ComplyKart Services
Business Setup in Dubai Freezones
Thousands of Indian founders run Dubai companies without ever relocating. Here is what each freezone actually costs, where the hidden charges sit, and the one restriction nobody tells you upfront.
CA/CS-guided review
Your documents and structure are checked before anything is filed.
Written scope first
Inclusions and payable charges are explained before work begins.
Support till it’s done
One team owns your filing, from the first call to the final handover.
Get a free callback
Your details stay private — we only call about this enquiry.
Find your setup in Business Setup in Dubai Freezones
Pick the entity type and location — we'll show you what fits and connect you with the right expert.
Experience behind every filing
A quick snapshot of the work so far.
Fees
Fees and packages for Business Setup in Dubai Freezones
Every requirement is a little different, so we quote after a short discussion — the consultation itself is free.
Custom quote
Business Setup in Dubai Freezones
Talk to a ComplyKart expert — we’ll understand your requirement and share an exact written quote before you pay anything.
Talk to us for a quote
Overview
Why a Dubai freezone — and what it can't do
A freezone company gives you 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, and no import or export duties on re-exports. The licence itself can issue in about two days. For an Indian business selling internationally, it is the fastest credible footprint you can plant in the Gulf.
The entry price is lower than most founders expect. Budget zones start around AED 5,565–6,000; a Dubai-addressed licence from IFZA or Meydan runs about AED 12,500–12,900; premium DMCC starts near AED 20,000 and climbs past 35,000. But the licence fee is not the first-year cost. Visas, establishment cards, and renewals sit on top — budget the total, not the headline.
Now the honest limitation. A freezone company cannot trade directly on the UAE mainland. Think of a freezone like the duty-free shop at an airport: brilliant for international business passing through, but you cannot lift that shop onto the high street. The mainland is the high street, and it needs its own licence — or a local distributor, or a dual licence. If your actual customers are in Dubai itself, a mainland setup is usually the right answer, and I would rather tell you that now than after you have paid.
Benefits
Why set up here
Open each benefit to see what it means for you.
0% corporate tax on qualifying income — Qualifying Free Zone Persons pay 0% on qualifying income under the UAE's corporate tax regime. That is a genuine, legislated rate — not a loophole.
100% foreign ownership and full repatriation — Own the company outright and move profits and capital back to India freely. No local partner, no profit-sharing arrangement.
No customs duties on re-exports — Goods moving through the freezone for re-export carry no import or export duty. For trading businesses, this is the core economic reason freezones exist.
Speed and simplicity — Licence in about two days, minimal bureaucracy, purpose-built authorities that process company setups as their core business. A working company with visa takes 4–6 weeks end to end.
India-UAE DTAA protection — The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement means income taxed in the UAE is not taxed again in India. Combined with the 0% qualifying rate, the structure is clean on both sides.
Documents
Documents you will need
Clear, current documents matter more than a long checklist. Names, dates of birth and addresses should match across every record — that's what the authorities check first. Tick what you already have below.
0 documents marked ready
Tick what you already have. This checklist resets when you leave the page.
Personal documents (all shareholders & directors)
Verified against official requirements
Business and licence documents
Verified against official requirements
Not sure if your documents are ready?
Send us what you have. A ComplyKart expert will review them for free and tell you exactly what's missing — no obligation.
Get Free Document ReviewProcess
How the process works
You’ll see each stage, what’s pending and what we need from you — so filings don’t bounce back.
Step 1 of 7
Choose your freezone and activity
Not all zones suit all businesses. DMCC for trading credibility, IFZA or Meydan for cost-effective Dubai presence, RAKEZ or SHAMS for the leanest entry. We match the zone to your business model and budget — and tell you honestly when a freezone is the wrong answer and mainland fits better.
Reserve your trade name
Submit name options to the freezone authority. Each zone has its own naming rules; approval is typically same-day.
Select your licence type and package
Commercial, service, industrial, or freelance. The package sets your visa quota (zero to one on base packages, scalable upward) and whether flexi-desk is included. This is where the real first-year cost gets decided — we quote the total, not the headline.
Submit the application with documents
File the application, passports, photographs and MOA with the freezone authority. Clean files clear in 2-5 working days; Meydan's Fawri route can issue in about 60 minutes.
Sign the MOA and collect your licence
Shareholders sign the Memorandum before the freezone registrar. E-signing is accepted by most zones now, so this can be done without travelling. Your trade licence issues here.
Take your office or flexi
desk — Activate the workspace in your package. Even a flexi-desk gives you a registered address and meeting-room access — enough for licence compliance and a credible business address.
Open the establishment card and process visas
Register with immigration, then run the visa sequence: entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics, stamping. Budget AED 4,500–6,500 per visa and 4–6 weeks for a fully working company with visa in hand.
Why ComplyKart
How ComplyKart helps in this Entire Process
You should know who’s doing what. Open a stage to see how the work is shared.
Step 1
Zone selection with no sales agenda — We work across IFZA, DMCC, Meydan, RAKEZ, SHAMS and others. If a cheaper zone fits...
Step 2
India-side FEMA and ODI paperwork, in parallel — Your investment into the freezone company needs RBI filings (Form ODI,...
Step 3
Visa and Emirates ID process, managed — Entry permit, medical, biometrics, stamping, family visas after that. Government...
Step 4
Banking file prepared before you apply — UAE banks decide on compliance, not promises. We assemble your licence, MOA, bu...
Step 1: Zone selection with no sales agenda — We work across IFZA, DMCC, Meydan, RAKEZ, SHAMS and others. If a cheaper zone fits your business, we say so. If your customers are on the mainland and a freezone would box you in, we tell you that too — even if it costs us the engagement.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Search all 5 answers, or filter by the stage you’re thinking about.
Showing 5 of 5 answers
Ajman Free Zone (from ~AED 5,565) and SHAMS or SPC Sharjah (from ~AED 5,750) are the lowest entry points, with RAKEZ close behind at ~AED 6,000. But cheapest licence does not mean cheapest first year. Add visas, the establishment card and renewal before you decide — the gap between zones shrinks fast once you count everything.
Yes. Most packages carry a visa quota — zero to one on base packages, scalable upward. Budget AED 4,500–6,500 per visa on top of the licence for the medical test, Emirates ID and stamping. A working company with visa in hand takes 4–6 weeks end to end.
Yes, but nobody can guarantee it — banks run their own compliance checks. DMCC companies generally clear fastest because banks know the zone. Budget-zone companies need a cleaner file: a clear business plan and a coherent source-of-funds story. Prepare both before you apply, not after a rejection.
Not directly. Freezone companies cannot trade on the mainland without a local distributor or a dual licence. This is the single most misunderstood rule in Dubai setups. If your buyers are in the UAE domestic market, price a mainland licence instead — it is usually the honest answer.
The licence itself issues in about two days; Meydan's Fawri route does it in roughly 60 minutes. A fully working company with residence visa takes 4–6 weeks, because the visa, medical and Emirates ID steps run on government timelines, not the freezone's.
Nothing matches that search. Try a shorter word, or choose “All questions”.
What clients say about working with us
Real stories from businesses we've worked with.
Our Trademark was applied in all the classes with a short span of time by Complykart Trademark Experts and I can say the level of expertise and commitment they carry is remarkable. It's an A+ from my side. We are now sticking to ComplyKart only.
I found the professionalism of the staff at complykart.com, a pleasure to work with. As a foreigner to India, they took the time to explain the documentation and assisted in every question I raised. I was pleased that complykart.com made it easy for my Business.
Trust, Commitment, Dedication and responsiveness are the best things with ComplyKart. Thanks for handling our Merger assignment with so much care. After my business disputes, complykart handles all things with own sense of understanding.
Get a free consultation
Talk to a ComplyKart professional about Business Setup in Dubai Freezones. The first consultation is free.
