IFZA.
International Free Zone Authority — the default for solo founders and small teams in Dubai.
IFZA is the workhorse free zone of the UAE: fast, flexible, low-friction, and increasingly accepted by major banks. We file IFZA companies for solo founders, consultants and small operating businesses every week, and have built our process around the regulator's modern digital workflow.
When IFZA is the right answer.
- Solo founders running a consulting, SaaS or services business
- Small teams (2–9 people) needing UAE residency visas
- International clients only — no UAE retail or government sales
- Founders prioritising speed and low fixed cost over premium address
- Digital businesses where a flexi-desk arrangement is sufficient
When IFZA is the wrong answer.
- Selling directly to UAE consumers (use Dubai Mainland instead)
- Regulated financial services (use DIFC or ADGM)
- VC-raised startups needing English common law (use ADGM)
- Trading in commodities (use DMCC for sector recognition)
- Logistics / industrial requiring port access (use JAFZA)
What you actually pay, line by line.
Below is the all-in cost for the standard ArxSetup IFZA Founder package, including government fees and our professional fee. Every quote we send is itemised this way.
| Line item | Year 1 | Year 2 onwards |
|---|---|---|
| IFZA government licence fee (1 visa quota, 3 activities) | USD 4,200 | USD 4,200 |
| IFZA establishment card | USD 580 | USD 580 |
| Digital flexi-desk allocation | Included | Included |
| ArxSetup professional fee | USD 4,420 | USD 2,540 |
| MOA & share certificate (digital) | Included | — |
| 2 private bank introductions | Included | — |
| UBO & goAML registration | USD 920 | USD 600 (UBO) |
| All-in total | USD 10,120 | USD 7,920 |
Not included: residency visa government fees (approximately USD 1,100 per visa including Emirates ID, medical and stamping), UAE Corporate Tax registration (USD 550 if not already engaged on our Operator retainer), VAT registration if turnover exceeds threshold (USD 950). All optional and quoted separately.
Five to seven days, door to licence.
- Day 1
Enquiry & engagement letter
You submit the enquiry form. A partner reviews same day, sends a written structure note and the engagement letter for counter-signature. KYC pack delivered to your email.
- Day 2
Documents uploaded
You upload notarised passport, address proof and signature samples to the secure client portal. We arrange any required attestation through our Dubai notary partner.
- Day 3
IFZA filing
We file your application directly with the IFZA portal — no sub-agent, no resold licence. Application is allocated to a regulator officer within 24 hours.
- Days 4–5
Regulator review
IFZA reviews the application. We monitor and respond to any queries the same day. The regulator typically completes review in 48 hours for clean applications.
- Day 6
Licence issuance
Trade licence, MOA and share certificate issued and delivered digitally. Establishment card issued the same day if visa quota requested.
- Day 7+
Bank introductions
We send the bank KYC pack and introduce you to two partner banks matched to your activity. Digital banks open in 5–10 days; Tier 1 banks in 3–6 weeks.
What we need from you.
Six items, mostly digital. We arrange notarisation and attestation where required.
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01
Passport copy
Colour, clear, all pages. We require notarisation for non-UAE residents.
-
02
Address proof
Utility bill, bank statement or government document dated within 90 days.
-
03
CV / professional background
A short CV or LinkedIn URL for KYC source-of-wealth narrative.
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04
Specimen signature
On a blank page, scanned. Used on regulator forms.
-
05
Proposed company name (3 options)
In order of preference. We check availability and naming-convention compliance.
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06
Business activity description
A short description; we map it to IFZA's 1,500+ activity codes.
Where IFZA companies typically bank.
IFZA's reputation with UAE banks has improved markedly since 2024. We have strong relationships at the banks below and a 96% first-attempt success rate for IFZA clients.
Wio
Digital-first SME bank. Built for free-zone companies. Opens in 5–7 days.
Mashreq Neo Biz
Mashreq's digital SME arm. Free zone friendly. Multi-currency from opening.
RAKBANK
SME-focused traditional bank. Strong international transfer rates.
Emirates NBD
Tier 1 UAE bank. Slower (4–6 weeks) but strong reputation and global reach.
Wise Business
Multi-currency global account. Often opened alongside UAE banking for FX.
Revolut Business
EU-licensed digital bank. Suited to clients with significant European activity.
IFZA vs Meydan vs DMCC, compared.
The three Dubai free zones we are asked about most. There is no single winner — choose by activity, address requirement and banking ambition.
| Feature | IFZA | Meydan | DMCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in from | USD 10,120 | USD 10,120 | USD 17,800 |
| Time to licence | 5–7 days | 4–6 days | 10–15 days |
| Address | IFZA Business Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis | Sheikh Zayed Road | JLT, central Dubai |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 3 (standard) | Unlimited (office-based) |
| Min. capital | None | None | USD 13,600 |
| Audit | Optional | Optional | Required |
| Bank acceptance | High | Medium | Very high |
| Prestige / brand | Modest | Strong (Sheikh Zayed Road) | Very strong (most-awarded) |
| Best for | Solo / small team | E-commerce / digital | Premium / commodities / banking-led |
IFZA in data.
The top ten source countries account for the majority of IFZA Free Zone applications, with the top ten licensed activities covering the bulk of what those founders set up. Each page below covers the country-specific tax / banking / visa position, or the activity-specific QFZP / VAT / cost classification.
India
1.7m Indian residents in UAE; LRS funding path; DTAA in force since 1993
United Kingdom
240k British residents in UAE; SRT-controlled tax exit; DTC 2016
France
30k French residents; exit-tax planning required; DTC 1993
Germany
12k German residents; §6 AStG exit-tax; CFC scrutiny; DTC 2010
Spain
Growing community; exit-tax above EUR 4m; DTC 2006
Pakistan
1.7m Pakistani residents in UAE; no comprehensive CFC; DTA 1994
Turkey
6-month residency rule; CFC at 10% threshold; DTA 1995
Netherlands
Box 3 wealth-tax driver; CFC 2019; DTC 2010
Italy
AIRE registration path; DTC 1997; fashion / lifestyle brand focus
Canada
Departure tax planning; FAPI CFC; Tax Convention 2004
Management Consultancy
Strategy, M&A advisory, transaction services
Ecommerce
D2C brands, Amazon UAE / Noon sellers
Marketing Management
Agency / brand-strategy operations
Investment in Commercial Enterprises
Family-office holding vehicles
IT Consultancy
Technology consulting and DevOps
Project Management Services
Engineering / construction PMO
General Trading
Import-export / distribution
Marketing Services via Social Media
Influencer / content agencies
Computer System (Software Design)
SaaS / product engineering
Commercial Broker
Manufacturer reps / introduction agents
Hubs: Setup by country · Activity directory. See the country page for tax / banking / visa specifics; see the activity page for QFZP / VAT / cost specifics.
Itemised cost guides.
Prepared and reviewed by qualified counsel within ArxSetup and our affiliated practices, Neo Legal (UAE) and Cornwalls (Australia). Figures verified against primary regulator sources. Last reviewed: May 2026. How we review →
Common questions on IFZA.
These are the questions UAE-resident founders most often ask before signing an engagement letter. Each answer is current as of 2026 and reviewed by our incorporation team.
How much does it cost to set up an IFZA company in 2026?
From USD 10,120 all-in for year one — IFZA government licence (USD 4,200), establishment card (USD 800), one investor visa (USD 1,300), medical and Emirates ID (USD 320), plus ArxSetup professional fee. Year-two renewals are roughly USD 7,920.
How long does IFZA company registration take?
3–5 working days from KYC submission to issued trade licence. Full visa stamping (medical, Emirates ID, biometrics) adds a further 7–10 working days.
Does IFZA require a physical office?
No — a flexi-desk satisfies the IFZA licence requirement and supports up to 6 visas. A private office is only needed if you need to scale beyond 6 visas or want client-facing premises.
How many visas can an IFZA company have?
Up to 6 visas on a flexi-desk package; beyond 6, you must upgrade to a private office within IFZA or migrate the licence to a free zone with larger visa quotas.
Does IFZA allow 100% foreign ownership?
Yes — 100% foreign ownership, full capital and profit repatriation, with no UAE national partner or sponsor required for any IFZA activity.
What is the IFZA corporate tax rate?
IFZA entities are 0% UAE Corporate Tax on qualifying free-zone income under the QFZP regime; 9% applies only on non-qualifying income above AED 375,000 (USD 102,100).
How many business activities can I add to one IFZA licence?
Up to seven activities on a single licence, freely combinable across Consulting, Service, and Trading categories from IFZA's 2,500+ activity catalogue.
Is IFZA cheaper than DMCC?
Yes — IFZA's entry-level package is roughly USD 7,000 cheaper than DMCC in year one (USD 10,120 vs USD 17,800), with no mandatory office lease. DMCC wins on banking acceptance and JLT prestige.
Can I set up an IFZA company remotely from outside the UAE?
Yes — registration is fully online and shareholders never need to travel. A short UAE visit is required only if you opt into a residence-visa package for medical, biometrics, and Emirates ID issuance.
What is the IFZA renewal cost in 2026?
Year-two renewal is approximately USD 7,920 all-in, including IFZA government renewal, establishment-card renewal, visa renewal, and ArxSetup retainer.
Can an IFZA company open a UAE bank account?
Yes — Mashreq Neo Biz, WIO, RAKBANK and Emirates NBD all onboard IFZA companies. KYC typically takes 4–8 weeks; IFZA's flexi-desk-only status occasionally triggers extra due-diligence questions versus DMCC.
What documents are required for IFZA setup?
Passport copies of all shareholders, digital passport photo, completed application form, UBO declaration, and Emirates ID if the shareholder is already a UAE resident. KYC is fully digital.
Can an IFZA company sponsor family visas?
Yes — once the owner's investor visa is issued and the salary threshold is met (AED 4,000/month for spouse and children; AED 20,000 for parents), dependents can be sponsored on the IFZA establishment card.
What is the difference between IFZA and Meydan Free Zone?
IFZA sits in Dubai Silicon Oasis with a broader activity list (2,500+) and 7 activities per licence; Meydan sits in MBR City (Downtown postcode) with 2,500+ activities but only 3 activity groups per licence. IFZA is typically USD 1,000–2,000 cheaper on multi-year terms.
Is IFZA a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP)?
Yes — IFZA is a Designated Zone under the UAE Corporate Tax law. An IFZA company can qualify as a QFZP and access the 0% rate on qualifying income provided it meets adequate substance, transfer-pricing, and audited-financials conditions.
Quick answers on IFZA.
Is IFZA the cheapest free zone in Dubai?
IFZA is the cheapest Dubai free zone with full 6-visa quota, full activity flexibility, and DDA-style credibility. Cheaper packages exist (Meydan Fawri, RAKEZ, SHAMS) but typically with activity or visa limits.
How many days to get an IFZA licence?
3–5 working days from full KYC submission. Add 7–10 days for visa stamping if you take a residence package.
What is the address on an IFZA licence?
IFZA Business Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, UAE — a Designated Zone for UAE Corporate Tax purposes.
How IFZA stacks up.
The most common shortlists we see for IFZA candidates, and the reason each appears. Each link opens the dedicated jurisdiction page.
IFZA vs DMCC
From USD 17,800 — JLT free zone, mandatory office, strongest banking.
Why people compare: prestige + banking.
Open DMCC pageIFZA vs Meydan
From USD 10,120 — MBR City free zone, Downtown postcode, Fawri 60-min licence.
Why people compare: Downtown postcode.
Open Meydan pageIFZA vs JAFZA
From USD 30,000 — Jebel Ali Port free zone, logistics & warehousing, onshore & offshore.
Why people compare: logistics + warehousing.
Open JAFZA pageIFZA vs Dubai Mainland
From USD 16,000 — DET LLC, UAE-wide trade, government contracts.
Why people compare: UAE-wide retail trade.
Open Dubai Mainland pageReady to file your IFZA company this week?
Submit our enquiry form. A partner will respond within one business day with an itemised quote and a structure note. No charge for the first conversation.