An IFZA company gives you a Dubai free zone licence with 100% foreign ownership, commercial and professional activities on one licence and a business address in Dubai Silicon Oasis. IFZA says it hosts more than 65,000 businesses, it issues licences in around five working days, and the whole setup can be done remotely.
The hard part is the price and the rules. IFZA publishes no price list, so every licence cost you see is a partner's quote, and packages for the same visa count differ by thousands of dirhams. Since 30 September 2025, every IFZA company must also file financial statements to renew, and many guides still leave that out.
This is where we come in. We form your IFZA company ourselves, so the whole IFZA company formation runs through one team: the activities, the application, the licence, the visas and the bank account. You get one clear quote, a clean file and a licence in about a week.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
Still choosing a free zone? Read our guide to free zone company formation in the UAE.
Why Choose IFZA Company Formation
IFZA company formation suits founders who want a Dubai licence, full ownership and a flexible activity list at a lower cost than the premium free zones. IFZA, the International Free Zone Authority, operates inside Dubai Silicon Oasis under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, and its companies are formed under the DIEZA regulations.
A Dubai Address and Licence
IFZA Dubai is the name most founders know it by. IFZA moved to Dubai in 2020 under an agreement with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, and its companies operate from Dubai Digital Park and the wider DSO area. You get a Dubai free zone licence and address, which matters to customers and banks more than a licence from a smaller emirate. Our guide to free zone company formation in Dubai compares the Dubai zones.
100% Foreign Ownership and Low Capital
An IFZA free zone company can be owned entirely by foreign individuals or companies, with no UAE partner. The DIEZA regulations set the minimum share capital at AED 1, with shares at least 25% paid up, and IFZA does not ask for a bank deposit certificate. Guides that promise "zero capital" are not quite right, but the capital is no barrier.
Set Up an IFZA Free Zone Company
An IFZA company is quick to set up when the activities and the file are right. This is what we do for you.
- We form it ourselves: Application, licence and immigration file, one team.
- Activities mapped first: Commercial and professional activities chosen before you pay.
- Remote setup: No visit to Dubai needed for the licence.
- Fast licence: Issued in around five working days from a complete file.
- Visas handled: Establishment card, entry permit, medical and Emirates ID.
- Bank file ready: Our partners open a multi-currency account in days.
- Clear pricing, no surprises: Every IFZA and visa cost in one written quote.
Commercial and Professional Activities Together
IFZA lets you combine commercial and professional activities under one licence, which many free zones do not. A standard IFZA licence includes up to three business activities, with the option to add more, and a general trading licence is also available.
Fast, Remote Setup
IFZA says it issues legal permits in around five working days and offers fully remote company formation, with no physical presence needed during incorporation. Only the visa steps, such as the medical and Emirates ID biometrics, need you in the UAE.
A Large Business Community
IFZA reported more than 65,000 businesses and 2,500 authorised agents in January 2026. For a founder, that means banks and service providers already know IFZA Dubai companies and their documents. Our guide to business setup in Dubai sets IFZA against the other routes.
IFZA Company Types
The DIEZA Implementing Regulations 2023 allow two company forms and branches. An FZE is recognised as an FZCO under Regulation 8.2, so guides that list an FZE, a sole proprietorship or an LLC as IFZA options are out of date.
Free Zone Company (FZCO)
The FZCO is the standard IFZA free zone company. It needs one or more shareholders, with no maximum set in the regulations, minimum capital of AED 1 and shares at least 25% paid up. It can be owned by individuals or companies of any nationality. Choose it unless you have a specific reason not to.
Branch of a Foreign or UAE Company
A branch is a legally dependent part of its parent company and has no shareholders of its own. It suits established groups that want their Dubai operations to sit inside the parent, with the parent carrying the liabilities.
Public Limited Company
A PLC needs issued capital of at least AED 250,000 at all times. It suits larger ventures with many investors; few founders need it at the start.
Beneficial Owner Declarations
Every IFZA free zone company declares its ultimate beneficial owners at formation, every year and at each renewal, and must notify changes within 14 days under Regulation 22.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
IFZA Activity List and Licence Types
The IFZA activity list is searchable on IFZA's own activity tool, and IFZA groups its licences into commercial, professional, general trading and branch registration. Agents quote the total number of IFZA activities anywhere from 500 to more than 2,000, so check your exact activity on the tool rather than trusting a headline number.
Commercial Licence
A commercial licence covers trading and commercial activities, from e-commerce and food and beverage trading to travel agency, tourism and investment in commercial enterprises.
Professional Licence
A professional licence covers services such as consulting, marketing, IT, design and management. IFZA allows commercial and professional activities on the same licence, which suits founders who both sell and advise.
General Trading Licence
A general trading licence lets the company trade a wide range of goods rather than one product line. It usually costs more than a standard commercial licence, so take it only if you need the breadth.
Choosing IFZA Activities
A standard licence includes up to three IFZA activities, with the option to apply for more at an extra cost. Check each one against the IFZA activity list before you choose. The activities you choose decide which approvals you need, how banks see your company and whether any regulated approval applies, so choose them before the application, not after. Regulated activities, such as financial services or crypto, need approval from their own regulator, as our guide to a crypto licence in Dubai explains.
IFZA Company Formation for Non-Residents
IFZA company formation for non-residents is the normal case. You can own 100% of an IFZA free zone company, form it remotely and run it from abroad. The visa and the bank are the two steps where living abroad makes a difference.
Remote Incorporation
IFZA offers fully remote company formation, with documents submitted on its portal and signed electronically. Corporate shareholder documents from abroad need attestation, which IFZA says can take 2 to 3 weeks.
A Visa Is Optional
You do not need a UAE visa to own an IFZA company. If you want one, the company sponsors it after the licence, and the medical and Emirates ID biometrics need you in the UAE. IFZA's basic visa fee is AED 3,750, and its Visa for Life promotion covers that fee for the first visa and its renewals on eligible companies.
Banking From Abroad
Most UAE banks want a signatory who lives in the UAE. Until a visa is issued, our partners open a multi-currency account online with no resident signatory. Our guide to opening a business bank account in Dubai for non-residents explains the options.
Set Up an IFZA Company From Abroad
You can own and run an IFZA company without living in the UAE. This is how we keep it simple.
- No residency rule: Foreign owners hold 100% from day one.
- Remote setup: Documents filed online, no trip to Dubai for the licence.
- Visa planned properly: One short trip for biometrics, only if you want a visa.
- Attestation handled: Corporate papers from abroad prepared early.
- Bank file ready: Our partners open an account with no resident signatory.
- One point of contact: No back-and-forth emails across time zones.
IFZA Business Park Offices
IFZA offers a range of workspaces at IFZA Business Park in Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis, from a shared flexi desk to a private office. The office you choose affects your address, your meeting space and, at most free zones, how many visas you can hold.
Flexi Desk
The entry option at IFZA Business Park is a shared workstation with 10 hours of access a week, an IFZA address and one hour of meeting room use a month. It suits founders who work remotely and need a Dubai address.
Flexi Desk Plus
Unlimited access to your own dedicated desk, an individual address, five hours of meeting room use a month and one parking space.
Dedicated Workspace and Private Office
A dedicated workspace adds conference room time, and a private office gives you a closed room with seven hours of meeting room and two hours of conference room use a month. IFZA also offers personalised offices for larger teams.
Offices and Visas
IFZA does not publish a fixed visa allowance per office type. Plan the visa count with the office before you apply, using our guide to free zone visa quota and costs, and do not rely on the one visa per 9 square metres rule that some guides repeat, which has no IFZA source.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
How to Register an IFZA Company
IFZA company registration runs through IFZA's online portal, and we run each step for you. From a complete file, IFZA issues the licence in around five working days.
Choose the Activities and the Package
We confirm your IFZA activities, the licence type, the visa count and the office, and check any activity that needs outside approval.
Submit the Application
We submit your documents on the IFZA portal, including the application form with the beneficial owner details, passport copies and photos for each shareholder, and the corporate documents for any company shareholder.
Sign the Legal Forms
IFZA issues two electronic legal forms for signature. Once they are signed, IFZA approves the licence and issues the certificate of formation and the trade licence.
Establishment Card and Visas
After the licence, the company opens its immigration file with an establishment card and applies for visas. Each visa involves an entry permit, a change of status if you are in the UAE, a medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.
Bank Account and Tax Registration
We prepare the bank file and register the company for corporate tax within 3 months of the licence, or the company pays an AED 10,000 penalty. Our guide to UAE corporate tax for companies explains the rules.
Full-Service IFZA Company Registration
From the first call to the licence, one team runs your IFZA company registration.
- Filings done for you: Application, legal forms and licence handled.
- KYC pack prepared: We tell you what we need and build the file.
- Faster than going direct: One complete file, so no rounds of questions.
- Immigration file opened: Establishment card and visas in the right order.
- Renewal ready: Financial statements planned for the first renewal.
- Deadlines on our calendar: Tax registration and UBO declarations tracked.
Documents Needed for IFZA Company Formation
IFZA's document list is short for individuals and longer for company shareholders. Corporate documents from abroad need attestation, which can take 2 to 3 weeks, so we start it in the first week.
For Each Individual Shareholder
- A passport copy
- A digital passport photo
- The IFZA application form with beneficial owner details
- An Emirates ID and visa, for shareholders who live in the UAE
For a Corporate Shareholder
- Passport copies and photos of each shareholder and the general manager
- A notarised board resolution approving the new company
- The memorandum and articles of association, or equivalent
- A valid trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Any third-party approvals the activity needs
IFZA License Cost in 2026
IFZA publishes no price list and tells applicants to ask an IFZA partner for a quote, so the IFZA license cost depends on who you ask. Our IFZA company formation service starts from €1,899, covering activity and licence advice, your KYC pack, the application, the licence and the immigration file, confirmed in writing before you pay. The IFZA package and visa costs are listed in the same quote.
What Agents Quote for IFZA Packages
The most repeated agent price ladder for a one-year IFZA licence runs from AED 12,900 with no visa to AED 20,900 with four visas. Other agents quote different ladders for the same visa counts, so treat these as market figures, not IFZA prices.
Visa package | Common agent quote, 1-year licence |
|---|---|
No visa | AED 12,900 |
1 visa | AED 14,900 |
2 visas | AED 16,900 |
3 visas | AED 18,900 |
4 visas | AED 20,900 |
Agents also advertise multi-year licences with discounts of up to 20% for three years and up to 30% for five. Ask for the price of each item, not only the package total. Our guide to the cost of business setup in Dubai compares lanes.
Realistic First-Year Cost
Cost item | When it is paid | Typical amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
IFZA company formation with Binderr | Once, before filing | From €1,899 | Activity advice, KYC pack, application, licence and immigration file |
IFZA licence package | At formation, then yearly | About AED 12,900 to AED 20,900, by visa count | The licence, registration and the package's visa allocation |
Extra activities | At formation | Quoted with your setup | Activities beyond the three in a standard licence |
Establishment card | At setup, then yearly | About AED 2,000 in agent quotes | The company's immigration file |
Visa per person | Per visa | IFZA basic visa fee AED 3,750, plus medical and Emirates ID | The residence visa and its checks |
Office upgrade | Yearly | Quoted with your setup | Flexi Desk Plus, dedicated desk or private office |
Financial statements at renewal | Yearly | Quoted with your setup | Simplified or audited statements IFZA now requires |
Corporate tax registration and return | Within 3 months, then yearly | No FTA fee to register | The return due 9 months after the tax period ends |
Business account | Monthly | €30 to €100 a month with our partners | A multi-currency account with no minimum balance |
Realistic first-year total | Year one | About AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 | A small company with one or two visas |
The IFZA license cost moves most with the visa count, the office and the financial statements. A company with no visas on a flexi desk sits at the bottom; a company with several visas, a private office and audited accounts sits above the range.
IFZA Costs by Company Profile
Company profile | Realistic first year | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|
Consultant with no visa, flexi desk | About AED 13,000 to AED 16,000 | The base licence package |
Founder with one visa | About AED 18,000 to AED 22,000 | Visa, medical and Emirates ID |
Small team with three visas | About AED 30,000 to AED 38,000 | Visa count and a larger office |
General trading company | Quoted with your setup | General trading activity and more activities |
Regulated activity | Quoted separately | Outside approvals from the regulator |
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
How Long IFZA Company Formation Takes
IFZA says a company usually takes around one week to register and that legal permits are issued in around five working days. The visas and the bank account follow after the licence.
Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
Activities, package and office agreed | 1 to 2 days |
Documents submitted on the portal | 1 to 2 days |
Legal forms signed and licence issued | Around 5 working days |
Attestation of corporate documents | 2 to 3 weeks, where needed |
Establishment card and first visa | Around 1 to 3 weeks after the licence |
Business account with our partners | Usually 2 to 4 days from a complete file |
What Slows It Down
Delays come from activities that need outside approval, corporate documents attested late, unsigned legal forms and visa applicants who cannot travel for the medical and biometrics.
How to Speed It Up
Confirm the activities before filing, start attestation in week one and plan any visa trip in advance. Open a partner account as soon as the licence issues, so the company can invoice while visas are processed.
IFZA Company Formation From €1,899
One quote, one team and an IFZA licence in about a week, with every cost listed before you pay.
- Everything included: Advice, KYC pack, application, licence and immigration file.
- Clear pricing, no surprises: The IFZA package and visa costs in one quote.
- Fast formation: A licence in around five working days.
- Renewal covered: The new financial statements rule planned from day one.
- Avoid a bank rejection: Your company file built the way banks want it.
Tax and Compliance for an IFZA Company
An IFZA free zone company falls under UAE corporate tax, the beneficial owner rules and IFZA's own renewal rules. The biggest change for IFZA companies is the financial statements requirement at renewal, in force since 30 September 2025.
Financial Statements at Renewal
From 30 September 2025, every IFZA company, FZCO or branch, must submit financial statements to renew its licence. Simplified statements on IFZA's own template are allowed only if turnover was AED 3,000,000 or less and the company had nine or fewer employees throughout the year. Above either limit, audited statements are required. Companies under AED 3,000,000 use the cash basis, those up to AED 50,000,000 use IFRS for SMEs, and larger ones use full IFRS.
Corporate Tax at 0% or 9%
An IFZA free zone company pays corporate tax at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it, registers within 3 months and files a return within 9 months of each tax period. Guides that promise a full tax exemption for IFZA companies are wrong.
The Qualifying Free Zone 0% Rate
A Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% on qualifying income, but it must meet every condition, including real substance and audited accounts under Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025. That means an IFZA company claiming the rate needs audited statements even if IFZA would accept simplified ones. Under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, non-qualifying revenue must stay below 5% of total revenue or AED 5,000,000, whichever is lower. Read about the Qualifying Free Zone Person and the 0% rate.
Beneficial Owners and a Valid Licence
The company declares its beneficial owners at formation, yearly and at each renewal, and notifies changes within 14 days. DIEZA's rules require a valid licence at all times, and a company that lets it lapse can be wound up or deregistered.
Selling to Dubai Mainland Customers
An IFZA free zone company is licensed for the free zone. Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 lets free zone companies operate on the Dubai mainland through a branch licence at AED 10,000 a year or a temporary permit at AED 5,000. Our guide to business setup in Dubai mainland covers the mainland route.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
Business Banking for IFZA Companies
IFZA companies bank more easily than offshore companies, because they hold a Dubai trade licence. IFZA names Wio, Mashreq and several electronic money institutions among its banking partners, and signed an agreement with Mashreq in May 2023 to speed up NEO BIZ accounts for its companies.
Local Banks and Their Limits
The fast digital accounts still need a UAE-resident partner or signatory: Mashreq's NEO BIZ terms require at least one UAE resident on the account. Branch banks add minimum balances of AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 on many packages, an in-person meeting and foreign payment charges with a currency margin of often 1% to 3%.
Faster Accounts Through Our Payment Partners
Our regulated payment partners open multi-currency accounts for IFZA companies in days, online, with no minimum balance and no resident signatory. Fees are published, from about €30 to €100 a month, and cross-border payments cost far less than at a branch. Read our guide to opening a business bank account in the UAE.
Equals Money
Business Bank Account
Time to onboard
2 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
€30
3S Money
Cross-border payments
Time to onboard
4 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
Starting from € 100
IFZA vs DMCC, Meydan and RAKEZ
Founders choosing IFZA usually compare it with other free zones that serve similar companies: DMCC for its reputation, Meydan for its Dubai address and price, and RAKEZ for cost. Unlike IFZA, all three publish their base prices.
Factor | IFZA | DMCC | Meydan | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Dubai Silicon Oasis | Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai | Meydan, Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah |
Published base price | None, partner quotes | AED 20,285 licence plus AED 9,020 registration | AED 12,500 with a flexi desk | AED 6,000 Biz Starter |
Visas in the base price | By package | Separate | Not included | Not listed |
Activities in the base licence | Up to 3, commercial and professional combined | Set by activity | Up to 3 activity groups | Up to 10 activities |
Our price | From €1,899 | From €1,899 | From €1,899 | From €1,899 |
Time to incorporate with us | About 1 week | About 1 week | About 1 week | About 1 week |
IFZA sits in the middle on price, with a Dubai address and flexible activities. DMCC costs the most and carries the strongest brand, Meydan publishes a simple Dubai package, and RAKEZ is the cheapest but outside Dubai.
IFZA vs DMCC
DMCC publishes a registration fee of AED 9,020 and a licence fee of AED 20,285, with an establishment card at AED 1,825 a year and flexi desks from AED 16,000. It suits commodity traders and companies that want its brand. Read our guide to DMCC company formation.
IFZA vs Meydan
Meydan Free Zone publishes an AED 12,500 licence with a flexi desk, up to three activity groups and a Dubai address, with visas priced separately. It is a close alternative to IFZA for service businesses. Read our guide to Meydan Free Zone company formation.
IFZA vs RAKEZ
RAKEZ publishes a Biz Starter package at AED 6,000 with up to 10 activities and coworking, set up in 24 hours. It is cheaper, but its address is in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai. Read our guide to RAKEZ company formation.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
Starting from €1,899
Who an IFZA Company Is Wrong For
An IFZA free zone company is the right tool for many service and trading businesses. For some founders it is the wrong one.
Your Customers Are Mostly in the UAE
A free zone company is licensed for the free zone. If most of your customers are on the Dubai mainland, a mainland company in the UAE may cost less than a free zone licence plus a Resolution 11 branch.
You Need a Regulated Licence
Banking, insurance, investment and crypto activities need a financial regulator's licence, not only an IFZA activity.
You Only Need to Hold Assets
A company that only holds shares or property does not need a trading licence or an office. An offshore company, such as a RAK ICC company, is simpler.
You Want Published Prices
If you want to compare on official figures, DMCC, Meydan and RAKEZ publish theirs and IFZA does not.
Common Mistakes With IFZA Company Formation
Most costly mistakes with an IFZA company happen at setup or at the first renewal.
Comparing Packages on the Headline Price
IFZA packages from different agents include different things. Compare the licence, the visa costs, the establishment card, the office and the renewal price line by line.
Choosing Activities After the Application
The activities decide approvals and how banks see the company. Changing them later costs time and fees.
Forgetting the Financial Statements at Renewal
Since 30 September 2025, IFZA will not renew a licence without financial statements. Keep your books from day one.
Believing the Company Is Tax-Exempt
An IFZA free zone company must register for corporate tax within 3 months and file every year. The 0% free zone rate applies only to qualifying income and needs audited accounts.
Leaving the Bank Account to the End
Plan the bank file during formation and open a partner account as soon as the licence issues.
Not Sure IFZA Is the Right Free Zone?
Many enquiries about IFZA end in another free zone or the mainland. It costs nothing to check first.
- The honest answer: IFZA, DMCC, Meydan, RAKEZ or mainland, based on your customers.
- Tax position checked: Including whether the 0% rate works for you.
- Costs compared: Packages broken into line items before you choose.
- Every lane covered: We form across the UAE, so we have no reason to push one.
- A written plan: Clear next steps sent to you after the call.
Bottom Line
IFZA company formation gives you a Dubai free zone company in Dubai Silicon Oasis with 100% foreign ownership, minimum capital of AED 1, commercial and professional activities on one licence and a licence in around five working days, all done remotely. IFZA publishes no prices, and agents quote about AED 12,900 to AED 20,900 a year depending on the visa count.
Two things catch founders out: the financial statements now needed at every renewal, and the corporate tax registration within 3 months. Plan both from day one, and plan the bank account with the company. We form your IFZA company, handle the visas and open the account with you, from €1,899.
