IFZA vs DMCC vs Meydan: how to compare Dubai free zones before you choose

How to compare free zones step by step

1. 1

   Start from the Free zones Gateway, not from a broker's list

   The Free zones Gateway provides a feature to compare the provisions and facilities of free zones in Dubai. That is the neutral starting point: instead of comparing three names someone suggested to you, you compare what each zone actually provides.

2. 2

   Filter by your sector first

   Your activity narrows the shortlist faster than anything else. For example, if you want to start a business in the science sector or energy, you can use the feature to see which free zones allow/support that. Run your own activity through the same filter before you compare anything else.

3. 3

   Check which zones give you the physical facilities you need

   If your business is not purely desk-based, this decides it. You can also see which free zones offer facilities such as warehousing and plots of land. A zone that fits your sector on paper but has no warehousing is not a match for a business that needs to store goods.

4. 4

   Use the map to see where the zone actually is

   Location matters for staff commutes, clients and logistics. You can use the maps feature to filter by sector and see the locations of related free zones in Dubai. For DMCC specifically: it covers JLT and Uptown Dubai.

5. 5

   Match your activity against DMCC's sector list

   DMCC permits setting up businesses in the sectors of: agro tea coffee gold diamonds lab-grown diamonds coloured gemstones energy water tech gaming crypto AI eCommerce financial services and many more. If your activity is on that list, DMCC belongs on your shortlist — then compare it against the other zones on facilities and location.

6. 6

   Decide your company type

   In a free zone, you can set up one of the following types of companies: Private Limited Liability Company (LLC), Free Zone Company (FZ Co.), Free Zone Establishment (FZE), Public Limited Liability Company (PJSC), branch of a local or international company. Not every zone registers every type, so treat this as a question, not an assumption.

   Documents:Company type: LLC / FZ Co. / FZE / PJSC / branch
7. 7

   Confirm the company type with the zone itself

   This is the step people skip. You need to check with individual free zone authorities about the type of company they can register — so ask IFZA, DMCC and Meydan directly which of the types above they will register for your activity, and get the answer from them rather than from a comparison table.

8. 8

   Get the cost picture from the official source

   We don't publish licence figures we can't source. The Invest in Dubai website provides a fair idea of the costs involved in setting up a business in the various free zones in Dubai. Check the current amounts there and with each free zone authority — costs change, and the official page is the only version worth planning around.

Fees and timelines may change — verify with the official source.

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