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Tier 1 · Dubai

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority

Adjacent to Dubai International Airport (DXB); DAFZ Industrial Park in Al Qusais (~5 km from DXB) · Est. 1996 · Dubai Airport Freezone Authority, under Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). DIEZ Chairman: HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum; Executive Chairman: Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni; DAFZ Director General: Amna Lootah

AED 22,000 – AED 41,850/ yr
high confidenceVerified 18 Jul 2026official ↗
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Best for

Trading, aviation, logistics, electronics, pharma and luxury-goods companies that value airport adjacency, fast air-cargo clearance and a premium, bank-credible Dubai address.

Not ideal for

Budget-sensitive startups and solo consultants who don't need airport logistics (cheaper Dubai zones exist), and heavy manufacturers needing large industrial land plots.

01Zones within DAFZA

1 specialist zones operating under DAFZA.

DAFZA is an umbrella authority. Companies register through DAFZA and operate in one of its specialist zones below — each with its own infrastructure, activity focus, and workspace type.

02Capability profile

Six independent dimensions, scored from official zone data.

?
Banking10/15
?
Visa scale15/15
?
Cost (lower=better)13/20
?
Activity breadth16/25
?
Workspace options15/15
?
Location9/10
03Where DAFZA sits

Tick marks for every zone, DAFZA highlighted. The shape of the field, not just the rank.

Year 1 cost← lower is better

DAFZA: 12th percentile (AED 22,000) · Licence + registration, AED.

Setup time← lower is better

DAFZA: 40th percentile (10 days) · Total estimated days from application to operational.

Visa caphigher is better →

DAFZA: 62th percentile (100 visas) · Absolute maximum visa allocation. Values above 500 clipped to the right edge so the bulk of the distribution stays readable.

Banking ease← better
Easy
4
Moderate
73
Difficult
15
Very difficult
1

DAFZA: Moderate · Corporate bank account opening difficulty. Each cell is one zone.

04Costs

Year-one license, renewals, and 5-year totals in AED.

22,000
– 41,850
Year 1 range · AED
AED 7,305 less than DMCC
mid tier
Show in
Base licence
AED 15,000
Registration
AED 7,000
Renewal (year 2+)
AED 15,000
3-year total
AED 52,000
2-year visa cost
AED 3,950
Hidden & one-off costs
Establishment card
AED 2,020
Minimum share capital
AED 1
Cancellation fee
AED 3,000
Visa renewal
AED 3,000
Visa cancellation
AED 500
Emirates ID (per visa)
AED 395
Dependent / spouse visa
AED 3,500
Year-on-year fee tracking begins 2026 — changes appear here as they accrue.
Indicative, from published ratesOfficial fee schedule ↗Verified 2026-07high confidence

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05Visas & workspace

Visa caps, workspace options, and family-sponsorship rules.

Visa allocation
Maximum visas
100
Flexi-desk cap
1
Office cap
8
Warehouse cap
30
Family sponsorship
Available
Freelancer permit
Available
Golden visa
Available
Medical required
Yes
Processing time
~7 days
Workspace options
Virtual office
Yes
Flexi-desk
Yes
Coworking
Yes
Dedicated office
Yes
Executive office
Yes
Warehouse
Yes
Industrial unit
Yes
Land plot
No
Ejari issued
Yes
Parking
Yes
Dedicated office cost
AED 25,000/yr
06Banking & setup

Banking difficulty, partner banks, and setup timeline.

Banking
Difficulty
Moderate
Time to account
~14 days
Minimum deposit
AED 50,000
Corp tax rate
0%
Audit cost (est)
AED 5,000
UBO filing
Required
AML / KYC
standard
Partner banks
HSBC UAEMashreqEmirates NBDADCB
Setup timeline
  1. Registration mode
    Fully online — no in-person visit required
  2. Documents & application
    Passport, visa, business plan — ~3–5 days
  3. Licence issued
    ~5 business days after submission
  4. Bank account active
    Additional ~14 days · Moderate banking
  5. Operational
    Typically ~10 days, up to ~21 days
07Package pricing

5 packages from official fee schedules.

All figures in AED, from official fee schedules. Visa and health-insurance costs are additional.

PackageVisasYear 1Renewal
Flexi Desk – 1 Activity – 1 VisaBest value1AED 22,000AED 17,000
Flexi Desk – 1 Activity – 3 Visas3AED 29,000AED 22,000
Executive Office – 1 Activity – 5 Visas5AED 48,000AED 38,000
Executive Office – 2 Activities – 8 Visas8AED 72,000AED 58,000
Industrial Park Warehouse – 5 Visas5AED 55,000AED 44,000
08Permitted activities

Activity categories, restrictions, and approval flags.

2000+ activitiesMainland selling: YesDual license: Yes

Freight Forwarding & Logistics

Aviation & Aerospace Services

Electronics Trading

Pharmaceuticals

Luxury Goods

IT Services

Categories
TradingServiceIndustrialE-commerceGeneral TradingEducationFreelance (Talent Pass)Dual license with DED
Matched industry clusters
techtradingindustriallogistics
Restricted
Hazardous or illegal activities (official)Activities requiring external regulator approval (banking, insurance, healthcare etc.)
09Jurisdiction & ecosystem

Legal framework, tax status, audit requirements, and zone focus — every value sourced.

Common lawNo
VAT designated zoneNo
QFZP eligible (0% tax)Yes
Source: Official · 2026-07-18
Economic substancestandard
Source: Official · 2026-07-18

This zone offers physical-office options sufficient for a standard QFZP substance posture, though the bar still applies at the entity level (CTGFZP1).

Focus: Aviation, Logistics, Trading, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Luxury Goods, IT

3400 companieslarge communityNetworking events: YesIncubator: No
Notable companies

Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Panasonic, LG Electronics, DHL, Red Bull, Louis Vuitton (first DIEZ One Freezone Passport member)

QFZP, audit, mainland-permit and substance values are sourced where the zone authority or FTA publishes them, and inferred from published zone characteristics otherwise. How we determine these values.

10Strengths & limitations

5 strengths · 3 caveats.

Strengths
  • Direct adjacency to DXB: on-site 24/7 customs, bonded warehouses and dual landside/airside cargo access
  • Established premium brand (est. 1996, DIEZ member) with 3,400+ companies - strong banking credibility; Emirates NBD & ADIB branches inside the zone
  • VAT designated-zone status + 0% corporate tax on qualifying income
  • Full service stack on-site (GDRFA, Dubai Customs, DHA, notary) and 250+ online services; remote incorporation possible
  • Flexible space ladder from AED ~16.6k smart desk to warehouses with 20-30 visas each
Caveats
  • Premium pricing: offices AED 1,850-1,950/sqm + 12.5% service charge; realistic Year-1 entry ~AED 40k vs AED 20-30k at budget zones
  • Mandatory annual audit by DAFZ-approved auditors adds compliance cost
  • Smart desk carries only 1 employment visa; General Trading licence is AED 50,000/yr with AED 500k share capital

Not ideal for: Budget-sensitive startups and solo consultants who don't need airport logistics (cheaper Dubai zones exist), and heavy manufacturers needing large industrial land plots.

11Recent developments

2 policy and pricing updates on record.

  1. 2025-Q1DAFZA launched a dedicated e-commerce licensing track with streamlined customs integration for companies using Dubai International Airport as a fulfilment hub, targeting cross-border B2C sellers.
  2. 2024-Q3DAFZA expanded the DAFZ Industrial Park with a new 40,000 sq ft pharma-grade warehouse cluster, offering GDP-compliant cold chain storage for pharmaceutical importers and distributors.
12Tax considerations

3 tax questions relevant to this zone.

Questions to raise with your tax advisor

  1. Does your planned revenue qualify under the QFZP qualifying-income rules?

    QFZP 0% only applies to qualifying income. Mainland trading or revenue from non-free-zone clients is generally non-qualifying and taxed at 9%.

  2. How much of your revenue will come from mainland UAE customers, and how does that affect QFZP and 5% VAT obligations?

    Mainland revenue beyond ad-hoc levels can disqualify QFZP and triggers full 9% corporate tax plus standard VAT on supplies.

  3. Do any of your customers, suppliers, or shareholders meet the FTA's related-party definition?

    Related-party transactions need transfer-pricing documentation and may push otherwise-qualifying income into the 9% bracket.

These prompts are due-diligence questions, not tax advice. Confirm every answer with a UAE-licensed tax advisor before incorporating.

13Frequently asked

4 common questions specific to DAFZA.

14Founder Q&A · 5 questions

Real questions from founders evaluating this zone.

Which free zones are best for e-commerce businesses selling physical products to UAE customers?
For e-commerce businesses selling physical products to UAE customers, free zones like Dubai CommerCity, Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA), and Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) are excellent choices. Dubai CommerCity is specifica…
I am looking for a freezone company where I can apply. Can anyone provide suggestions?
Popular free zones include DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, RAKEZ, and Sharjah Airport Free Zone. Choose based on your business activity, budget, visa needs, and location preference. DMCC suits commodities/trading; RAKEZ is cost-effe…
How do I set up a free zone business in Dubai in 2023?
In 2023, set up by selecting a free zone, applying online via the free zone portal, submitting required documents (passport, business plan), paying fees, leasing office space, and receiving your license typically within …
Where can I apply for an investor visa in Dubai?
You can apply for an investor visa in Dubai through the relevant free zone authority or the Dubai Land Department for property-based visas. Alternatively, applications can be submitted via General Directorate of Residenc…
What are the top free zones in Dubai for a business setup?
Top Dubai free zones for business setup are DMCC for commodities and trading, Dubai Internet City for IT, Dubai Silicon Oasis for tech startups, and Dubai Airport Free Zone for logistics. They offer strong infrastructure…
15Similar zones in Dubai

3 comparable zones in the same emirate.

16About this data

Last verified 2026-07-18 · high confidence.

DAFZA data is sourced from official zone authority publications, government fee schedules, and where available, verified against direct communications with the zone. All figures in AED.

Location
Adjacent to Dubai International Airport (DXB); DAFZ Industrial Park in Al Qusais (~5 km from DXB)
Established
1996
Authority
Dubai Airport Freezone Authority, under Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). DIEZ Chairman: HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum; Executive Chairman: Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni; DAFZ Director General: Amna Lootah
Last verified
2026-07-18
Confidence
high
Methodology
How we score →
Cited source
Fee data sourced from the official fee schedule, fetched 2026-07-18. View source ↗
Per-field citations
How we verify every zone →
17Founder reviews

What founders who've registered here say.

4.3★1,600 reviewsGoogle

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18Take the next step

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