Choose a free zone and activity

Free zones specialise (media, IT, trade, finance, etc.). Pick a zone that fits your activity and compare licence packages and visa quotas.

Decide the form and name

Choose the form (e.g. FZ-LLC or branch) and reserve the company name per the zone's rules.

Apply for the licence

Apply for the business licence with the free zone, attach documents and pay the fee. The zone reviews and issues the licence and corporate documents.

Get visas for founder and staff

The licence comes with visa quotas: arrange residence visas, medical tests and Emirates IDs for yourself and staff via the free zone/GDRFA.

Open a corporate account, set up an office/flexi-desk and watch VAT and corporate-tax registration on the FTA portal (tax.gov.ae). We don't quote thresholds from memory.

How to set up a free zone company in Dubai

Official source: The Official Portal of the UAE Government (u.ae) · Business — Free zones

Facts from the official u.ae portal ('Business', free zones). A free zone company gives the foreign founder 100% ownership and operates under its zone's rules; mainland activity may need separate permits. Licence cost, minimum capital and visa quotas depend on the free zone and change — verify on u.ae, invest.dubai.ae and the chosen free zone's site. We don't invent numbers.

Official authorities

Direct links to the relevant government departments.

u.ae — Business Invest in Dubai (Dubai Economy & Tourism)

General procedure

1
Choose a free zone and activity
Free zones specialise (media, IT, trade, finance, etc.). Pick a zone that fits your activity and compare licence packages and visa quotas.
2
Decide the form and name
Choose the form (e.g. FZ-LLC or branch) and reserve the company name per the zone's rules.
Documents:Founders' passportsPhotosBusiness plan (sometimes)
3
Apply for the licence
Apply for the business licence with the free zone, attach documents and pay the fee. The zone reviews and issues the licence and corporate documents.
Documents:Free zone applicationMOA / articlesOffice / flexi-desk lease
4
Get visas for founder and staff
The licence comes with visa quotas: arrange residence visas, medical tests and Emirates IDs for yourself and staff via the free zone/GDRFA.
Documents:Medical test (18+)Emirates IDHealth insurance
5
Bank, tax and office
Open a corporate account, set up an office/flexi-desk and watch VAT and corporate-tax registration on the FTA portal (tax.gov.ae). We don't quote thresholds from memory.

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

Who provides this service in Dubai

Real companies from Google Maps — live ratings and reviews.

Google Maps returned no companies for this niche yet.

Setting up a company and relocating?

We help with housing and settling your team: find apartments on budget, help with Ejari, DEWA and internet while you set up the free zone company. Leave a request.

Help with housing for the team →

Tools for this topic

Market AnalyticsDeals, medians and price dynamics by area — DLD data.ROI CalculatorNet yield, payback and cash flow per property — on real DLD transactions.

A shortlist built for your case

3–5 properties with an honest DLD-based yield calculation — free, no middlemen.

Get my shortlist Telegram consult