handled within the Commercial licensing direction. Holding, investment, industrial and production-related structures depend on the exact activity selected and should be checked before submission.
Choose the Correct IFZA Business Activity
The business activity determines what the company can provide, sell, trade and invoice for. It can also affect the licence category, external approvals, office requirement, banking review and total setup cost.
IFZA states that up to three business activity groups are included within the standard licence fee. Additional activities and combinations across Professional and Commercial categories may involve extra charges and approval.
Green activities are non-regulated activities that do not require external government approval under the activity classification. Amber activities require approval from the specified Dubai or UAE federal authority. Property conditions may apply to either classification.
Search the IFZA Business Activities ListDocuments Required for IFZA Company Formation
Individual Shareholder
- Clear passport copy
- Digital passport photograph
- Completed application and UBO information
- Emirates ID for a UAE resident
- UAE visa copy for a UAE resident
- Contact and residential-address details
- Third-party approval where required by the activity
Corporate Shareholder or Branch
- Certificate of incorporation or formation
- Valid parent-company licence or registration document
- Memorandum and Articles or equivalent documents
- Board resolution approving the IFZA setup
- Passport copies for shareholders and general manager
- UBO and authorised-signatory information
- Notarisation, attestation or certified translation where required
Additional documents may be requested based on nationality, business activity, ownership structure, source of funds or compliance review.
IFZA Company Formation Process
Consultation and Proposal
We review the activity, shareholder structure, visa requirement, office option and expected first-year cost.
Documents and Trade Name
The application, UBO details, passport documents and proposed company names are prepared.
Application Processing
The shareholder documents and selected package are submitted for review and approval.
Electronic Forms
The required electronic formation forms are reviewed and signed by the authorised person.
Licence Issuance
After approval and payment, the IFZA licence and formation documents are issued electronically.
Visa and Post-Licence Work
The establishment card, visa applications, tax registration and banking file can then be prepared.
A standard non-regulated application with complete documents may be processed within a few working days. Corporate shareholders, Amber activities, additional approvals and compliance queries can extend the timeline.
Can You Set Up an IFZA Company Remotely?
Yes. Standard IFZA company incorporation can normally be completed remotely using digital documents and electronic signatures. IFZA states that physical presence is not required during the incorporation process.
A non-resident shareholder can submit the passport copy, photograph, application and UBO information electronically. Corporate-shareholder documents may require certification, notarisation, attestation or legal translation depending on the country and company structure.
Physical presence in the UAE is required later when an applicant completes residence-visa steps such as medical fitness testing and Emirates ID biometrics.
IFZA Investor Visa and Employee Visa Process
| Visa Stage | What Happens | GloboPrime Support |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment card | The company immigration file is activated. | Application preparation and follow-up. |
| Entry permit | The applicant receives the appropriate visa entry permit. | Typing, submission and tracking. |
| Status change | Required where the applicant completes the process from inside the UAE. | Status-change application support. |
| Medical fitness | The applicant completes the required UAE medical test. | Application typing and appointment support. |
| Emirates ID | The application and biometrics are completed. | Form preparation and tracking. |
| Health insurance | A compliant policy is arranged where required. | Insurance coordination. |
| Residence finalisation | The residence record is approved and linked electronically. | Process coordination until completion. |
Is IFZA Visa for Life Included with Every Company?
No. Visa for Life is a promotion offered by IFZA during selected periods. Eligibility depends on the month of company incorporation and the terms applying to the selected licence package.
When available, the promotion covers the basic visa fee of AED 3,750. It does not automatically cover status change, investor or partner visa add-ons, medical fitness, Emirates ID, health insurance or other immigration charges.
GloboPrime will confirm whether a current promotion applies and provide the included and excluded charges in writing before submission.
IFZA Office and Workspace Options
| Workspace | Suitable For | General Features |
|---|---|---|
| Flexi Desk | Solo founders and remote businesses. | Shared workspace access and an IFZA business address. |
| Flexi Desk+ | Businesses needing more regular desk access. | Dedicated desk access, individual address and meeting-room allowance. |
| Dedicated Office | Small teams requiring a fixed workspace. | Dedicated working space within a shared office environment. |
| Private Office | Growing companies needing privacy and regular access. | Private office, individual address and meeting facilities. |
| Personalised Office | Established businesses requiring a customised workspace. | Furnished or unfurnished options with extended access. |
The activity, visa allocation, staff plan, customer meetings and bank requirements should be reviewed before selecting the office option.
Can an IFZA Company Do Business in Mainland Dubai?
An IFZA company can work with UAE customers, but the permitted route depends on the activity, transaction and product. Professional service companies may provide services under the terms of their licence and applicable UAE rules.
A Free Zone trading company selling physical goods on the mainland may need a licensed mainland distributor, logistics partner, customs registration or another approved arrangement. IFZA’s current General Trading guidance states that mainland product delivery and fulfilment may be handled through a local distributor holding the appropriate mainland licence.
The expected sales route should be checked before incorporation so that the activity, contracts, customs process and tax treatment are suitable.
Corporate Bank Account Support for IFZA Companies
An IFZA company can apply for a UAE corporate bank account. The bank will assess the shareholder profile, business activity, source of funds, expected transactions, customers, suppliers, countries of operation and supporting records.
GloboPrime helps prepare a bank application file that may include the company documents, shareholder KYC, business description, website, business plan, customer or supplier evidence, contracts, invoices and transaction explanation.
No business setup consultant or Free Zone can guarantee bank approval. The bank makes an independent compliance decision after reviewing the application.
Corporate Tax and VAT for an IFZA Company
An IFZA licence does not automatically provide 0% Corporate Tax on every transaction. A company may qualify for the Free Zone Corporate Tax regime only when it meets the relevant conditions and earns qualifying income.
The company should review Corporate Tax registration, accounting records, financial statements, related-party transactions, substance requirements and the treatment of qualifying and non-qualifying income.
VAT registration is assessed separately and depends on taxable supplies, imports and the applicable registration thresholds. Tax advice should be based on the company’s actual activity and customer model.
Post-Licence IFZA PRO Services
Licence Renewal
Annual renewal, document review and payment coordination.
Establishment Card
New applications, renewals and company immigration-file support.
Visa Processing
Investor, partner and employee visa coordination.
Licence Amendments
Activity, trade name, manager, shareholder and package changes.
Document Support
Corporate resolutions, attestation and legal translation coordination.
Company Closure
Visa cancellation, clearance, liquidation and deregistration support.
IFZA Free Zone vs Dubai Mainland Company
| Comparison | IFZA Free Zone | Dubai Mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership for permitted structures. | 100% foreign ownership is available for many activities, subject to mainland rules. |
| Incorporation | Standard applications can normally begin remotely. | The process depends on the activity, premises and external approvals. |
| Workspace | Flexible workspace and office options. | A registered mainland tenancy is commonly required. |
| Local market | Mainland transactions depend on activity and the approved operating route. | Direct mainland operations are generally easier. |
| Best suited to | Consulting, digital, international, e-commerce and Free Zone trading businesses. | Retail shops, restaurants, contracting and businesses requiring a mainland presence. |
| Visa allocation | Selected through the licence package and workspace arrangement. | Commonly linked to office size and the applicable labour and immigration rules. |
IFZA Setup Examples
Remote IT Consultant
A non-resident consultant wanted a Dubai company for international IT advisory work and did not need UAE residence immediately.
Direction: Professional activity, zero-visa package and remote incorporation, with banking documents prepared after licence issuance.
E-Commerce Founder Requiring Residence
A founder planned to sell one product category online and required a UAE investor visa.
Direction: Relevant Commercial and e-trading activities, one-visa allocation, establishment card and investor-visa processing.
These examples are provided to explain package selection. The final structure depends on the applicant’s activity, ownership, visa and operating requirements.
IFZA Setup Examples
Remote IT Consultant
A non-resident consultant wanted a Dubai company for international IT advisory work and did not need UAE residence immediately.
Direction: Professional activity, zero-visa package and remote incorporation, with banking documents prepared after licence issuance.
E-Commerce Founder Requiring Residence
A founder planned to sell one product category online and required a UAE investor visa.
Direction: Relevant Commercial and e-trading activities, one-visa allocation, establishment card and investor-visa processing.
These examples are provided to explain package selection. The final structure depends on the applicant’s activity, ownership, visa and operating requirements.
Why Choose GloboPrime for IFZA Company Formation?
IFZA Partner Support
Application preparation through the Professional Partner process.
Written Cost Breakdown
Licence, visa and additional charges explained before payment.
Activity Review
Business activities checked against the actual product or service model.
Corporate Documents
Attestation and legal translation support for foreign company documents.
Visa and PRO Services
Support continues after licence issuance for visas and company changes.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi Offices
Face-to-face consultation for UAE residents, entrepreneurs and business owners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
