Company setup from AED 12,900
Registration from 3 days
Bank account Guaranteed
Remote company setup Available
Multi-year license discounts: IFZA offers up to 30% discounts for 2-, 3-, and 5-year packages.
IFZA authorized partner
— Yes,
You can also consider an even cheaper alternative in Dubai like the Meydan Free Zone or company formation in other emirates, such as in Sharjah Media City.
— No,
In the International Free Zone Authority, company incorporation and business license issuance take about 5-7 working days. The business setup can be completed remotely without personal presence.
Step 1. Choose your business activities and license type.
Determine the business activities of your future company and the corresponding license type. This is a key aspect of business setup, as choosing the wrong activity and license can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or even making such opening impossible. Note that IFZA allows for up to 7 activities under a single license.
Step 2. Determine the legal entity of your business.
Specify the legal status of your business in IFZA. Available company formation types at IFZA include FZCO (Free Zone Company) or a branch of an already existing company registered within or outside the UAE. FZCO companies also operate as LLCs, however, the suffix attached to the names of companies registered in IFZA is FZCO.
Step 3. Prepare and file the required documentation.
Prepare and submit the necessary documents. IFZA requires a minimal documentation package.
Registration can be completed remotely without your physical presence and typically takes 5-7 working days. Also, this step involves paying all the registration and processing fees.
Step 4. Collect the license and registration documents.
Receive the license and registration documents for the company, including:
Step 5. Secure your Establishment Card.
Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes. The timeframe of Establishment Card issuance is typically 3-5 working days.
Step 6. Apply for an entry permit.
Apply for an entry permit. If you’re outside of the UAE during the processing of the entry permit, you will need to come to the country when the document is issued within 60 days to complete the medical test and biometrics for your visa. If you’re in the UAE when the entry permit is issued, a status change will be done from your previous UAE tourist/residency visa to the new one.
Step 7. Take a medical test and submit visa documents.
Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residence visa. Different registration packages may provide for a varying number of visas available for owners and employees of the company. Note that at IFZA, visas can be processed without requiring health insurance.
Step 8. Collect your Emirates ID.
Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card. The processing and issuance of a visa and Emirates ID usually take 5-7 working days after the visa approval.
Step 9. Open a bank account.
Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. IFZA is known as a reputable free zone highly recognized by banks, which will make the account opening process as smooth as possible. Once you receive your account details, you are free to start running your business.
IFZA license fees start from AED 12,900 for a license with no residency visa. This package includes the registration of 3 business activities which can either be a trading or service activity. Packages with visas start from AED 14,900. Low license fees and the absence of capital requirements make this free zone really cost-effective. For example, IFZA’s General Trading license is the cheapest in Dubai.
In addition, IFZA offers multi-year license discounts of up to 30% for 2-, 3-, and 5-year packages.
TYPE OF LICENSE | COST, AED |
---|---|
Zero-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 12,900 |
1-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 14,900 |
2-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 16,900 |
3-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 18,900 |
4-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 20,900 |
Other additional fees that may be applicable include:
There is a wide range of business activities at the International Free Zone Authority. You can include up to seven activities in one license, with 3 of them free of charge and the rest will be at additional cost. The full activity list of IFZA can be found here.
In the table below, you can find the list of business licenses supported by IFZA and their descriptions.
LICENSE TYPE | IFZA LICENSE DESCRIPTION |
---|---|
Professional | For companies offering professional consulting and several other service types |
Commercial | For companies involved in goods import or export, their distribution, delivery, and storage, also known as General Trading or Trading licenses |
Branch | For foreign and local parent companies seeking to open a branch in IFZA |
A combination of activities from different categories is allowed. Both a General Trading license and a regular Trading license allow you to sell your products and goods online.
The International Free Zone Authority is happy to offer a broad range of office solutions for your IFZA company setup in the Silicon Oasis business park area of Dubai.
Below are the accommodation options available at IFZA:
FACILITY TYPE | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|
Flexi-desk | Flexi-desks provide a collaborative shared workstation that is ideal for an entrepreneur. This option includes 10-hour weekly access, high-speed Internet connection, a shared business address at IFZA, and monthly access to a meeting room for 1 hour. |
Flexi-desk Plus | This flexi-desk option includes a permanently assigned desk with unlimited access, a dedicated IFZA address, seamless high-speed Wi-Fi, and extended monthly meeting room usage of up to 5 hours. |
Standard dedicated office | The standard office offers a secure private workspace furnished with all essentials provided on a fixed yearly basis with a designated business address and high-speed Wi-Fi. |
Exclusive private office | The exclusive private office option is dedicated office space with no entry limits, a designated business address, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The option involves 7 hours of meeting room and 2 hours of conference room access monthly.The exclusive private office option is dedicated office space with no entry limits, a designated business address, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The option involves 7 hours of meeting room and 2 hours of conference room access monthly. |
Customized personal office | This option offers all the office perks such as a designated business address and high-speed Wi-Fi along with customization options and an increased monthly meeting room access time of 5 hours. |
IFZA Business Park facilities | IFZA Business Park offers a range of sophisticated meeting rooms with equipment suitable for 4 to 6 individuals and a versatile event terrace for up to 200 persons for larger gatherings. |
The International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) is equipped with premier infrastructure designed for comprehensive customer support of corporate activities. With its versatile operational opportunities, customizable lease terms, round-the-clock accessibility, and integrated accommodation and commercial spaces, IFZA stands as the ideal platform for investors to launch and prosper in Dubai.
By registering your free zone company, you become entitled to UAE residency. Note that company owner and employee visas are valid for 2 years and can be processed remotely without requiring health insurance.
IFZA is particularly recommended for citizens from high-risk countries, for example, Sudan, Algeria, Syria, Iraq, Bangladesh, Egypt, or Turkey. Note that these are just examples and amendments can be made by the free zone at any time. Dubai free zones have fewer immigration restrictions.
IFZA FEE, AED | MEDICAL CHECKUP, AED | EMIRATES ID, AED | |
---|---|---|---|
Owner | 4,750 | 850 | 390 |
Employee | 3,750 | 850 | 390 |
To bring your family to the UAE and obtain dependent visas, you must:
The renewal of the IFZA business license is quick and easy. The price is the same as the first-year license registration cost plus additional costs (if applicable) and minus the accumulated discounts.
Fee | Cost, AED |
---|---|
IFZA license renewal (for zero-visa package) | 12,900 |
IFZA Establishment Card renewal fee | 2,200 |
Late license renewal fine (applicable after a 30-day grace period) | 1,000 |
Monthly fine for operating under an expired license | 100 |
Note that no amendment charges are applied for making changes during company renewal. To renew your business license, submit an application form with the required documents to the free zone authorities, pay the renewal fees, and wait for your license to be renewed.
If you need to, you can make a company amendment at any time, and as many of them as you require. If you need to make minor changes, you or your business setup consultant can send an e-mail from your official address. For major changes, the Board Resolution is required.
Service | Cost, AED |
---|---|
IFZA company amendment | 2,000 |
The list of company amendments supported by IFZA includes:
To make changes to your company, initiate the amendment by contacting the IFZA authorities or your business setup consultant via e-mail, pay the amendment fee, and wait for the amendment confirmation.
Company liquidation at IFZA does not necessitate the physical presence of the proprietor and may be efficiently executed via a designated representative. To complete the procedure, you will need to pay the liquidation fee. IFZA company liquidation can be truly called one of the cheapest compared to other UAE free zones.
Service | Cost, AED |
---|---|
IFZA company liquidation | 2,000 |
The liquidation procedure will be the following:
1. Provide the following mandatory documents:
2. Pay cancellation fees and settle other payments.
3. After this, the cancellation process of the shareholder visa and any other visa that is sponsored by the company starts.
4. The deregistration letter will be sent to your email confirming the cancellation of your company.
The liquidation inquiry must be sent to the IFZA authorities at least 1 month before license cancellation. Investors will have to file a comprehensive audit report concurrent with the license liquidation. The timeframe of the company liquidation process at IFZA is around 1 month.
IFZA or the International Free Zone Authority is a reputed business hub and one of the most popular and cost-effective choices for global investors looking for a Dubai free zone company setup. The authority’s office is in Dubai Silicon Oasis where it moved from Fujairah in 2018.
IFZA’s licenses are affordable and start from just 12,900 dirhams. The free zone allows the mixing of various business activities under a single license (up to 7 different activities!), simplifying compliance and reducing administrative burdens.
For your IFZA company setup, you can choose from many facilities: shared workspaces (AKA flexi-desks), dedicated offices of various sizes, conference rooms, and warehouses for lease.
Additionally, IFZA supports remote company formation, enabling entrepreneurs to set up their operations conveniently from afar. The setup process is quick and easy with license issuance taking just about 3 days.
If you plan to start a business in Dubai, you can learn more about IFZA which offers competitive packages with one or multiple visas thus providing an attractive and flexible environment for new businesses.
You may also explore other similar low-cost company formation options in Dubai to find the best fit for your business needs, such as the Meydan Free Zone.
*IFZA offers multi-year packages for 2, 3, and 5 years at good discounts. Contact us for prices and details.
LICENSE TYPE | VISAS INCLUDED | TOTAL COST | |
---|---|---|---|
Trading / Service & Consultancy license | no visas | AED 12,900 $3,512 | download breakdown |
Trading / Service & Consultancy license | 1 visa | AED 14,900 $4,056 | download breakdown |
Trading / Service & Consultancy license | 2 visas | AED 16,900 $4,601 | download breakdown |
Trading / Service & Consultancy license | 3 visas | AED 18,900 $5,145 | download breakdown |
Trading / Service & Consultancy license | 4 visas | AED 20,900 $5,690 | download breakdown |
INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDER
Top 10 questions about IFZA company
Basically no, as a personal visit to the UAE is required as per the regulations of the UAE Central Bank. Local banks require this visit to verify the client's identity. However, some banks allow remote account opening through their digital bank applications or website.
In most cases, you can obtain a debit card for your newly opened company, especially if there is only one shareholder. However, a credit card is usually issued against a fixed deposit. As for loans, banks may consider your eligibility based on your company's operations and profits. It is recommended to apply for a loan after at least one year of company operations.
Officially, the office of a free zone company should be located within the free zone where it is registered. However, if you need an office in Dubai, you have the option to rent space in a Business Center and use it on a flexible basis. It is important to note that the minimum required space (flexi desk) in the free zone cannot be canceled.
A flexi desk is a mandatory requirement for any company eligible for resident visas. It serves as the minimum physical office space that a company with individuals under its visa must have. Additionally, a flexi desk can facilitate bank account opening as banks require evidence of a company having some form of office or physical presence.
VAT obligations depend not only on the place of registration but also on where the business activities take place. VAT becomes applicable when the taxable turnover reaches AED 375,000. If a free zone company's trading activities take place abroad, the turnover is not considered taxable as long as the goods or services are supplied outside the UAE. However, if the goods or services are supplied to customers within the UAE, the 5% VAT will be applicable.
The UAE is free from personal income tax. However, there is a 5% import tax on goods brought into the country and a 5% VAT on trading or service transactions that occur within the UAE.
On June 1, 2023, the UAE introduced 9% corporate tax, however, the UAE freezone companies that meet certain requirements as outlined by the Federal Tax Authority will be able to benefit from tax reliefs and possibly file the 0% corporate tax.
The suitability of a free zone company versus an offshore or mainland entity depends on your business model and requirements. However, a free zone setup offers advantages such as 100% foreign ownership, eligibility for resident visas, the ability to conduct business both within and outside the UAE, and greater favorability with banks compared to offshore companies. Additionally, free zones often offer a flexi desk option instead of executive offices, making it a cost-effective way to start a business without unnecessary obligations.
While we strive to make the account opening process as smooth as possible, we cannot guarantee the approval as it ultimately depends on the bank. Each case goes through several bank departments for approval, and the bank may contact you directly for clarifications. Providing a clear picture of your business to the bank increases the chances of successful account opening. We do our best to prepare you and your company for a smooth and fast account opening process.
Your company should be renewed annually, and the cost is typically lower than the initial setup cost. The renewal fees depend on your company package, and you can obtain the price by downloading the Estimate from our website. Company renewal does not require the personal presence of the owner and can be done by your agent. After renewal, the new license must be presented to the bank to extend the bank account, which is included in our renewal service.
You have multiple options for fee payment. You can make payments via bank transfer, cash, or online using a card.
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