IFZA Company Setup

Yes, within limits. IFZA typically lets you hold up to three activities under one licence at no extra charge, and combinations across related activities are usually possible. Adding more, or mixing very different categories, may carry an additional fee or need a specific licence type.

One practical tip: your activities should match what you'll actually invoice, since banks check this at account opening. We can map the right combination or a general trading licence to your real business model.

The entry point is a zero-visa licence, starting from around AED 12,900 - ideal for solo founders who already hold UAE residency or don't need a visa yet. It gives you a Dubai-registered company, a flexi-desk address, and no physical office requirement.

A professional or consultancy licence sits at the lower end; general trading costs more. We can give you an exact quote for your activity and confirm whether a multi-year package works out cheaper.

Yes, for the company itself. Incorporation - KYC, document signing, and licence issuance - can be completed remotely, with the licence usually issued in three to five working days.

The exception is the residence visa: if you take one, you'll need a short visit for your medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. Most banks also prefer an in-person meeting to open an account. If you don't need a visa, you can stay fully remote. We handle the whole process for you.

For a Dubai address, it's among the most competitive. IFZA is well known as a cost-effective route to a general trading licence in Dubai, typically undercutting premium zones like DMCC by a wide margin.

To be candid: the general trading activity carries a surcharge (roughly AED 10,000 a year) over a standard IFZA licence, and zones outside Dubai in Sharjah or the northern emirates can be cheaper overall. IFZA's edge is combining that competitive price with a Dubai presence. We can compare zones against your priorities.

No. IFZA requires no paid-up share capital and no bank proof of funds to set up - one of the reasons it's popular with startups and remote founders who want to stay lean.

You won't need to deposit or show capital to get your licence. This keeps your entry cost low and your setup simple, and we can have you incorporated quickly with minimal documentation.

Yes. You can increase your visa quota and add activities after setup through a licence amendment. The price steps up per additional visa slot, and activity changes carry an amendment fee.

One thing to plan for: going above three visas usually means upgrading from a flexi-desk to an office. If you already know you'll hire in year one, buying the right tier upfront is often cheaper than upgrading mid-term. We can advise on the most cost-effective path.

The main difference is simply how many residence visas you can issue - one, two, or three - with the package price rising for each added slot. All three keep you office-free, using just a flexi-desk or registered address rather than a physical office.

Up to three visas, no dedicated office is required. Beyond that, you'd move to an office package. We can match the visa count to your immediate team and leave room to scale.

Yes. IFZA is one of the most popular zones for e-commerce and digital startups, thanks to its low entry cost, fast licensing, and a dedicated e-commerce activity. The flexi-desk model keeps overheads down for online-first businesses that don't need physical premises.

You can also bundle e-commerce with related activities under one licence. We can set up the right licence for your online model, from retail to digital services.

Yes. Once your own residence visa is active, you can sponsor dependents - spouse, children, and in some cases parents - subject to the standard salary and housing requirements.

Your visa quota and package determine how many visas you can issue overall, so it's worth planning family sponsorship into your setup from the start. We handle investor, employee, and dependent visas end to end.