IFZA (International Free Zone Authority)

About IFZA

IFZA has become the default recommendation for a reason. Licence fees sit at the low end of the Dubai market, the activity list is long, and the authority processes applications quickly. A consultant or trading company with clean paperwork can hold a licence within a week.

The zone operates from Dubai Silicon Oasis but does not require you to rent property there. Most clients start with the licence alone, add visa allocations as they hire, and upgrade to a physical office only when the team needs one. Licences allow multiple activities under one licence, which keeps costs down for founders who consult, trade and sell online at the same time.

IFZA companies can be 100 percent foreign owned, repatriate all profits, and open accounts with every major UAE bank. The zone also permits dual licensing arrangements for firms that later want a mainland presence.

Licence types at IFZA

• Professional licence. Consultancy and service activities, from management consulting to IT services.
• Commercial licence. Import, export, distribution and trading of specified goods.
• Industrial licence. Light manufacturing, assembly and packaging carried out within the zone.
• Holding licence. Holding shares in other companies and managing group assets.

Offices and facilities

• Virtual desk (included at entry level)
• Shared workstations
• Dedicated desks
• Private offices in Dubai Silicon Oasis

What IFZA costs

Indicative first-year cost for a zero-visa licence. Confirmed quote issued on application. Budget from AED 12,900 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.