Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ) Company Setup
Set up a company in Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ): licence types, company structures, office and warehouse options, visas, costs and DAFZ vs DMCC vs JAFZA.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-27
Quick answer
Dubai Airport Free Zone, commonly known as DAFZ or DAFZA, is a Dubai business free zone located beside Dubai International Airport. Companies can choose approved licence types, legal structures and workspace options based on their intended activities and operational requirements.
- Authority / zone
- DAFZ
- Emirate
- Dubai
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership available in free zones
- Price evidence
- Source-linked provider packages only
DAFZ's own setup journey is built around three decisions: the licence, the company type and the space. This guide follows the same order, then covers cost, visas and how DAFZ compares with DMCC and JAFZA.
Confirm every fee, activity and facility rule with DAFZ or an authorised provider before paying. We only show package prices that come from a verified provider source.
Current verified packages
These are provider package prices, not universal government fees. Each row preserves the published price basis, renewal disclosure and source date.
No currently verified package matches this authority. Browse all packages or request an itemised quote; Business Setup AE does not invent a price when a provider has not published one.
Compare verified packagesWhat is Dubai Airport Free Zone?
Dubai Airport Free Zone is a free zone in Dubai located next to Dubai International Airport (DXB). Companies licensed there can have 100% foreign ownership and operate from approved offices, warehouses or other facilities inside the zone. The authority issues the licence and sets the approved activity list.
DAFZ vs DAFZA: What Do the Names Mean?
DAFZA stands for Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, the name long used for the regulator. DAFZ is the shorter name the free zone now uses in its own branding. Both names refer to the same free zone beside Dubai International Airport; searching either leads to the same authority and setup process.
Companies in Dubai Airport Free Zone
We do not publish a list of named companies unless an official source confirms them. The zone's airport location makes it relevant to the sectors below; check DAFZ's own sector pages for current focus areas.
- Air-freight-dependent trading and distribution
- Aviation and aerospace-related services
- Technology and electronics
- Pharmaceuticals, healthcare products and high-value goods that benefit from fast air logistics
- Regional offices and professional services
Dubai Airport Free Zone Licence Types
DAFZ issues licences by activity group. Licence names and categories are set by the authority and can change, so confirm the current category for your exact activities on the official site.
| Licence category | Typical use | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Trading | Import, export, re-export and distribution | Goods list, storage needs, customs |
| Service / professional | Consultancy and service activities | Activity codes and external approvals |
| Industrial | Light manufacturing, assembly, packaging | Facility type and environmental approvals |
| E-commerce | Online sales activities | Fulfilment model and payment setup |
Dubai Airport Free Zone company setup cost
There is no single all-in Dubai Airport Free Zone price. The total depends on the licence type, number of activities, legal structure, workspace, visa count and any external approval. Figures below come only from current provider packages with a source link and verification date; packages whose prices are under review or conditional are not used as a starting price.
- Authority registration and licence fees
- Workspace or facility charge (flexi desk, office, warehouse or land)
- Establishment card and immigration file where visas are required
- Per-person visa, medical and Emirates ID processing
- External approvals for regulated activities
- Provider professional fee and VAT where applicable
- Year-two renewal of licence, facility and visas
How to Set Up a Company in DAFZ
The process follows the licence, company type and space choices. Company forms commonly include a free-zone establishment (FZE, single shareholder), a free-zone company (FZCO, multiple shareholders) and a branch of an existing company. See the step-by-step process further down this page.
Office and Warehouse Options
Space options range from flexible desks and serviced offices to office buildings, warehouses and light-industrial units. The space you choose affects which activities are approved and how many visas you can apply for, so choose it alongside the licence rather than afterwards.
DAFZ Visa Options
A licence does not include residence visas automatically. Visa eligibility depends on the workspace and package; each visa carries separate immigration, medical and Emirates ID charges unless a package clearly includes them.
DAFZ vs DMCC vs JAFZA
| Factor | DAFZ | DMCC | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Beside Dubai International Airport | Jumeirah Lakes Towers / Uptown Dubai | Jebel Ali, beside Jebel Ali Port |
| Logistics link | Air freight | Commodities ecosystem | Sea port and road freight |
| Typical fit | High-value, time-sensitive trade; tech; regional offices | Commodities, trading, professional firms | Large-scale logistics, industrial, re-export |
| Space | Offices, warehouses, light industrial | Offices, flexi options | Offices, warehouses, land |
Who this option suits best
- Businesses that move high-value or time-sensitive goods by air
- Technology, aviation and healthcare-product companies
- Companies wanting a regional office near DXB
Step-by-step process
- 1
Confirm activities
Check the intended activities against the authority's current list and identify any external approval.
- 2
Choose licence, legal structure and space
Select the licence type, company form and workspace that support the activities and planned visa quota.
- 3
Submit the application and KYC
Provide proposed trade names, shareholder and manager passports and the authority's application forms.
- 4
Review an itemised quotation
Separate authority, workspace, immigration and professional fees and get the renewal amount in writing.
- 5
Sign and receive the licence
Complete signing, pay the invoice and receive the licence and incorporation documents.
- 6
Visas, bank and tax
Open the immigration file, process visas, apply to a bank and complete corporate tax registration.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Authority application forms and any activity-specific approvals
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Activity and KYC review | Authority dependent |
| Licence and incorporation | After approval and payment |
| Immigration and visas | Separate process, if selected |
| Bank account | Bank decision; not guaranteed |
Prices change. Use the source link and verification date shown for each package, then obtain a final itemised quotation before paying.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Comparing headline prices only
Fix: Compare like-for-like activities, workspace, visas, exclusions and price basis.
Assuming visas are included
Fix: Confirm the quota and every immigration charge in writing.
Ignoring year-two costs
Fix: Ask for the renewal components before paying for year one.
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance notifications and reports applied only to financial years ending on or before 31 December 2022 — no new ESR filings are due for later years (Ministry of Finance).
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Latest UAE Free Zone Guides & Cost Updates
View all guidesCost of Business Setup in Dubai (2026 Breakdown)
Line-by-line Dubai company formation costs for 2026: trade licence, registration, establishment card, visas, office and VAT — with worked examples.
8 min read · Published Read guide CostMeydan Free Zone Licence Cost: Fees, Visas and Renewal Explained
What a Meydan Free Zone licence really costs — licence fees by package, visa and Establishment Card charges, renewal costs and the full setup process, step by step.
10 min read · Published Read guide JurisdictionFree Zone vs Mainland: Choosing the Right UAE Structure
A practical comparison of UAE free zone and mainland companies: ownership, cost, visas, market access, corporate tax and the customer test that decides it.
7 min read · Published Read guideFrequently asked questions
What is Dubai Airport Free Zone?
Are DAFZ and DAFZA the same?
How much does DAFZ company setup cost?
Does a DAFZ licence include visas?
People also ask
Does Business Setup AE issue the licence?
No. Business Setup AE is a comparison marketplace. DAFZ issues the licence; a provider handles only the services stated in its quotation.
What should I confirm before paying a provider?
Confirm the issuing authority, activity codes, price basis, exclusions, visa quota, workspace, refund terms and full renewal cost in writing.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three verified providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm bank-account support and which banks the provider actually opens with
- Register for corporate tax within the deadline after licence issuance
- Diarise your licence renewal date and UBO register updates
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Package prices are read from each provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and check date
- Government fee figures are cited to the published schedule of the relevant authority; where an authority does not publish a figure we say so instead of estimating
- We do not audit provider operations, licence standing or adviser credentials — see how we verify for exactly what a verification covers
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- DAFZ — official siteOfficial licence, company type and space options
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
- Federal Tax Authority — corporate tax and VATSource for the 9% corporate tax threshold and VAT registration limits
Topics covered
Get fixed quotes from verified providers
Tell us what you need once. Verified UAE formation firms reply with fixed, itemised pricing — usually within 15 minutes.
