IFZA Company Formation in Dubai: Licences, Process and Costs
Avyanco allows you to set up the Dubai company with the right license, clear costs, and expert support. We provide you with IFZA Business Setup services in Dubai. Our services include choosing the right activities, shareholder structure, workspace, and visa options. We can assess these requirements, understand the costs, and prepare your incorporation documents.
- 11,500+ businesses set up
- DET licence #909402
- 45+ free zones covered
Why choose IFZA for your business?
International Free Zone Authority provides flexible business setup services in Dubai for service providers, trading businesses, and consultants. Avyanco helps you choose the right setup based on your visa needs, activities, and budget.
Why choose IFZA
- Flexible Packages: Options based on your business and visa requirements.
- Multiple Activities: May include up to 3 eligible activities; additional compatible activities may be available for an additional fee, subject to IFZA approval
- Remote Setup: Fulfills the eligible incorporation steps for IFZA free zone company setup without visiting the UAE.
- Dubai business Address: Select the workspace option that fits your company.
- Multi-year Options: Discounts may be available on eligible longer-term packages.
Other Dubai free zones
- For eligible crypto-related activities or commodities, you can compare DMCC Free Zone.DMCC →
- For port-based trading, logistics, and warehousing, you can consider JAFZA Free Zone.JAFZA →
- We can compare IFZA with Meydan Free Zone if you want to assess the Dubai free zone options for your business.Meydan →
An IFZA business setup fits agencies, consultants, e-commerce businesses, and small trading or holding companies.
IFZA business setup at a glance
We can also support the further steps, including residence visas, corporate banking, and tax registration. With our International Free Zone Authority business setup services, you can establish your free zone company with 100% foreign ownership, subject to applicable rules.
Foreign ownership: 100% ownership for IFZA free-zone companies.
License cost: AED 12,900* without a residence visa.
License with a lifetime free visa: AED 17,699* in government fees. (indicative estimate)
License timeline: Usually 5 to 10 working days for a complete application.
Remote incorporation: Available through IFZA's professional partners.
Corporate Tax: 0% on qualifying income for eligible Qualifying Free Zone Persons; non-qualifying income is generally taxed at 9%.
Watch: what a UAE free zone is, in 35 seconds
IFZA License Types and Activity Rules
Commercial license
For approved trading activities.
- Your IFZA License may depend on your business activity and approvals. We can assess the right category before submitting your application for business setup in Dubai.
- IFZA allows the eligible activities to be combined under one license, subject to its rules and approval. Some regulated activities also need approval from an external authority.
Professional or service license
For eligible service and consultancy businesses.
- Your IFZA License may depend on your business activity and approvals. We can assess the right category before submitting your application for business setup in Dubai.
- IFZA allows the eligible activities to be combined under one license, subject to its rules and approval. Some regulated activities also need approval from an external authority.
Industrial activities
Confirm availability and requirements against IFZA's current activity list before applying.
- Your IFZA License may depend on your business activity and approvals. We can assess the right category before submitting your application for business setup in Dubai.
- IFZA allows the eligible activities to be combined under one license, subject to its rules and approval. Some regulated activities also need approval from an external authority.
Free Zone Company (FZCO)
A FZCO is a separate legal entity with limited liability. It has one or more shareholders, subject to IFZA's requirements. It makes it suitable for business partners, individual founders, and companies with several investors.
- Your legal structure may determine who owns the company, how it is registered, and how it relates to the business. We help you choose the structure that aligns with your ownership and expansion plans. Below are the legal structures available for business setup in International Free Zone Authority zones
- We review your business activities, ownership details, and supporting documents before recommending the right structure and preparing the company formation application.
Branch of a UAE or foreign company
A branch permits the existing company to extend operations through IFZA without creating a separate subsidiary. The branch operates under the parent company's legal identity, and the parent stays responsible for its obligations.
- Your legal structure may determine who owns the company, how it is registered, and how it relates to the business. We help you choose the structure that aligns with your ownership and expansion plans. Below are the legal structures available for business setup in International Free Zone Authority zones
- We review your business activities, ownership details, and supporting documents before recommending the right structure and preparing the company formation application.
Flexi Desk, Office and Visa Options
Choosing the right workspace to set up a business in the International Free Zone Authority is important, because it affects the operating costs, business address, and potential visa allocation. Avyanco guides you to select the right IFZA workspace that matches your team size, working arrangements, and planned recruitment.
| Workspace option | Details |
|---|---|
| Flexi desk | Flexi desk includes 10 hours of weekly access, an IFZA business address, and one hour of meeting-room use per month. It is suitable for founders who work remotely. |
| Flexi Desk+ | It provides unlimited access to a dedicated desk, an IFZA address, and five hours of meeting-room use per month. |
| Dedicated or private office | It provides a private workspace, meeting facilities, and a business address for teams that need regular office access. |
Your visa requirements may depend on the selected package, eligibility, and workspace arrangements. Avyanco helps you to understand the available residence visas and coordinate the relevant application steps for eligible employees and shareholders.
IFZA vs DMCC vs Meydan at a Glance
The right free zone between IFZA, DMCC, and Meydan depends on your activities, costs, location preferences, and operating needs. Here are the comparisons of the following zones
| Comparison | ZoneIFZA | ZoneDMCC | ZoneMeydan Free Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Dubai Silicon Oasis | Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) | Dubai |
| Published starting cost | AED 12,900* without a visa | Based on activity and package | AED 12,500* without a visa |
| Share capital | Based on legal form and applicable rules | Based on company requirements | Based on legal form and applicable rules |
| Activities per license | Multiple compatible activities, subject to approval | Based on activity and license rules | Based on activity and license rules |
| Often considered for | Service businesses and trading activities | Commodities, specialist business and trading activities | Consultants, e-commerce and digital businesses |
Permitted activities and prices can change, and packages may consist of different services. You can check our IFZA vs DMCC vs Meydan comparison or explore the business setup in free zone services before making the decision.
IFZA Company Setup: Six Steps from Name to License
Avyanco follows the comprehensive IFZA company setup process and supports you during the activity selection, documentation, licensing, and post-setup requirements. We coordinate the application through the official IFZA channel.
- 1
Choose activities and a package
We match your business activities, visa needs, and ownership with a suitable package.
- 2
Reserve the trade name
We submit the name options for approval, subject to naming rules and availability.
- 3
Submit the application
We prepare the application and submit it with the agreed company details.
- 4
Complete KYC checks
Shareholders provide the identification and additional documents requested by the International Free Zone Authority.
- 5
Pay fees and sign documents
We explain the charges and coordinate the signatures.
- 6
Receive your license
Upon approval, we can coordinate the establishment card, visa, corporate bank application and corporate tax registration requirements.
One partner-led team, start to finish
Licence, bank account, visas and tax handled by one named advisor, with government fees and our fee always shown separately.
“We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.”
“I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.”
“In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.”
“I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.”
“We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.”
“I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.”
How Avyanco handles your IFZA Free Zone Company Setup
Avyanco supports the founders through every step of company formation, from activity selection to post-setup requirements. We also have the DET license #909402 that reflects our business setup advisory credentials. We also coordinate the
Licensing & legal
- Activity checks
- Application documents
Banking & residency
- Bank account application preparation
- Visa support
Tax & compliance
- Corporate tax registration for IFZA business setup
Documents you'll need
The exact documents for IFZA business setup may depend on whether the shareholder is an individual or an existing company. We provide the checklist below of the documents you need to submit
- Passport copy, generally with at least six months' validity
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Proof of residential address
- UAE visa page and NOC
- Contact details and completed application forms
- Certificate of incorporation or equivalent company registration document
- Memorandum and Articles of Association, where applicable
- Board resolution authorising the setup
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) and ownership details
- Passport and identification documents for relevant owners or authorised signatories
IFZA Business Setup Cost: License, Visa and Office Fees
The IFZA free zone license cost may depend on your business activity, workspace, visa requirements, and additional approvals. Below are the costs associated with business formation in IFZA, including licensing, visa, and office fees
First-year government total
*Indicative, subject to change
VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies and imports.
Taxable supplies and importsAn IFZA company should assess the UAE tax obligations on the basis of its income, activities, and eligibility for reliefs. Avyanco helps you to understand the requirements before and after incorporation. UAE Corporate Tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. QFZPs are assessed differently. Eligible businesses with revenue up to AED 3 million may be eligible for Small Business Relief, but QFZPs cannot elect for it. We support your post-incorporation compliance, including Corporate Tax registration and QFZP review. We assess your registration obligations, eligibility, and taxable activities for the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime on the basis of your business structure and income.
QFZP rules explained →IFZA business setup costs
| Cost item | Fee basis | Indicative cost (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| License package with flexi-desk and no visa | Government package cost | 12,900* |
| License package with a lifetime free visa | First-year government total | 17,699* |
| License package with two residence visas | First-year government total | 28,000* |
| License package with three residence visas | First-year government total | 34,550* |
| Additional activities | Based on approved activities and package | Confirmed in quotation |
| Upgrade to a dedicated desk or physical office | Annual, based on facility | Quoted separately |
| External approvals for regulated activities | Based on the regulator | Quoted separately |
Make sure to check the IFZA license cost before forming your business in this zone. You can check our full IFZA cost breakdown and business setup packages. We can prepare an estimate on the basis of your business needs.
Questions founders ask about IFZA
Can I set up an IFZA company without visiting Dubai?+
Yes, you can set up the IFZA company without visiting Dubai. Incorporation is allowed remotely with documents and signatures. The residence visa procedures may require you to attend in person for medical tests, immigration formalities, and biometrics.
What is the IFZA business setup cost with one visa?+
It costs around AED 17,699* for a standard package with a lifetime free visa. Office upgrades, professional fees, external approvals, and other excluded services may add to the total costs.
How many activities can I add to one license?+
IFZA permits various compatible activities on one license, subject to the approvals and activity rules. The allowed combination and additional charges may depend on the packages and activities selected.
Is a flexi-desk enough to get a residence visa?+
A Flexi Desk package may include eligibility for a residence visa allocation, but the number and approval depend on the selected package and prevailing IFZA/immigration requirements. You should confirm your quote before select the workspace option.
How long does IFZA company setup take?+
The standard flexi-desk package may take around the 5 to 10 working days once documents submission. additional approvals, regulated activities, KYC checks and visa processing extend the timeline.
What does renewal cost from year two?+
The renewal costs may depends up on your license, establishment card, workspace package and visa requirements. It is different from first-year setup total, so request a renewal estimate on basis of your actual company structure.
Can I open a bank account with an IFZA license?+
Yes, you can open the UAE corporate bank account after incorporation, but approval is not guaranteed. Banks assess your business activity, source of funds, ownership, business model and documents.
How does IFZA compare with Meydan?+
Both, IFZA and Meydan provides the Dubai free zone company formation, but their package prices, activity rules and operating arrangements vary. We compare the complete costs, visa needs and business requirements to recommend you right option.
Guides to help you decide
Start your IFZA application.
Discuss your business activity, visa needs, and contact details. We guide you through the next steps and give you a tailored estimate for IFZA business setup.
- Your business activity
- Your visa needs
- Your contact details
Sources: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Ministerial Decision 265/2023 (qualifying activities) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · International Free Zone Authority (ifza.com) · Federal Tax Authority (tax.gov.ae). *QFZP 0% applies to qualifying income only, subject to the applicable conditions. *Prices shown are indicative, may change, and exclude Avyanco's professional fee, which is quoted separately.
Verification & independence: Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is a private firm, independent of IFZA and not affiliated with any UAE government agency. IFZA rules, fees, package inclusions, visa allocations and QFZP eligibility are set by the relevant authorities, vary by case and change over time. This page is general guidance, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Confirm your position with IFZA and the Federal Tax Authority, or with us, before acting.