Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
DAFZA Company Formation, Dubai, UAE
A customs-bonded free zone beside Dubai International Airport, built for trading, logistics, aviation and service companies that want 100% foreign ownership, fast customs clearance and direct air cargo access.
Free, no-obligation consultation on licence, structure and cost.
Dubai Airport Free Zone, known as DAFZA and now officially branded DAFZ, sits directly beside Dubai International Airport and is regulated by the DAFZ Authority. Company formation typically starts from around AED 12,000 to 15,000 for a basic licence and rises depending on office space, visa allocation and business activity, so treat any single "starting from" figure as a floor, not the full cost. Setup is open to any nationality, with 100% foreign ownership, 0% personal income tax and full repatriation of profits and capital.
Why It Matters
DAFZA sits directly inside the boundary of Dubai International Airport (DXB), giving trading, logistics, freight-forwarding and aviation-support companies fast, direct access to one of the busiest cargo airports in the world. As a customs-bonded free zone, goods move in and out under simplified customs procedures, which matters if your business depends on speed.
The Case For DAFZA
Five reasons trading, logistics and service businesses choose DAFZA over a mainland licence or another free zone.
Direct access to DXB's cargo terminals puts trading, freight-forwarding and aviation-support businesses minutes from one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, cutting time on every shipment.
Goods stored or transiting within DAFZA are exempt from import duty until they leave the free zone for the UAE mainland, which can meaningfully cut costs for re-export and distribution businesses.
No local UAE sponsor or partner required. You retain full ownership of your DAFZA company.
0% personal income tax, with free zone entities able to qualify for a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, subject to Federal Tax Authority conditions.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, with no currency restrictions on moving money in or out.
Choose Your Licence
Import, export and distribution of the specific goods named on your licence.
Consultancy and professional service activities carried out from DAFZA.
Light manufacturing, assembly and processing activities.
The broadest trading licence, covering multiple product categories under one licence.
Structures Available
Which structure fits depends on how many shareholders you have and whether you're setting up fresh or extending an existing company.
Free Zone Establishment with a single shareholder, individual or corporate.
Free Zone Company with two or more shareholders.
An extension of an existing overseas company, with no separate legal personality of its own.
An extension of an existing onshore or free zone UAE company.
Getting Your Paperwork Ready
Exact requirements vary by legal structure, licence type and facility choice. DAFZ confirms the full checklist once your activity is selected.
DAFZ's company registration form, specifying your licence type and business activity.
Valid passport copies for all shareholders, directors and managers.
Recent photographs for each shareholder and manager named on the licence.
Required for certain activities and larger facility bookings, outlining your scope of operations.
For corporate shareholders, confirming the decision to establish the entity and naming authorized signatories.
Needed if a shareholder is a UAE resident already sponsored under another employer's visa.
Getting Started
Select your business activity and the matching licence type.
FZE, FZCO or branch, based on shareholder count and parent company status.
Submit your preferred company name for DAFZ approval.
DAFZ reviews your application and activity before you proceed.
Pick from Smart Desk, flexi-desk, office or warehouse space based on your visa quota and operations.
File the finalized paperwork and settle licence, registration and facility fees.
DAFZ issues your licence once approval and payment are complete.
Sponsor employee and investor visas, then open a corporate bank account.
How It Compares
All three are customs-bonded free zones. Which one fits best usually comes down to which gateway (air or sea) your goods move through.
| Feature | DAFZ (DAFZA) | Dubai South | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Beside Dubai International Airport (DXB) | Near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) | Beside Jebel Ali Port |
| Best suited for | Aviation, air freight, trading, logistics | Aviation, e-commerce, logistics tied to DWC | Sea freight, heavy trading, industrial and manufacturing |
| Customs status | Customs-bonded | Customs-bonded | Customs-bonded |
| Typical starting licence cost* | From approx. AED 12,000 to 15,000 | From approx. AED 12,000 to 15,000 | From approx. AED 12,000 to 20,000 |
*Indicative figures only. Confirm current published rates directly with each free zone authority, or with Smart Zones® UAE, before budgeting.
Budgeting
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Licence fee (starting) | From approx. AED 12,000 to 15,000, activity-dependent* |
| Registration/establishment card | Additional government fee, confirmed at application |
| Office/facility cost | Varies by Smart Desk, flexi-desk, office or warehouse size |
| Visa cost | Charged per visa, tied to facility size and visa quota |
| Minimum share capital | No fixed minimum for most activities; some require a stated capital on the MOA |
| Corporate tax | Standard UAE corporate tax rules apply; free zone entities may qualify for 0% on qualifying income, confirm with a tax advisor |
| Nationality requirement | Open to any nationality |
| Residency requirement | Not required for the licence; required if applying for a UAE residence visa |
*Indicative only, based on published starting rates at the time of writing. Source for setup and regulatory detail: DAFZ (Dubai Airport Freezone) Authority, dafz.ae. Confirm current fees before publishing this page.
Our Story
Smart Zones® UAE has helped more than 45,000 clients worldwide set up, relocate and protect their interests across the UAE, backed by 13+ years of experience in company formation, residency, banking and family trust formation.
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Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment