Dubai free zone profile
DAFZA (Dubai Airport Free Zone)
Premium licences at the cargo doors of DXB. Located in Beside Dubai International Airport, Terminal 2 side.
From
AED 18,500
Setup
1 to 2 weeks
Ownership
100% foreign
Visas
Scales with office space
About DAFZA
DAFZA sits against the perimeter of Dubai International Airport, and that adjacency is its entire proposition. Freight clears from aircraft to free zone warehouse in hours, which is why electronics brands, pharmaceutical distributors and luxury goods firms concentrate here.
The zone is part of DIEZ, the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, alongside Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity. It positions itself at the premium end: office stock, service levels and tenant mix all sit a tier above the budget zones, and pricing reflects that.
For businesses that fly time-sensitive or high-value goods, the maths is straightforward: proximity to DXB's cargo terminals compresses lead times in a way no discount licence can.
Licence types at DAFZA
- Trading licence. Import, export and distribution of specified goods.
- Service licence. Consultancy, logistics and aviation services.
- Industrial licence. Light assembly and value-add processing.
Offices and facilities
- Smart desks
- Fitted offices
- Warehouses with airside logistics access
What DAFZA costs
Indicative first-year cost with a smart desk. Confirmed quote issued on application. Budget from AED 18,500 for the first year, then add visa allocations, medicals and Emirates ID per person, and workspace if you upgrade beyond the entry package. Renewals typically come in below year-one totals. Our costs page breaks down every line item, and your written quote fixes the numbers before you pay.
Questions
DAFZA questions, answered
Why pay DAFZA prices instead of a budget zone?
Because your goods land at DXB. If cargo speed, bonded storage and airport adjacency drive revenue, DAFZA pays for itself. If you never touch physical goods, a cheaper licence does the same legal job.
What is DIEZ?
The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, the umbrella over DAFZA, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity. It standardises regulation across the three and allows some shared benefits.
Can DAFZA companies trade in the UAE mainland?
Like all free zone companies, selling onshore requires a local distributor, a dual licence arrangement or paying customs duty at the border. We map the right route for your product before you licence.
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