IFZA - International Free Zone Authority company formation
Overview of IFZA Dubai
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 2 days.
If you plan to start a business in Dubai, you can learn more about IFZA that 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.
Why choose IFZA Dubai for your business?
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Multi-year license discounts: Up to 30% discounts for 2-, 3-, and 5-year packages.
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Affordable and quick setup: Offers cheap and quick company formation in Dubai with as low license costs as AED 12,900. The General trading licence is the cheapest in Dubai (!)
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Tax benefits: Only 9% corporate tax on annual taxable profits starting from 375,000 dirhams, with the Small Business Relief program and tax exemptions on the Qualifying income.
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Remote setup procedure: You don’t need to be in the UAE to form the company.
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Full foreign ownership: You don’t need a local partner and your company is fully yours.
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No physical office required: Businesses can be set up without a physical office.
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Diverse business activities: Numerous business activities, allowing up to seven different activities under one license (!).
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Minimal compliance: Simplified compliance processes facilitate easier management of business operations.
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No share capital requirement: To set us a company, you don’t need a share capital.
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Audit exemption: No annual audit report needs to be submitted.
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Holding company incorporation: Enables the incorporation of holding companies.
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Residence visa opportunity: Offers two-year residency for company owners, their employees, and dependents.
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Streamlined documentation: In most cases, the free zone needs just a photocopy of your international passport.
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No visa deposit: Employee visas do not require a deposit.
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No need for health insurance: To process your visa, the free zone doesn’t mandate health insurance.
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Comprehensive banking services: Personal and corporate accounts in major currencies in the best UAE and international banks for great business and investment opportunities.
IFZA facilities
The International Free Zone Authority is happy to offer a broad range of office solutions for your IFZA company setup.
State-of-the-art office and warehouse facilities in IFZA
IFZA offers the newest facilities located in the Silicon Oasis business park area of Dubai:
Shared spaces |
Flexi Desk |
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| Flexi Desk Plus |
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Offices |
Standard dedicated office *The yearly lease price for a Dedicated office in IFZA starts at 10,080 dirhams. |
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| Exclusive private office |
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| Customized personal office |
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Event and meeting spaces |
IFZA Business Park facilities |
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IFZA business activities
There is a wide range of IFZA business activities. 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.
Business activities supported by International Free Zone Authority fall under these categories:
- Consulting
- Service
- Trading
A combination of activities from different categories is allowed.
E-commerce here is not an individual license, but a General trading license and just a regular trading license allow you to sell your products and goods online.
IFZA licenses
IFZA has multiple licenses that are listed and described below:
| No. | IFZA licence type | IFZA licence description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional License | For companies offering professional consulting and several other service types. |
| 2 | Commercial License | For companies involved in goods import or export, their distribution, delivery, and storage, also known as General Trading or Trading licenses. |
| 3 | Industrial License | For companies in the business of production, packaging, processing of raw materials, their import or exporting of particular goods. |
| 4 | Branch | For foreign parent companies seeking to open a branch in IFZA. |
IFZA license cost
IFZA license costs start at 12,900 AED for a Flexi-desk option without visas under Consultancy and Service license.
Low license fees, absence of annual audits and capital requirements make this free zone really cost-effective.
Here are the examples of low-cost 1-year license packages in IFZA:
| Type of licence | Cost, AED |
|---|---|
| Package with no visas | 12,900 |
| Package with 1 visa | 14,900 |
| Package with 2 visas | 16,900 |
| Package with 3 visas | 18,900 |
| Package with 4 visas and more | 20,900 |
*May 2024 offer: 2-, 3-, and 4-visa packages come with 1 residence visa free.
The total package cost consists of several items:
- IFZA license fees
- IFZA Establishment Card
- IFZA Visa fee
- Medical checkup (result in 1 day)
- Emirates ID
IFZA company formation processes
Company incorporation and business license issuance takes about 2 days. The business setup can be completed remotely without personal presence.
The list of documents required to set up a company in this free zone is basic:
- 3 variants of your future company name
- Copy of your international
- Address and phone number
- Photo for your visa (the format used for passports)
So, after you register your company, you will receive the following documents:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Trade License
- Articles of Association
- Memorandum of Association
- Lease Agreement
The usual time frames from registering a company to getting your visa would be the following:
- Company registration: 3 days
- Establishment card issuance : 7-10 days
- Entry visa issuance: 5 days
- Passing a medical check-up, receiving your Emirates ID and visa: 5-6 days
Streamlined and quick company registration in IFZA
Contact our expert and schedule a free consultation either online or at the Emirabiz office. We will discuss your case and find the perfect setup for your business.
Send the documents to your dedicated consultant and pay the license issuance fee. In some cases, we need only the photocopy of your passport (!) We will help to collect and prepare all the required papers and send them to the authorities of the free zone. The entire process can be done remotely.
Receive your new company incorporation documents and arrive in the UAE for a medical examination, your visa, Emirates ID, and bank account application.
IFZA residence visa: procedure and costs
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.
This free zone 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 less immigration restrictions.
IFZA visa costs
| IFZA fee, AED | Medical checkup, AED | Emirates ID, AED | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | 3,750 | 755 | 390 |
| Employee | 3,750 | 755 | 390 |
IFZA Family visa
To bring your family to the UAE and obtain dependent visas, you must::
- Rent an apartment in the UAE.
- Attest the marriage certificate and your children’s birth certificates at the UAE Embassy in your country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.
- Translate the marriage and birth certificates into Arabic.
IFZA company license renewal
The renewal of the IFZA business license is quick and easy. The price is the same as the first-year license registration cost minus the accumulated discounts.
No amendment charges are applied for making changes during company renewal.
IFZA company renewal procedure
Submit an application form >> Pay the renewal fee >> Receive your license
IFZA company amendments and regulations
In case you want to make an amendment at any time not during your IFZA company renewal, they will charge you AED 2,000 for that.
You can make changes when you wish and as many times as you wish.
IFZA company amendment procedure
If you need to make minor changes, just send an email from your official address. For major changes, they Board Resolution is needed. >> Pay the amendment fee >> Receive the amendment confirmation.
IFZA company liquidation
IFZA company liquidation can be truly called one of the cheapest compared to other UAE free zones.
The liquidation cost is 2,000 AED.
IFZA company liquidation procedure
Cancel the visas >> Send the originals of your documents and the signed cancellation form to IFZA >> Receive liquidation confirmation
Business setup expert's opinion
If you want to register a free zone company easily, remotely, and minimize your expenses, IFZA is a good solution for you.
If you cannot find your business activity here, try Sharjah Media City or seek professional consultancy.
Benefits of IFZA free zone company
- Wide variety of business activities
- Up to 7 activities on one license
- Fully remote company formation
- 100% ownership of your businesses
- Full repatriation of your profits and capital
- Cost-effective license packages for 3 and 5 years
Start your business in IFZA today
1-year IFZA Commercial (Trading) license & Professional (Service & Consultancy) license
*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 |
Documents for IFZA free zone company setup
DOCUMENTS
PROCEDURE
INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDER
- Passport
- Passport size photo
- Description of business
- Residential address
- 1 day- Company registration
- 1-2 weeks- Security approval and Establishment card
- 1 week- Entry visa
- 1 day- Medical Check-Up and Emirates ID
- 1 week- Visa stamping
Before you make a choice –
watch this video
Top 10 questions about IFZA company
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Can I open a bank account remotely?
No, 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.
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Do banks give debit and credit cards or loans?
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.
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Can a free zone company have offices outside the free zone?
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.
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Why do I need a flexi desk or office?
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.
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Do free zone companies need to pay VAT?
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 transactions occur outside the UAE. However, if goods are imported to the UAE, VAT at a rate of 5% must be added to invoices and paid.
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Are there any other taxes to be paid?
The UAE is free from 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, companies registered in UAE free zones are exempt from this tax if they do not make profits from activities on the UAE mainland or this profit is less than AED 375,000 per year. Branches of companies registered in free zones and carrying out activities on the mainland will be taxed at the mainland rate.
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Why would a free zone company be better for me than an offshore or mainland entity?
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 flexi desk spaces instead of executive offices, making it a cost-effective way to start a business without unnecessary obligations.
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Can you guarantee the opening of a bank account?
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.
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When and how should I renew my company? How much does it cost?
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.
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How can I pay the fees?
You have multiple options for fee payment. You can make payments via bank transfer, cash, or online using a card.
How can we contact you?