IFZA Free Zone Dubai Setup & Visa Guide
A current guide to IFZA company formation, licence packages, visa allocations, flexible office options, ownership and corporate-bank considerations.
Important: IFZA uses package and licence-dependent pricing. The original fixed AED 12,900/33,000 model is not presented as a universal 2026 government tariff.
IFZA Setup & Visa Planning Tool
This tool shows current planning information rather than fabricating a package price. The AED 3,750 figure is the basic visa fee referenced by IFZA's Visa for Life promotion; actual immigration costs can include additional charges.
Basic visa-fee planning: AED 3,750
Current price should be obtained from the IFZA quotation for the selected activity/package.
IFZA company formation at a glance
100% foreign ownership
IFZA states that UAE free-zone companies can provide 100% foreign ownership, subject to the applicable jurisdiction, structure and activity rules.
Flexible workspace
IFZA offers basic no-office packages for eligible lower visa allocations alongside Flexi-Desk, Flexi-Desk+, dedicated and private-office solutions.
Visa-linked licence categories
The number of visas available depends on the licence category selected, and higher visa entitlements can require an office upgrade.
Office requirements: the precise IFZA rule
IFZA's current guidance says its basic licence packages with 0–3 visa allocations allow companies to start without office space. This is why the original statement that every IFZA licence automatically includes a legal Flexi-Desk certificate was too broad.
| Workspace | Current IFZA description | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| No office / basic package | Available for eligible basic licence packages with 0–3 visa allocations. | New businesses with limited staffing requirements. |
| Flexi-Desk | Shared workstation, shared IFZA address, high-speed Wi-Fi and limited meeting-room access. | Startups and small businesses. |
| Flexi-Desk+ | Dedicated desk with unlimited business-hours access, individual address and additional meeting-room facilities. | Businesses needing a dedicated workspace without a private office. |
| Private / dedicated office | Private workspace with greater access and business address facilities. | Larger teams and companies requiring greater physical presence. |
Visa allocations and costs
IFZA's current terms state that the number of visas available depends on the licence category selected. A company wishing to increase its visa entitlement may need to upgrade its licence category, and higher visa entitlements can require physical office space.
| Item | Current position |
|---|---|
| Basic visa fee reference | AED 3,750 under IFZA's published Visa for Life promotion. |
| Visa promotion | Available periodically and dependent on incorporation timing and the number of visas included with the licence. |
| Extra costs | Status change, partner/investor visa and other immigration costs are not necessarily covered by the basic visa-fee promotion. |
| Establishment card | Required before applying for a visa and charged separately from the company setup amount. |
Remote company formation
IFZA states that its incorporation paperwork can be completed electronically and that a business can progress through incorporation without the owner's physical presence in the UAE.
This should not be confused with the requirements for obtaining residence visas, completing immigration formalities or opening a UAE corporate bank account. Those processes can require separate identity, biometric, medical, KYC or bank procedures.
Corporate banking: no guaranteed fast-track
A newly incorporated IFZA company can apply for a UAE corporate bank account, but the bank makes its own onboarding decision.
Typical bank due diligence can include beneficial-owner identification, business model, source of funds, expected transactions, contracts, invoices, proof of address and evidence of commercial substance.
IFZA setup workflow
Select activities
Choose the business activities and verify that they are permitted under the selected licence category.
Choose duration
Compare one-year and available multi-year packages using a current IFZA quotation rather than a historic price list.
Set visa requirement
Select the required visa allocation and confirm whether the licence category requires workspace.
Complete incorporation
Complete KYC, company registration, establishment card and any visa/immigration procedures relevant to the selected package.
Important cost checklist
| Cost category | Should be checked? |
|---|---|
| Licence / incorporation package | Yes — obtain the current IFZA quotation. |
| Establishment card | Yes — separate cost before visa applications. |
| Residence visa | Yes — includes circumstances and possible additional immigration charges. |
| Office / Flexi-Desk | Depends on licence category and visa allocation. |
| Medical / Emirates ID / insurance | Check separately for each visa applicant. |
| Corporate bank account | Separate bank onboarding; no guaranteed approval. |
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IFZA office options
Current visa-cost reference
IFZA's Visa for Life promotion identifies:
Basic visa fee covered by the promotion when eligible. Additional costs can apply and promotional eligibility depends on the incorporation period and licence package.
Official IFZA portal
This page relies primarily on current IFZA business-setup, workspace, visa-promotion and terms information. IFZA package pricing and promotions can change, so exact licence and incorporation costs should be confirmed through the current IFZA quotation before payment.