# Dubai Free Zone Trade Licence Cost: Complete 2026 Guide

Dubai free-zone trade-licence costs range from approximately **AED 12,500 at Meydan** to **AED 50,000+ at DIFC**. The difference comes down to the free zone, licence type, office requirements, and visa add-ons.

Most published figures show only the headline licence fee. The true first-year cost is typically **1.5x–2x the headline amount** once office, establishment card, immigration card, visas, and insurance are included.

This guide breaks down indicative 2026 trade-licence costs across major Dubai free zones, common hidden cost components, and three worked total-cost scenarios.

## What Is a Dubai Free Zone Trade Licence?

A trade licence is the formal authorisation issued by a free-zone authority that permits a company to carry out specific commercial activities. Each Dubai free zone, such as DMCC, JAFZA, IFZA, and DAFZA, issues its own trade licences and sets its own fee structure.

Most Dubai free zones offer four main licence types:

- **Commercial / Trading** — for import, export, distribution, and ecommerce.
- **Service / Professional / Consultancy** — for service-based businesses.
- **Industrial** — for manufacturing and assembly.
- **Specialised** — for sector-specific activities such as financial services, media, and ecommerce.

## Indicative Dubai Free Zone Trade Licence Costs in 2026

| Free Zone | Starting Licence Cost | Notes |
|---|---:|---|
| Meydan | ~AED 12,500+ | Cost-conscious multi-activity setup |
| IFZA (Dubai Silicon Oasis) | ~AED 12,900+ | Multi-activity, fully digital setup |
| Dubai South | ~AED 12,000+ | Logistics, aviation, ecommerce |
| Dubai CommerCity | ~AED 15,000+ | Ecommerce, designated zone |
| Dubai Internet City | ~AED 25,000+ | Tech, SaaS, IT |
| Dubai Media City | ~AED 20,000+ | Media, advertising, content |
| DMCC | ~AED 20,000+ | Commodities, trading, services |
| JAFZA | ~AED 25,000+ | Trading, logistics, designated zone |
| DAFZA | ~AED 25,000+ | Aviation, logistics, designated zone |
| Dubai Healthcare City | ~AED 25,000+ | Healthcare, pharma, wellness |
| DIFC | ~AED 50,000+ | Financial services, fintech |

These are starting licence fees and generally exclude office or flexi-desk costs, establishment card, immigration card, visas, and insurance. Businesses should confirm the full quotation directly against the relevant free-zone package.

Businesses considering premium trading and commodities-focused jurisdictions may also review BCL Globiz’s DMCC business setup guidance for licensing, office requirements, and visa structures.

## What the Headline Licence Cost Does Not Include

Headline licence fees usually exclude several first-year setup costs:

- **Establishment card (MOHRE):** ~AED 1,500 per year, required for visa sponsorship.
- **Immigration card (ICP):** ~AED 1,500 per year, also required for visa sponsorship.
- **Office or flexi-desk:** ~AED 5,000–15,000 per year depending on the zone and package.
- **Visa cost per person:** ~AED 4,000–5,000, including entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, and visa stamping.
- **Basic health insurance:** ~AED 1,500 per year per person.
- **Name reservation fee:** ~AED 300–1,000.
- **Activity-add fee:** ~AED 1,000–2,500 per activity added after issuance.
- **Initial bank deposit:** AED 0–50,000 depending on the bank.

## Three Worked Total-Cost Scenarios

### Scenario A: Solo Founder in Meydan or IFZA, 1 Visa, Flexi-Desk

| Cost Component | Indicative Cost |
|---|---:|
| Licence | ~AED 12,500–12,900 |
| Flexi-desk | ~AED 5,000 |
| Establishment + immigration cards | ~AED 1,500 |
| Visa × 1 | ~AED 4,500 |
| Health insurance | ~AED 1,500 |

**Indicative total:** ~AED 25,000–26,000.

### Scenario B: DMCC Service Company, 2 Visas, Office Package

| Cost Component | Indicative Cost |
|---|---:|
| Licence | ~AED 20,000 |
| Office | ~AED 15,000 |
| Establishment + immigration cards | ~AED 1,500 |
| Visas × 2 | ~AED 9,000 |
| Health insurance × 2 | ~AED 3,000 |

**Indicative total:** ~AED 48,500.

### Scenario C: JAFZA Trading Company with Warehouse, 4 Visas

| Cost Component | Indicative Cost |
|---|---:|
| Licence | ~AED 25,000+ |
| Small warehouse + office | ~AED 50,000+ |
| Establishment + immigration cards | ~AED 1,500 |
| Visas × 4 | ~AED 18,000 |
| Health insurance × 4 | ~AED 6,000 |

**Indicative total:** ~AED 100,000+.

## Tax Position for Dubai Free Zone Companies

All Dubai free-zone entities are subject to UAE corporate tax under **Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022**, with a 9% rate applying above AED 375,000.

Free-zone entities may qualify for **0% corporate tax on qualifying income** under the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime, subject to the relevant rules, including **Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023** and **Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023**.

Key compliance points:

- Corporate tax registration on EmaraTax is mandatory regardless of revenue.
- A flat **AED 10,000 late-registration penalty** applies.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed **AED 375,000**.
- Voluntary VAT registration is available above **AED 187,500**.

## What BCL Globiz Sees Most Often

Many clients budget only for the headline licence fee and underestimate the total first-year cost. For example, a common **AED 12,900 IFZA setup** can actually land at around **AED 25,000–31,500** once office, cards, visas, and insurance are included.

BCL Globiz recommends pricing the full package, not just the licence.

Another common issue is the activity-add trap. Cost-driven clients may choose the cheapest licence, later discover the activity list is too narrow for their actual invoicing, and then pay **AED 1,000–2,500 per added activity** to expand it.

Before signing, businesses should map their expected 12-month invoicing plan against the permitted activity list.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does a Dubai free-zone trade licence cost in 2026?

Starting licence fees range from approximately **AED 12,500** at Meydan and **AED 12,900** at IFZA for cost-conscious multi-activity packages, up to **AED 50,000+** for DIFC. Mid-tier zones such as DMCC start around **AED 20,000**.

### What is the cheapest Dubai free-zone trade licence?

Meydan and IFZA offer some of the lowest starting licence fees among Dubai free zones, from approximately **AED 12,500–12,900**. Dubai South Free Zone also offers competitive starting packages.

### Does the trade-licence fee include visas?

No. Visas are charged separately at approximately **AED 4,000–5,000 per visa**, plus the establishment card and immigration card, each typically around **AED 1,500**.

### How long is a Dubai free-zone trade licence valid?

Most Dubai free-zone trade licences are issued for one year and must be renewed annually. Some zones may offer multi-year discounted renewal options.

### Do Dubai free-zone companies pay corporate tax?

Yes. Dubai free-zone companies are subject to UAE corporate tax under **Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022**. They may qualify for **0% on qualifying income** under the QFZP regime, subject to meeting the relevant conditions. Non-qualifying income is taxed at **9% above AED 375,000**.