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Dubai Free Zones are unique economic areas where foreign investors can tap into business opportunities in Dubai. Moreover, these areas provide foreigners with the power to establish a company in the UAE. Apart from Business Setup in Dubai Free Zone, there are countless advantages, like 100% ownership, tax incentives, customs privileges, and simplified administrative procedures that you may obtain by setting up a business in Dubai, UAE. These Dubai Free Zones cater to a wide range of industries, from e-commerce and logistics to technology and manufacturing. With Dubai’s strong economy, international connectivity, and investor-friendly regulations, UK business owners can launch and grow their business and access regional and global markets with ease.
When it comes to setting up a company in the Dubai free zone, there are more than 30 free zones where you can start your business in Dubai, UAE. So below is the list of the most popular and best Dubai Free Zones:
Jebel Ali Free Zone : This free zone is a free economic zone that is located in the western area of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, near Abu Dhabi. Therefore, the zone is the flagship free zone of DP World. In addition, this zone is an integral part of DP World UAE’s integrated business hub.
Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC): Dubai Multi Commodities Centre is the UAE’s largest free zone that is situated in the Jumeirah Lake Towers district of Dubai. Created in 2002, it is a commodities exchange that deals in four main industries: precious commodities, energy, steel, and metals, along with agricultural commodities.
Dubai Airport Free Zone: This free zone, additionally popular as the DAFZ free zone, is a designated free economic zone in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the free zones provide foreigners with company formation and business setup services in Dubai. Moreover, Dubai Airport Free Zone is a hub of over 2,000 registered businesses from 20+ sectors and countless industries, with 20,000+ professionals.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): The UAE government passed a foreign direct investment (FDI) law in 2018 to stimulate investment. Those changes will not only make it easier for businesses to set up shop here, but will make things much faster for those businesses that already do so. The law allows foreign companies to own up to a 100% share of their companies, among other provisions, to benefit foreign investors.
Dubai International Finance Center (DIFC): Dubai International Finance Centre serves as a unique free zone in Dubai and covers 272 acres of land in Dubai. Moreover, in 2004, Dubai created the DIFC free zone as a financial hub to cater to companies operating in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) markets. Moreover, the free zone houses financial institutions, wealth funds, and retail and hotel space dedicated to the free zone.
Choose the right free zone with Flyingcolour based on your business activity, budget, and preferred location. For UK business owners, selecting the appropriate jurisdiction is crucial to access sector-specific advantages.
Determine your business type. Whether it's IT services, import-export, consultancy, or e-commerce, clearly defining your activity will help streamline the licence selection process.
Submit the required documents. This usually includes passport copies, proof of address and business plan — UK citizens also need to submit attested documents as per UAE regulations.
Submit the necessary documents. This typically includes copies of your passport, proof of address, and a business plan — UK nationals must also provide attested documents in line with UAE regulations..
Submit the initial approval application. This step ensures your business activity, shareholders, and chosen trade name are pre-approved before the final licence is granted.
Sign the lease agreement for your office or warehouse space in the free zone. Options range from flexi‑desks to dedicated commercial units suitable for UK startups and large enterprises.
Once your application is submitted, you will receive your free zone trade licence, and your company will be officially registered in Dubai under the selected free zone jurisdiction.
If you plan to operate your business in a dynamic city with business entrepreneurs from all over the world, the Dubai free zone can be the right choice for this. Moreover, these free zones offer 100% ownership of higher enterprise, with a chance to expand to hire a local sponsor. Additionally, the benefits of no tax on personal and corporate income allow you to earn higher revenue with everything needed for your business, from a skilled workforce to modern office space, which leaves no chance to lessen your enthusiasm. You have every opportunity to thrive and expand your network in Dubai’s free zones.
Business activities play a significant role in entering a market or any location. Suppose you have chosen a specific location, but to your dismay, it doesn’t align with your business objectives, which in turn will be a big risk. You can only choose the right free zone if you already have a plan set up for your business, including listed business activities and types of business management to have a strong base in Dubai’s free zone for diverse clients. Additionally, in the Dubai free zone, you can collaborate with different organizations that serve the same purpose. Suppose you are running an e-commerce business. For this, you will need the delivery services of a logistics firm. Therefore, come up with the right choice of activity for your business to further expand your business operations.
Deciding on the right type of business activity from the start is of great importance. While this may seem like a daunting task, it is very significant to determine one so that you have a trade license according to it. Moreover, the benefit of multiple activities in each free zone attracts more entrepreneurs.
Choose a suitable free zone location for your free zone company that would fulfill your business needs overall. Suppose you have an export and import business, then a location that has the connectivity of airports, seaports, and express roads will be ideal for your business. Moreover, locations like JAFZA can also be the right choice for export and import businesses. Why is this important? Because it determines whether or not your employees, clients, and customers have easy access to your business.
While each free zone has different kinds of facilities, it is still up to you what type of facility you are looking for. Choose the facility that is capable of fulfilling your business needs. Also, check the budget that be will set for your business. For your start-up business, choose the best free zone that provides the facilities of well-established office space, hotels, and racetracks.
Calculate the overall cost and investment you are going to put into your business setup in the Dubai free zone. Determine the cost of share capital, and if you don’t intend to deposit share capital, then choose a free zone such as JAFZA that comes with zero paid-up capital. Additionally, your overall cost will be influenced by factors like the number of visas and the facility you have chosen to operate the business.
Flyingcolour Business Setup provides you with excellent business setup services. In addition to this, our experts can help you choose the right Freezone in Dubai because we can help you at every stage of business setup in the Dubai free zone.
There are so many Dubai free zones, but the following are widely used and very popular free zones.