Experience hassle-free business setup with full ownership, zero taxes, and fast-track setup in Dubai’s top Freezones. At Universus Consulting, we help you choose the right Freezone and handle the entire process with all paperwork, so you can focus on scaling your vision.
Advantage
Our Process
We assess your business goals and recommend the ideal Freezone that matches your industry and budget.
Choose from a wide list of approved business activities and select the right license category (commercial, professional, industrial, etc.).
Sit back and relax! We'll help you get your company name reserved and approved by the relevant Freezone authority.
We handle all the paperwork and submit your application along with the required fees.
If we're on board, you don't have to worry about anything. Your business license is issued within a few working days.
We assist with applying for investor and employee visas and help open a corporate bank account with a trusted UAE bank.
A Freezone Company is an entity established within a designated zone that offers tax exemptions, full foreign ownership, and simplified procedures. It’s ideal for businesses focused on import/export or digital services.
Here is why the Freezone in Dubai has always been attractive to business:
No, a Freezone company is typically limited to operating within the Freezone or internationally. To trade directly in the UAE mainland, you’d need to appoint a local distributor or open a mainland branch.
Zones like IFZA, SHAMS, and Meydan Free Zone are popular among startups due to their flexible packages, quick setup processes, and support for a wide range of business activities.
Depending on the Freezone, it can take anywhere between 2 to 7 working days, provided all required documents are ready and submitted correctly.
Freezone business setup in Dubai involves determining the legal entity (such as FZ LLC or FZE), choosing a trade name, applying for a business license, selecting office space, and obtaining pre-approvals, registration, and the license from the freezone authority. The process is streamlined, often requiring minimal paperwork and taking 5-15 working days depending on the zone and activity
Freezone business setup in Dubai offers 100% foreign ownership, full repatriation of profits and capital, exemptions from corporate and personal income taxes, no customs duties on imports/exports, and streamlined visa processes. It also provides world-class infrastructure and the ability to operate in both freezones and mainland with options like dual licenses in zones such as Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Freezone business setup in Dubai offers licenses such as trading for buying/selling goods, service for consulting or IT, industrial for manufacturing, and professional for specialized fields like engineering or healthcare. Zones like DWTC also provide general trading, dual (for mainland access), and specific options tailored to industries including e-commerce, fintech, and medical tourism
Office space requirements for freezone business setup in Dubai vary by zone; some mandate physical offices (minimum 15-42 sq m for executive suites), while others allow flexi-desks (20-30 sq m shared spaces) or virtual offices for cost efficiency. Costs range from AED 5,000-100,000 annually, influencing visa quotas, for example, larger spaces enable more employee visas, and lease agreements are prepared by the freezone authority. Zones like Dubai World Trade Centre offer flexible options from shared desks to full floors
The visa process for freezone business setup in Dubai starts after company registration and license issuance, involving an entry permit application, medical fitness test, Emirates ID registration, and health insurance. Investors can sponsor their own residence visas (typically 1-3 years), while employee visas require company sponsorship and are quota-based on office size, with costs around AED 3,000-6,000 per visa including tests and ID. Processing usually takes 2-4 weeks, and freelancers may need simpler documents like a CV and bank reference
Dubai freezones allow over 2,500 business activities, including trading (imports/exports), consulting/services, industrial/manufacturing, e-commerce, media, education, IT/software development, and specialized options like fintech or medical tourism. Activities must align with the zone's focus—such as commodities in DMCC or knowledge-based in Dubai Knowledge Village—and can be mixed on a single license, but retail in the local market often requires mainland access or agents. Regulated activities (e.g., healthcare) need external approvals.
Blog Insight
Freezone Business Setup in the UAE involves establishing a company within one of the country’s designated free zones, which are specialized economic areas offering 100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions, and streamlined processes. Free zones are ideal for businesses focused on international trade, technology, logistics, or services, providing access to world-class infrastructure, customs benefits, and flexible licensing. Each free zone, such as DMCC, JAFZA, or RAKEZ, caters to specific industries and offers tailored facilities like offices, warehouses, or co-working spaces.
Free zone licenses are generally valid for one year and renewed annually, requiring compliance with the free zone’s regulations, a valid facility lease, and payment of renewal fees. Many free zones provide online portals to manage renewals, amendments, and visa updates efficiently.
By selecting the right free zone, aligning activities with business goals, and budgeting for setup and operational costs, Freezone Business Setup provides a scalable, tax-efficient platform for global expansion from the UAE’s dynamic economic hubs.
