DAFZA company setup in Dubai Airport Free Zone: license from AED 15,000 a year
DAFZA, the free zone at Dubai International Airport, licenses trading, logistics and service firms from AED 15,000 a year. We set yours up and quote its fees with our fixed fee.
DAFZA Dubai International Airport
- from AED 15,000 Trade or service license a year
- 14–21 Working days to the license
- AED 1 Minimum share capital of a DAFZA company
What the Dubai Airport Free Zone is
1996Inside Dubai International Airport
DAFZA stands for Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, and the zone itself goes by Dubai Airport Freezone, or DAFZ. It was established in 1996 within the boundaries of Dubai International Airport and has its own metro station, Dubai Airport Free Zone, on the Green Line.
2022Under the DIEZ authority
Since 1 January 2022 the zone has worked under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, created by Law No. 16 of 2021 and chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The same authority runs Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity.
5 groupsAviation companies the zone named in 2017
At the Dubai Airshow of 2017 the zone counted 5 groups among its aviation companies: Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, Rolls-Royce and Bombardier. In December 2025 the logistics group AWOT opened its regional headquarters at DAFZA.
Businesses from more than 20 sectors work here, with over 20,000 people between them.
Who DAFZA suits, and when another zone costs less
Your goods fly through Dubai International Airport. Cargo access and customs are on site, which cuts hours off an urgent shipment.
Parts, maintenance and service companies sit next to the airlines and the airport they supply.
Electronics, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and luxury goods are stored in secure warehouses and leave by air.
A group that sells across the UAE keeps its office at Dubai International Airport and adds a mainland license to the same company.
A consultancy with no goods to move pays less at IFZA, about AED 12,500 a year with a flexi-desk in the package.
Dubai South, the zone at Dubai's second airport, licenses a company with a flexi-desk for AED 12,500 and rents warehouses next to that airport.
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What DAFZA company setup costs
DAFZA publishes no price list, so the license and registration lines are its fees for 2026 as we quote them. The package totals are the ones the Government of Dubai's investor portal lists for DAFZA, dated September 2023. The permit is DET's fee. Our fee, the visa and the accounting are our prices, before VAT.
DAFZA company with its license, our fee
Fixed in your quoteYou get the figure in writing by the end of the next working day.
Get a quote- Trade, service or industrial license, a year
- from AED 15,000
- General trading license, a year
- AED 50,000
- Company registration, paid once
- from AED 12,000
- Set-up packages, smart desk to 50 sq.m office
- AED 41,790–155,665
- Mainland operating permit, six months
- AED 5,000
- Residence visa, each
- from AED 3,000
- Accounting, a month
- from $350
Company rules in DAFZA: owners, capital, officers, accounts
A DAFZA company has one or more owners, share capital from AED 1 and audited accounts every year, under the zone's Rules and Regulations of 2021.
| Rule | What DAFZA requires |
|---|---|
| Company form | FZCO, a limited liability company. A foreign company registers a branch |
| Shareholders | One or more, people or companies. Foreigners own 100% |
| Share capital | AED 1 at least, paid up |
| Director | At least one, a natural person |
| Manager | A natural person, named on the license |
| Secretary | At least one |
| Accounts | Prepared, audited and put to the shareholders within 6 months of each financial year's end |
| Accounting records | Kept for 6 years |
0% and 9%Tax of a DAFZA company, and what we keep
For tax the company is a free-zone company. It pays 0% on qualifying income while it meets the conditions of a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) and 9% on other income, as corporate tax in the UAE explains. We draft the memorandum and articles, keep the registers and file each change of officers, and our accountants prepare the year for the auditor.
From AED 375,000 of turnover a DAFZA company registers for VAT, and we file its VAT registration in the UAE.
DAFZA license types and what each allows
Import, export, re-export, distribution and storage of the goods named on the license, from AED 15,000 a year.
Consulting, IT and other professional services, at the same yearly fee.
Light manufacturing, packaging and assembly inside the zone.
A broad list of goods on one license, for AED 50,000 a year.
Sale of goods and services online from a base at the airport. An online shop that needs a fulfilment centre takes Dubai CommerCity, DAFZA's sister zone next to the airport.
The DAFZA company adds a Dubai mainland license and needs no second office for it. For lighter needs Dubai issues a Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit at AED 5,000 for six months.
Offices, warehouses and visas at the airport
Offices and smart desks
The zone leases its own offices, from a smart desk to a full office. We agree the lease together with the license.
Warehouses and cold storage
Warehouses and industrial space stand inside the zone, with cold storage for goods that need it.
Customs inside the zone
Customs clearance is minutes from your unit, and the zone has direct access to Dubai International Airport.
Visas that follow the floor area
The company sponsors residence visas for owners and staff. The space it leases sets how many, so we plan the team and the lease as one decision.
DAFZA or Dubai South, DMCC, IFZA
| Compared | DAFZA | Dubai South | DMCC | IFZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Dubai International Airport | Al Maktoum International Airport | Jumeirah Lakes Towers | Dubai Silicon Oasis |
| License a year, from | AED 15,000 | AED 12,500 with a flexi-desk | AED 35,484, Basic Biz package | about AED 12,500 |
| Premises | Desk, office or warehouse leased in the zone | Flexi-desk in the fee, warehouses to lease | Desk or office required | Flexi-desk in base packages |
| Built for | Air freight, aviation, high-value goods | Cargo and e-commerce fulfilment | Commodities, trade, crypto | Services and holding |
| To the license | 14 to 21 working days | Same day once documents are approved | 7 to 14 working days | 5 to 7 working days |
Dubai South Free Zone company setup DMCC free zone company setup IFZA free zone company setup
DAFZA company setup, step by step
- 1–2 days1
License, activities, premises
You describe the goods or services and the space you need. We match the license type and activities and shortlist the office or warehouse.
- 2–5 days2
Name and initial approval
We reserve the company name and obtain DAFZA's initial approval. An activity under another regulator gets its sign-off at this stage.
- 3–10 days3
Documents and lease
The documents reach us through your account. We prepare the incorporation papers, have foreign documents attested and agree the lease with the zone.
- 2–3 weeks4
License and establishment card
DAFZA issues the license. The establishment card comes next and opens the company's file with the immigration service.
- 1–4 weeks5
Visas, tax number, bank
We file the residence visas, obtain the tax registration number and submit the application for a business bank account in the UAE.
Documents for a DAFZA company
Documents
Owners and directors
- Passport copy
- Photo on a white background
- Proof of home address
- UAE visa page or entry stamp, if any
- Declaration of beneficial owners (UBO)
A parent or corporate owner
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles
- Board resolution to set up in DAFZA
- Register of directors and shareholders
- All attested or apostilled for the UAE
You send them in your account. We check each document the day it arrives and tell you what is missing.
See the platformQuestions about DAFZA company setup in Dubai Airport Free Zone
What does DAFZA mean?
Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority. The zone also writes its name as Dubai Airport Freezone, DAFZ.
What companies are located in the Dubai Airport Free Zone?
Companies from more than 20 sectors, among them aviation, logistics, electronics, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods, with over 20,000 people between them.
Is DAFZA a city in Dubai?
No. It is a business district of offices and warehouses inside the airport's boundaries, with its own station on the Green Line of the Dubai Metro.
How much does a DAFZA license cost?
From AED 15,000 a year for a trade, service or industrial license and AED 50,000 for general trading, with registration from AED 12,000 paid once. With premises, the Government of Dubai's investor portal lists DAFZA's set-up packages from AED 41,790 with a smart desk to AED 155,665 with a 50 sq.m office, at September 2023 fees. Zones with a published tariff are compared in Dubai free zone license cost, zone by zone.
Can a DAFZA company sell on the UAE mainland?
Yes. The dual license adds a Dubai mainland license with no second office, and for occasional work the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit costs AED 5,000 for six months. We apply for either.
How many visas does a DAFZA company get?
As many as its premises carry: the quota grows with the floor area it leases. Zones with a fixed number of visas per package are in our comparison of free zones in the UAE.
How long does DAFZA company setup take?
14 to 21 working days to the license from complete documents. Visas follow in 1 to 3 weeks and the bank account usually in 2 to 4.
Get a quote for your UAE company
Book a 30-minute call about your company
Your consultant Vladyslav Babaiev Opens in a new tab Business Setup Specialist
- We email you the Google Meet link.
- 30 minutes, free, no obligation to order.
- After the call we email you the checklist of documents for your country.
We reply by the end of the next working day with the cost and the dates for your case. The first call is free and confidential.
Other free zones and emirates
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from AED 5,555 E-commerce license package a year
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In your quote Company with its license
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AED 3,999 Media package for a year, no visa
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AED 35,484 Basic Biz package: license and flexi-desk
Dubai South Free Zone
AED 12,500 License with a flexi-desk, a year
DWTC Free Zone
from AED 12,000 DWTC license, valid one year
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from $7,000 Company with its license, through us
Hamriyah Free Zone
AED 11,000 Basic cost of a license, as the zone states
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about AED 12,500 License a year with a flexi-desk
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AED 10,000 JAFZA fee to register, paid once
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from AED 5,000 JAFZA license fee a year
KEZAD Free Zone
from AED 9,450 Start-up package a year, VAT included
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AED 7,000 Startup package: license, 2 activities
Meydan Free Zone
AED 12,500 Meydan's license fee a year, desk included
RAK ICC offshore company
AED 3,250 Registry fee to incorporate, first year
RAKEZ Free Zone
AED 6,000 Basic license a year: 1 activity, no visa
SAIF Zone
In your quote Company with its license
Shams Free Zone
AED 5,760 Media license a year, VAT included
Sharjah free zones
from AED 5,750 Free-zone license a year
SPC Free Zone
from AED 5,750 SPC license fee a year
Umm Al Quwain Free Zone
AED 5,500 UAQ LYTE: license a year, no visa
Compare the free zones
Cost, visas and office, side by sideAlso for a company in the UAE
Investor visa in Dubai and the UAE
A 2-year residence visa through your company, from AED 3,000, 1 to 3 weeks after the license
OpenBusiness bank account in the UAE
Six accounts compared by balance and fee, 2 to 4 weeks from a complete application
OpenAccounting services in Dubai and the UAE
IFRS books, VAT and corporate tax returns from $350 a month
OpenCompany formation in the UAE
Free zone from $7,000, mainland from $8,000, offshore from $3,000
OpenGuides to a company in the UAE
All guides to a company in the UAE
Updated 13 October 2026. Reviewed by Vladyslav Drapii, Founder.
