Dubai South Free Zone - Dubai South free zone company formation

Company setup from 12,500 AED 

Registration from 3 weeks

Bank account Guaranteed

Residence visas for 2 years

Emirabiz experts’ opinion

Is Dubai South suitable for your business?

Yes

• If you have needs for convenient logistics for your trading activity, Dubai South is an excellent choice. It is located in close proximity to Al Maktoum Airport and has advanced transportation links to the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi.
• If you are looking for affordable company registration in Dubai, Dubai South offers competitive prices, starting from 12,500 AED for a package without a visa.
• If you are interested to work and live near Expo City, a unique project, built on the foundation of the EXPO 2020, it is a "15-minute city" with abundant greenery and no cars, providing ecological setting and all the infrastructure needed for comfortable living and working.
• If you belong to the so-called high-risk nationalities, such as Iranians, Syrians, or Egyptians, the free zones in Dubai have lower requirements for such nationalities.
• If you want to receive tax benefits, Dubai South is classified as a designated zone, which means companies can be exempt from paying VAT and Corporate Tax under certain conditions.

No

• If you cannot find your desired business activity within Dubai South Free Zone, it is recommended to consider DMCC company formation. DMCC offers a wide range of activities that align with those recognized by the Department of Economic Development, but within a free zone area.

Dubai South company formation process

You can register a company remotely in the Dubai South free zone, the whole process will be completed in 3 weeks. Company registration in Dubai starts from getting a pre-approval, then you need to sign the lease agreement for your chosen office or commercial space in Dubai South, and after that to proceed with licensing and obtaining residency visas.

Step 1. Determine which type of license offered by the Dubai South free zone suits you. 

It is crucial to approach this question carefully, as choosing the wrong activity, registration authority, or location can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or getting a residence visa. 

Step 2. Prepare the necessary documents. Dubai South requires a minimal documentation package.

• Passport with a 6-month validity
• Email address and residential address, as well as a mobile number 
• Multiple company name options and a clear description of your desired business activities

After all the documents have been compiled and the necessary paperwork has been drafted, it is required to pay the necessary fees for the registration process to proceed with the application.

Step 3. Receive the license and registration documents for the company, namely

• Certificate of incorporation
• Trade license
• Lease agreement
• MoA and Articles of Association

Step 4. Receive an establishment card that contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residence visas.

Step 5. Apply for an entry permit. 

If you apply from inside the UAE, after the entry permit is issued you have to change your visa status from the previous visa to a residence visa. If you are outside the UAE, then arrive in the country, get your entry permit stamped and then proceed with the rest of the residence visa process, submitting the necessary documents.

Step 6. Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residency visa.

Step 7. Apply for an Emirates ID.

Step 8. Complete biometrics procedure in one of the Emirates ID centers.

Step 9. Once you have the results of your medical test and biometrics you can submit all the details for a visa approval. Your electronic visa will be sent to you by email. You can also find it in the UAE ICP app.

Step 10. Receive your Emirates ID. After the residence visa is issued, the Government prepares a plastic identity card which is an important document that is required to open a bank account, rent an apartment, pay bills or fines, etc. It also entitles you to many local services and discounts.

Step 11. Open a bank account. Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. The approval may take a few weeks. 

After receiving the account details, you can start running your business in the UAE.

Dubai South licenses and cost

Dubai South is known for offering competitive and cost-effective options for setting up a company in a Dubai free zone which are among the lowest rates in the emirate.The cost of a license from 12,500 AED.

You can add 1 additional visa allocation for a fee of 1,000 AED.

The available licenses in Dubai South Free Zone are as follows:

Dubai South business activities

Dubai South offers a diverse range of business activities for various industries. These activities are categorized into the following groups:

It's important to note that certain business activities for Dubai South setup may require an attested degree or relevant experience in the respective field. This ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Furthermore, it is not permitted to combine unrelated activities or commercial and service (consulting) activities under the same license. This ensures clarity and focus in business operations within the free zone.

Dubai South facilities

Dubai South Free Zone provides a comprehensive range of facilities to cater to diverse business needs:

In addition to the diverse workspace options, the business center at Dubai South Free Zone offers convenient services such as phone answering and mail receiving, facilitating efficient communication and correspondence for businesses.

All offices within the free zone are fully fitted out and the rental fees cover utility charges. On average, the rent for office spaces ranges from 1,300 to 1,600 AED per square meter per year, providing transparency and predictability in cost management for businesses operating within the free zone.

Dubai South visa costs

The cost of resident visas in Dubai South is exceptionally reasonable, offering an attractive option for individuals and companies alike. The visa costs in Dubai South are as follows (in AED):

If the applicant is already in the UAE at the time of visa application, the cost will be slightly higher at 3,390 AED per application and a visa status change fee of 810 AED will also be applicable. Additionally, it is important to note that you will need to obtain health insurance prior to visa stamping in your passport. There is an option to obtain basic health insurance for a fee of around 600 AED. Visas issued to company owners or employees will have a validity of 2 years. It's worth mentioning that there is no specific "Investor" designation for shareholders of the company in the visa categorization.

Dubai South company license renewal

The renewal cost for your company will be slightly lower than the initial incorporation. Starting from the second renewal, you will be required to provide annual audit reports.

To renew your company, you need to submit the payment and a signed lease agreement for your facility for the upcoming year. The renewal process can be handled by your agent without your need to visit the UAE.

Dubai South company amendments

Dubai South Free Zone offers a wide range of possible amendments, including:

• Name change
• Activity change
• Shareholder/manager/director/secretary change
• Facility upgrade

Some of these amendments may require a personal visit to the free zone or the appointment of a Power of Attorney.

Dubai South company liquidation

Dubai South has simplified the liquidation procedure. The current fee for company closure stands at approximately AED 2,000. The process takes about 1 month. It consists of these major steps:

1. Visa cancellation  (7-10 working days) - if there is a visa in the company.
2. Establishment card cancellation (7-10 working days) - if it was a visa eligible company.
3. License cancellation.

In the event of liquidation, you're required to provide a final audit report and return all original company documents. Any existing lease agreements should be terminated and visas closed.

If you had a corporate bank account, it should be closed before applying for company liquidation. You should obtain a letter proof from the bank confirming that. 

After the company is dissolved, you will get an official deregistration letter from the free zone as a formal confirmation of the liquidation.

About Dubai South 

Dubai South Free Zone is an excellent solution for those looking to establish a company in Dubai within a reasonable budget. It offers a viable option for individuals from high-risk nationalities to open businesses and obtain resident visas for themselves and their families.

This free zone is particularly suitable for companies engaged in cargo trading through Al Maktoum Airport or JAFZA port, both of which are nearby.

We highly recommend Dubai South Free Zone to companies ready to take a significant step into the UAE market or for those requiring it for immigration purposes.