IFZA Professional Partner
We set up companies in the IFZA free zone in Dubai: an FZCO with a commercial or professional licence and 100% foreign ownership, with no local partner required. As an IFZA Professional Partner, we submit your application directly to the free zone and help you choose the right business activities and a package with the visa allocation you need. The company is incorporated without you travelling to the UAE, and an in-person visit is only needed for your residence visa and Emirates ID. We also support you with opening a business account and registering with the Federal Tax Authority.
The main requirements for a company in the IFZA free zone: legal form, ownership, tax and annual compliance.
A Free Zone Company registered in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Commercial and professional activities can be combined under a single licence.
Full foreign ownership from day one, with no local sponsor or agent required. Capital and profits can be repatriated in full.
Non-residents only need a passport copy and a digital photo to register. A trip to the UAE is needed only for the residence visa and Emirates ID.
Corporate Tax is 0% on profits up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that threshold. Qualifying income of a free zone company can be taxed at 0% if the conditions are met.
A workstation at IFZA Business Park with a company address, so there is no need to lease a separate office at the start. Larger office space is required as your visa allocation grows.
Annual licence renewal, bookkeeping and a Corporate Tax return filed within 9 months of the financial year end.
The final cost depends on the package, the number of residence visas and the office solution you choose at IFZA.
Information correct as of October 2026.
From an IFZA licence with no visa to a complete setup with a residence visa, account opening and tax registration.
Zero-visa licence
Residence visa included
Account and tax registration
For a complete launch: we manage everything from document preparation to account opening and activation, and register your company with the UAE Federal Tax Authority.
Please note: our support does not guarantee that an account will be opened. The final decision rests with the financial institution after it reviews the company and its beneficial owners.
Entrepreneurs choose the UAE for trading, services and holding structures when low taxes, residency for the owner and access to markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia matter most.
Import, export and wholesale supply under a General Trading licence, with access to Gulf and African markets.
Software development, AI services, marketing and consulting under a professional licence, serving clients worldwide.
Holding shares and managing group companies through a dedicated investment activity on the licence.
Online shops and marketplace sales under an E-commerce licence, with no warehouse or office lease needed at the start.
Corporate Tax is 0% on profits up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that, and there is no personal income tax.
The time zone lets you work with Europe and Asia on the same day, with Gulf and African markets close at hand.
The company can sponsor residence visas for the owner and staff, with no local sponsor or guarantor required.
Trading and services can be combined in one company, and new activities can be added as the business grows.
To register a company in the IFZA free zone, you need shareholder documents and a clear picture of your planned business activities. The process is fully remote, and for certain activities IFZA may request approval from the relevant authority.
UAE residents also need copies of their Emirates ID and visa. If a shareholder is a company, you will need a board resolution, constitutional documents, a certificate of incorporation and a valid trade licence, all notarised and legalised for use in the UAE.
At least one shareholder, either an individual or a corporate entity. There are no nationality or residency requirements, and the company can be 100% foreign-owned.
At least one individual director, a manager whose name appears on the licence, and a secretary. The owner can hold all three roles, and UAE residency is not required.
UBO details are included in the IFZA application form, and a UBO declaration is signed at registration.
A unique English name ending in FZCO. It cannot include the words Dubai or Emirates, religious terms or names similar to well-known brands.
Your company address at IFZA Business Park is provided through a Flexi Desk. With a visa allocation of 4 or more, IFZA requires dedicated office space.
Federal Corporate Tax has applied in the UAE since June 2023. For a free zone company, the effective rate depends on the tax regime it uses, its client base and whether it meets the conditions for the 0% rate.
Corporate Tax
0% / 9%
9% on taxable income above AED 375,000
Free zone regime
0% for QFZPs
on qualifying income, subject to conditions
VAT
5%
registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies over 12 months
Tax return
9 months
after the financial year end, filed via EmaraTax
Standard regime
Taxable income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0%, and anything above that at 9%. This applies to companies that do not use the QFZP regime.
Qualifying income
A free zone company pays 0% on qualifying income if it maintains adequate substance in the UAE, has audited financial statements and prices related-party transactions at arm's length. All other income is taxed at 9%, with no threshold.
De minimis rule
Non-qualifying revenue must not exceed the lower of 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million. If it does, QFZP status is lost for the current tax period and the following four.
Dividends and personal income
There is no personal income tax in the UAE. Withholding tax on dividends and payments to non-residents is set at 0%.
Register for Corporate Tax with the FTA, even if no tax is expected to be payable
Keep accounting records and supporting documents for at least 7 years
Prepare financial statements under IFRS
Have the accounts audited every year: this is required for FZCOs under free zone rules and for QFZP status
File the Corporate Tax return and pay any tax due within 9 months of the year end
File VAT returns, usually quarterly, if the company is VAT-registered
Renew the IFZA licence with a UBO declaration and report any change in beneficial owners within 14 days
The 0% rate does not apply to free zone companies automatically. Income from clients in mainland UAE and from individuals is generally taxed at 9%. Companies with revenue of up to AED 3 million can use Small Business Relief instead: it has been extended to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029 and cannot be combined with the QFZP regime.
Information correct as of October 2026
A UAE company account is usually opened once you have your residence visa: banks ask for the signatory's Emirates ID, and due diligence often includes an in-person meeting. We choose the right route based on your business activities, payment flows and the profile of your beneficial owners.
A corporate account with a local bank for domestic and international payments. IFZA works with Wio and Mashreq, and we can also consider other UAE banks to suit your company profile.
An account with a regulated payment institution for international payments. It can serve as your main tool at launch or work alongside a bank account.
UAE banks look closely at the source of funds and genuine business activity, and some nationalities face enhanced checks. We prepare your file before submission to address questions in advance.
We review your business, source of funds and payment flows before you apply, and recommend the right route.
As an IFZA Professional Partner, we handle your project from choosing the licence to receiving your company documents, residence visa and tax registration, within the scope of your chosen package.
We define the licence type, business activities, visa allocation and office solution, and check in advance whether your activity needs approval from a relevant authority.
We prepare the application form with beneficial owner details, clear the company name and submit through the IFZA partner portal, handling any queries from the free zone until approval.
We arrange e-signing of the forms and the MOA/AOA, obtain the licence and constitutional documents, and set up a Flexi Desk with your company address at IFZA Business Park.
Depending on your package, we handle the Establishment Card and residence visa, support account opening and FTA registration, and explain the company's annual obligations.
IFZA registration follows six stages set out by the free zone. The process is the same for individual and corporate shareholders, and only the required documents differ. Once IFZA receives the complete set of documents and payment, it issues the registration documents in around 5 working days.
A UAE free zone company does not suit every business model. Below are situations where another structure or jurisdiction is the more honest recommendation, and we will help you find the right one.
A free zone licence is valid within the free zone. Trading and services on the UAE domestic market, retail and government contracts require a mainland licence or a local partner, and income from these clients is generally taxed at 9%.
Worth considering: a mainland UAE company or working through a local distributor
Payments, client money management, insurance and crypto-asset services require authorisation from the relevant regulator: the Central Bank of the UAE, VARA, or the DIFC and ADGM financial centres. An IFZA licence does not replace that authorisation.
Worth considering: a dedicated licence from a UAE regulator or in another jurisdiction
UAE banks require the signatory's Emirates ID, which in turn requires a residence visa and an in-person visit. Without them, opening a company account is difficult and your banking options narrow significantly.
Worth considering: the UK, the US or Hong Kong with remote account opening
An IFZA company renews its licence every year, has its accounts audited, files a Corporate Tax return and submits a UBO declaration. These are recurring costs even with minimal activity.
Worth considering: BVI, Seychelles, Belize
Many countries apply controlled foreign company (CFC) rules. Profits of a UAE company may then be taxed in the owner's home country at local rates, which cancels out the benefit of low UAE taxes.
Worth considering: a structure that reflects the owner's tax residency
If your operations and counterparties are concentrated in the EU, an EU company is usually simpler for tax administration, VAT and working with European banks.
Worth considering: Cyprus, Lithuania, Portugal
Not sure whether the UAE is right for your project? In a consultation we will give you an honest assessment and recommend the best jurisdiction, even if it is not the UAE.
If the UAE does not fully fit your market, tax position, banking route or running costs, compare the alternatives on the key criteria.
| Jurisdiction | Best for | Tax | Compliance | Banking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hong Kong | Best for Trade with China and Asia, IT, holding companies. | Tax 8.25% / 16.5%, territorial basis. | Compliance Company secretary, registered address and annual audit. | Banking Banks and fintechs, fintech accounts opened remotely. |
 Bahrain | Best for Gulf markets, services, holding companies. | Tax 0% for most activities, 10% VAT. | Compliance Moderate, annual reporting. | Banking Local banks, an in-person visit is usually required. |
 Cyprus | Best for Holding companies, IP, doing business in the EU. | Tax 15% from 2026, dividend exemptions. | Compliance Above average, mandatory audit. | Banking EU banks, thorough due diligence. |
 Seychelles | Best for Simple international and holding structures. | Tax No tax on foreign-sourced income, subject to conditions. | Compliance Low, registered agent and annual financial summary. | Banking Mainly fintechs and overseas banks. |
We can help you compare jurisdictions on tax, banking, annual costs and structural requirements for your specific goals.
Typical scenarios based on our practice. We build every project around the client's specific goals, shareholders and business model.
UAE · Dubai The client implemented CRM systems for companies in Europe and invoiced them as a freelancer. Clients started asking for a contract with a company, and he was planning to relocate to Dubai with his family within a year.
Solution We registered an IFZA FZCO with a professional licence for IT consulting and a one-visa package. We obtained the Establishment Card, investor visa and Emirates ID, then supported account opening and FTA registration.
The company was set up before I'd even booked my flights. The account took the longest: the bank rescheduled the meeting twice, and on my second trip I had to stay a couple of extra days. Now all my invoices to European clients go out from the UAE company.
UAE · Dubai The client shipped household appliances from China to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with payments going through several intermediaries. Paying a supplier could take up to two weeks, and fees were eating into the margin.
Solution We chose an IFZA commercial licence with trading activities, registered the company and arranged the owner's visa. We prepared a compliance pack with supplier contracts and opened two accounts: a main account and a payment account for settlements in yuan.
The most tedious part was verifying every supplier: the bank wanted six months of contracts and invoices. But now we pay the factories directly, with no chain of middlemen. The first payment arrived in two days.
UAE · Dubai Two partners ran an agency with clients in the Gulf and the CIS. One stake was held personally, the other through the partner's company in Kazakhstan. They needed a joint structure with visas for both partners.
Solution We registered an IFZA FZCO with two shareholders and combined marketing and IT services under one professional licence. We arranged legalisation of the Kazakh company's documents and obtained two visas.
Legalising our Kazakh company's documents took almost a month, and the application couldn't go in without it. After that, everything moved quickly. It helped that they warned us about the timing upfront, so we could adjust our plans.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Send us a request and we will review your situation personally.
Get a consultationIFZA issues the licence and registration documents in around 5 working days once it has received the complete set of documents and payment. The Establishment Card, residence visa and Emirates ID are processed afterwards and are not included in that timeframe. If you also need a visa and a bank account, the whole project usually takes 6 to 10 weeks, with most of the time spent on visa procedures and bank due diligence.
Yes. An IFZA free zone company can be registered without travelling to the UAE: documents are submitted online and the MOA/AOA are signed electronically. You will need to visit if you are applying for a residence visa, as the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics must be completed in person. UAE banks also often meet the signatory when opening an account, so the trip is usually planned to cover both the visa and the bank in one visit.
Our Starter package costs $3,900 and includes a zero-visa IFZA licence, first-year free zone fees and a Flexi Desk with a company address. The Corporate package with a residence visa for the owner costs $6,400, and the Full Service package with account opening support and FTA registration costs $7,300. In the following years, the company renews its licence, has its accounts audited and files tax returns. We prepare an exact quote covering visas, office space and annual costs during the consultation.
UAE Corporate Tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that threshold. A free zone company can pay 0% on qualifying income if it meets the QFZP conditions: adequate substance in the UAE, audited financial statements, arm's length pricing with related parties and a cap on non-qualifying revenue. Companies with revenue of up to AED 3 million can use Small Business Relief instead, which has been extended to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. VAT at 5% becomes mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months. There is no personal income tax, and withholding tax on dividends is 0%.
A free zone company, such as one registered with IFZA, can be 100% foreign-owned, set up remotely and operate with a Flexi Desk address. Its licence is valid within the free zone, so trading or providing services on the UAE domestic market requires a mainland licence or a local partner. A mainland company can operate across the country but needs a physical office of at least 200 sq ft and more government approvals. If your clients are mainly outside the UAE, a free zone is usually simpler and more cost-effective.
Yes. The company receives a visa allocation as part of its licence package, which can be used to sponsor residence visas for the owner and employees. First the Establishment Card is issued, then the entry permit, after which you complete the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. Family members can be added separately on family visas, with the owner acting as sponsor once they hold a UAE residence visa.
Under the free zone regulations, the minimum share capital of an FZCO is AED 1, and the amount is stated in the company's constitutional documents. IFZA does not require proof that the capital has been paid in at registration. It is worth setting the capital with your business goals in mind, as banks and counterparties sometimes look at it during due diligence.
No. No provider can guarantee that an account will be opened: the decision rests with the financial institution after it reviews the company and its beneficial owners. UAE banks ask for the signatory's Emirates ID, the licence, MOA and lease agreement, and look closely at the source of funds and genuine business activity. We prepare the company profile and document pack before submission and support you through due diligence, which resolves most of the bank's typical questions.
Yes. Under free zone rules, every FZCO must keep accounting records and have its accounts audited each year. For the 0% rate under the QFZP regime, audited financial statements are also required by tax law, regardless of revenue. Financial statements are prepared under IFRS, and records must be kept for at least 7 years.
Individual shareholders need a passport copy, a digital photo and the details for the IFZA application form, including the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO). UAE residents also provide their Emirates ID and visa copy. If a shareholder is a company, you will need a board resolution, constitutional documents, a certificate of incorporation and a valid trade licence, all notarised and legalised. For certain activities, IFZA may also request approval from the relevant authority.
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