DAFZA Company Setup (Dubai Airport Freezone)
DAFZA company setup suits trading, logistics, tech and regional head-office businesses that want a free zone company right next to Dubai International Airport. We help you choose the licence, company type and workspace, which sets your visa quota, and handle the setup through to visas and bank account.
Description
DAFZA company setup means registering your business in Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ, formerly DAFZA), the free zone beside Dubai International Airport (DXB). DAFZ licenses trading, general trading, service, industrial and e-commerce companies, and also offers a dual licence with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for mainland work and a Talent Pass for freelancers. It sits under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), alongside Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity.
You can set up a Free Zone Company (FZCO) with 1 to 50 shareholders, who can be individuals or companies, a PLC if you plan to offer shares publicly, or a branch of an existing company, which needs no share capital. DAFZ's own pages give different minimum share capital figures for an FZCO, so we confirm the current rule with DAFZ before you apply.
The workspace you lease decides how many visas you can hold. DAFZ publishes allocations by space type: smart offices carry a small allocation, standard offices give one visa per 8.33 sqm, and warehouses in the DAFZ Industrial Park carry larger fixed allocations. Extra quota can be requested. If you expect to hire, choose the space with that in mind rather than the smallest option.
DAFZ suits businesses that move high-value goods by air, such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods and aviation parts, as well as tech firms and regional offices of international groups. If you mainly ship by sea or need large plots, JAFZA is usually a better fit. If you only need a licence and one or two visas for a service business, IFZA is often simpler.
A DAFZ company can sell goods into the UAE: they pass through Dubai Customs, with customs duty and import VAT paid. To work on the mainland itself, the dual licence with DET lets you do so without a separate mainland office. DAFZ is on the UAE list of VAT designated zones, which changes how certain goods movements are taxed but not services, so you may still need UAE VAT registration. Every DAFZ company must register for corporate tax; the 0% rate only applies to qualifying income if you meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions, which include keeping audited accounts, so plan for a free zone annual audit.
After the licence come the establishment card, your Dubai investor visa and any employment visas within your quota, a customs code if you trade goods, and the corporate bank account. Cost depends on the licence type, the workspace, the number of visas and any extra approvals. Message us on WhatsApp or live chat with your activity and team size, and we will send a written quote.
What's Included
- Advice on licence type (trade, general trading, service, industrial, e-commerce) and whether a dual licence with DET makes sense
- Advice on company type: FZCO, PLC or branch
- Workspace selection matched to the number of visas you need
- Activity and trade name checks
- Preparation and submission of the DAFZ application and KYC documents
- Coordination of lease signing, licence issue and company documents
- Establishment card application
- Shareholder and employee residence visas: entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID
- Dubai Customs code registration if you trade goods
- Support with opening the corporate bank account
- Guidance on corporate tax and VAT registration after setup
Requirements / Prerequisites
- At least one shareholder (individual or company); up to 50 for an FZCO
- A business activity on DAFZ's approved list
- A workspace at DAFZ that matches your visa needs
- Approvals or NOCs from other authorities if your activity is regulated
- Share capital as DAFZ requires for your company type (confirmed at the time of application)
- NOC from your current employer if you hold a UAE employment visa and DAFZ asks for one
Required Documents
- Passport copies of all shareholders, directors and the manager
- Passport-size photographs
- UAE visa and Emirates ID copies, if resident
- Proof of residential address
- CV or short business profile; a business plan for some activities
- Up to three trade name choices and the proposed activities
- Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, board resolution, register of directors and shareholders, attested for UAE use
- Branches: parent company documents and a board resolution to open the branch, attested
- Ultimate beneficial owner details
Our Process
- Initial call: activity, products, team size and where your customers are
- Choose licence type, company type and workspace
- Submit the application, KYC and documents to DAFZ
- Initial approval, plus any external approvals your activity needs
- Sign the lease agreement and pay licence and lease fees
- DAFZ issues the licence and company documents
- Apply for the establishment card
- Investor and employee visas: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, residence visa
- Register with Dubai Customs if you trade goods
- Open the corporate bank account, then register for corporate tax and, if needed, VAT
Pricing
Contact us on WhatsApp for a tailored quote for this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many visas can I get in DAFZA?
It depends on the space you lease. DAFZ publishes a small allocation for smart offices, one visa per 8.33 sqm for standard offices, and larger fixed allocations for warehouses in the DAFZ Industrial Park. You can apply for extra quota. Tell us how many people you plan to hire and we will match the space to it.
How much does DAFZA company setup cost?
The total is made up of the licence fee, the workspace lease (usually the biggest variable), registration and establishment card fees, and visa costs for each person. Licence type, company type and any external approvals also change it. Send us your activity and team size and we will give you a written quote.
How long does DAFZA company setup take?
DAFZ does not publish a single timeline for the whole process. Licence issue depends on a complete file and any external approvals; the establishment card, visas and bank account follow and take longer. We give you a realistic plan once we know your activity and documents.
Can a DAFZA company sell in the UAE mainland?
Yes, goods can be sold into the UAE; they go through Dubai Customs and customs duty and import VAT are paid. To operate on the mainland, for example to serve local clients on site or bid for mainland contracts, DAFZ offers a dual licence with DET.
Is DAFZA tax free?
There is no personal income tax. DAFZ companies must register for UAE corporate tax and pay 0% only on qualifying income if they meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions; other taxable income is taxed at 9%. DAFZ is a VAT designated zone for certain goods movements, but services are taxed normally.
DAFZA or JAFZA: which is better?
Both are Dubai free zones run for logistics and trade. DAFZA is next to DXB and suits goods that move by air and office-based businesses. JAFZA is next to Jebel Ali Port and suits sea freight, large warehouses and industrial land. Your cargo route and space needs usually decide it.
Can freelancers set up in DAFZA?
DAFZ offers a Talent Pass for freelancers in fields such as media, technology and education, with a visa entitlement. We can check whether your work fits before you apply.