DMCC business setup · 2026 prices

DMCC Freezone Business Setup in Dubai: Company Formation in JLT from About AED 42,000 All-In with One Visa, License in About 10 Working Days, 100% Online

DMCC freezone business setup means forming a company in Dubai’s Dubai Multi Commodities Centre in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, typically from about AED 42,000 for the first year with license, flexi desk and one visa, and in many cases completed in around 10 working days through a fully online process with 100% foreign ownership and 0% personal tax. DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is Dubai's flagship free zone in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, home to more than 26,000 companies and repeatedly named Global Free Zone of the Year by fDi Magazine. It is the jurisdiction banks, commodity counterparties and international partners recognise first, which makes it a practical choice for foreign investors, entrepreneurs, startup founders, SMEs, freelancers, e-commerce owners, larger companies expanding to the UAE, and high-net-worth individuals who want a credible Dubai address without unclear pricing or avoidable setup delays.

Licence + flexi desk from AED 35,484
100% foreign ownership, 0% personal tax
1,000+ activities, 6 per licence
Best-in-class bank acceptance

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AED 42k+Year-one cost with one visa

~10 daysLicence after documents

26,000+Companies across 87 JLT towers

#1fDi Global Free Zone of the Year

A&A Associate handles the complete DMCC company formation: activity selection, portal application, licence, flexi desk or office, visas, bank account and corporate tax registration, with an itemised quote before you pay. In this guide, you’ll find the key DMCC features and benefits, setup costs for different company options, licence types and permitted activities, how DMCC compares with other UAE free zones, the documents required, the step-by-step formation process, tax and compliance points, banking considerations, and why businesses use A&A Associate to manage the setup end to end.

About DMCC

What is DMCC Free Zone? Quick facts 2026

DMCC is a Government of Dubai authority established in 2002 and governed by Law No. 3 of 2020, serving as the free zone authority for Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Uptown Dubai under the DMCC Authority. It licenses trading, services, industrial and holding companies, runs dedicated centres for gold, diamonds, tea, coffee, crypto, gaming and AI, and completes the whole setup through its online portal. It is also recognised as Global Free Zone of the Year by the Financial Times’ fDi Magazine, including the 2023 award. DMCC accounts for 11% of Dubai's annual Foreign Direct Investment.

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, home of DMCC Free Zone in Dubai

JLT & Uptown DubaiOn the Sheikh Zayed Road metro line

Global Free Zone of the YearfDi Magazine, awarded year after year

Strongest banking profile

UAE and international banks treat a DMCC licence as low-risk. Account opening is typically faster than with budget free zones.

0% tax on qualifying income

Qualifying free zone persons pay 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, 0% personal income tax, and no customs duty inside the zone.

1,000+ activities, 6 per licence

A wide range of permitted business activities is available, including commodities, general trading, consulting, tech, crypto, F&B, logistics and holding. Up to 6 activities on one licence; more at AED 1,500 each.

100% ownership and repatriation

Full foreign ownership of an FZCO or branch, with no local partner or local sponsor required, and unrestricted repatriation of capital and profits.

Office for every stage

Office space options across 87 towers include flexi desk (up to 3 visas), serviced office (4–5 visas), or leased space at 1 visa per 9 sqm.

Commodity and sector ecosystems

Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange, Dubai Diamond Exchange, Tea and Coffee Centres, Crypto Centre, Gaming Centre and AI Centre, all supported by world-class infrastructure for commodities and newer sectors and ecosystems geared toward facilitating global trade.

Quick verdict

Should you choose DMCC Free Zone?

Choose DMCC if…

You trade commodities, gold, diamonds, tea, coffee, metals or energy and need counterparties to recognise your licence; it also suits businesses involved in buying, selling, importing, exporting, and distributing goods across international markets
Bank account opening speed and credibility matter more than the lowest licence fee
You want a prime JLT address in a strategic location, a visa quota that grows with your office, and sector ecosystems
You are building a holding company, SPV, family office or digital asset businesses alongside crypto, gaming or AI business types

Look elsewhere if…

Your budget is under AED 20,000: Meydan or IFZA start far lower
You must invoice UAE mainland clients directly or open a retail outlet: consider Dubai mainland; DMCC is often a better fit for firms serving international clients, while direct local-market activity may need mainland permissions
You need heavy warehousing or port access: JAFZA or Dubai South fit better
You run a regulated financial business needing a DFSA licence: see DIFC; DET is Dubai’s mainland licensing authority, unlike the DMCC free-zone regulator

DMCC vs cheaper free zones. A DMCC company costs roughly three times a Meydan or SHAMS licence in year one. You are paying for a Government of Dubai regulator, a physical JLT address, the strongest bank acceptance in the UAE and an ecosystem of 26,000 companies. For commodity traders, holding structures and anyone who has had a bank application rejected elsewhere, that premium usually pays for itself.

DMCC company setup cost

How much does a DMCC company cost in 2026?

A&A's year-one estimates for the most common DMCC setups, built from DMCC's current published fees and our clients' real invoices. For company registration, DMCC starts from one shareholder, and the initial application fee is about AED 1,035. Figures exclude A&A professional fees, which we quote separately and fix in writing. DMCC can change its charges without notice, so we re-confirm every figure before you pay.

Lowest entry

Solo founder

AED 42,000–46,000

Year one · licence + flexi desk + 1 investor visa

Licence and flexi desk on DMCC's entry-level package (from AED 35,484)
Establishment card, visa, medical and Emirates ID
Individual shareholders only
0% instalments possible through DMCC's bank partner

Start-up with a small team

AED 48,000–58,000

Year one · licence + flexi desk or co-working + 1–3 visas

DMCC's start-up package with one visa built in (from AED 43,780)
Flexi desk eligible for up to 3 visas
Corporate shareholders allowed
Multi-year pricing cuts the yearly cost by about 20–25%

Established company

AED 60,000–120,000+

Year one · licence + serviced or leased office + 4–10 visas

Fast-track corporate package (from AED 40,145) plus office rent
Serviced office gives 4–5 visas; leased space 1 visa per 9 sqm
Renewal price freeze and free changes in the first 3 months
Branch or subsidiary of a foreign parent company

Sector centres

AED 31,000–38,000

Year one · Crypto, Gaming or AI Centre licence + co-working + 1 visa

Crypto, Gaming and AI Centre packages at AED 31,000 incl. VAT are suitable for digital asset businesses as well as gaming and AI ventures
Half-price renewal in year two
Health and fitness (Nook) and tech incubator (AstroLabs) options cost less
JLT residents and Uptown owners get special rates

What you are paying for

AED 35,484Lowest DMCC entry point in 2026: licence plus flexi desk, before visas. Standalone licence renewal is about AED 20,000 a year plus your office.

Trade licence with up to 6 activities
Registration, articles and share certificates
Flexi desk lease in a JLT business centre
Fixed A&A fees agreed in writing

Get my itemised quote Cost calculator

Cost driverIndicative (AED)

Office: flexi desk / serviced office / leased unit (per year)16,000 / 35,000+ / by size

Establishment card (per year)~1,800

Residence visa, medical and Emirates ID (per person, 2 years)4,500–6,000

Extra activities beyond 6, or general trading licence1,500 each / 50,000+

Annual audit (DMCC-approved auditor)5,000–10,000

Renewal (year 2+)Licence + office, discounts on multi-year

Office size sets your visa quota

Some activities need external approvals

Share capital AED 50,000 declared, no deposit

Charges can change without notice

Hidden costs to budget for: the establishment card and immigration file, visa status changes, office upgrades when your headcount grows, external approvals for regulated activities, the mandatory annual audit, and renewal pricing that differs from promotional year-one package rates. We quote year two before you sign year one.

DMCC licence types and structures

Which DMCC licence do you need?

DMCC issues trading, service and industrial licences to a free zone company (FZCO, since January 2025 replacing the DMCC suffix), a branch of a UAE or foreign company, or a subsidiary. Activities from different groups can be combined on one licence where compatible.

Trading licence

Trade license for buying, selling, importing, exporting, distributing, and trading goods.

Gold & precious metalsDiamondsTea & coffeeElectronics

General trading licence guide

Service licence

Service License for companies offering professional services such as consulting, IT, marketing, management and similar advisory work.

ConsultantsTech & softwareAgencies

Industrial licence

Light manufacturing, assembly and packaging inside the zone.

Jewellery makingFood processing

Holding, SPV and family office

Hold shares, property and assets; DMCC Foundations for succession.

Holding FZCOSPVSingle family office

DMCC requires at least one shareholder for company registration. Unlike zones that issue a separate Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for solo owners, DMCC uses one structure: a Free Zone Company (FZCO) with one or more individual or corporate shareholders.

UAE holding company guide

Crypto, gaming and AI

DMCC Crypto Centre licences proprietary trading, blockchain, Web3, gaming and AI businesses (VARA approval where required).

Web3E-sportsAI start-ups

Crypto licence guide

Branch or subsidiary

Extend an existing UAE or foreign company into DMCC to create a DMCC free zone company presence. No share capital for a branch; parent company documents must be attested.

Foreign branchUAE branch

Gold trading in Dubai, one of the core DMCC Free Zone activities

Not sure which activities to combine?

We map your business model to compatible DMCC activity codes so you stay within the 6 included activities and avoid external-approval delays.

Check my activities

Compare Dubai free zones

DMCC vs IFZA vs Meydan vs JAFZA vs DIFC: which fits?

DMCC, Meydan and IFZA figures are each zone's published 2026 starting price; JAFZA and DIFC are indicative ranges. DMCC's figure includes a flexi desk.

Free zone	From (AED)	Best for	Bank acceptance	Signature feature
DMCC	35,484	Commodities, trading, holding, crypto	Highest	JLT address; 87 towers; sector exchanges
Meydan	12,500	Start-ups, e-commerce, consultants	Medium	Meydan guide
IFZA	12,900	Services, trading, multi-activity	Medium	IFZA guide
JAFZA	15,000+	Logistics, manufacturing, re-export	High	Jebel Ali port and warehousing
DIFC	45,000+	Finance, fintech, family offices	Highest	DIFC guide

Compare every option on our UAE free zone comparison or the Dubai free zone hub . Need mainland? See mainland company setup

Get a free comparison

Founders preparing documents for DMCC company formation

Checked before filingWe review your KYC file before submission

Paperwork

Documents required for DMCC company formation

DMCC runs stronger KYC than budget free zones. Everything is uploaded to the DMCC portal; no visit to Dubai is needed for the licence. Share capital of AED 50,000 is declared in the articles, not deposited. DMCC also requires disclosure of Ultimate Beneficial Owners as part of its compliance review.

Required Documents for DMCC company formation

Passport copy, valid 6+ months, for each shareholder, director and manager

Passport-size photo and UAE entry stamp or visa page if resident

Proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement, under 3 months)

Short CV or business profile, a summary business plan for the activity, and beneficial-owner information as part of the required documents package

Three trade name options ending in FZCO

Selected activities (up to 6 included) and chosen office package

Corporate shareholder or branch? Add the parent's certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, certificate of incumbency or good standing, and a board resolution approving the DMCC entity, all attested and legalised for the UAE; a complete set helps avoid back-and-forth during review.

Simple process

How to set up a company in DMCC: 6 steps

Fully digital through the DMCC portal. A&A prepares the application, answers DMCC's compliance queries and handles office, visas, banking and tax so you deal with one team, with the six steps below covering the DMCC setup process.

Licence in about 10 working days

The setup process can take as little as 10 working days when documents and approvals are complete; the licence follows once the office lease is signed and fees are paid. Visas add 1–2 weeks; bank accounts 1–4 weeks.

Start my DMCC company

01
Choose activities, structure and package
We confirm compatible activity codes, FZCO vs branch, and which DMCC package (entry-level, start-up, corporate or sector centre) gives the best year-one and renewal price.
02
Reserve the trade name and apply online
Three name options are checked against DMCC rules. The initial approval application, company name, KYC and business plan are submitted on the DMCC portal. The initial application fee is about AED 1,035.
03
Provisional approval and legal documents
DMCC reviews compliance and issues provisional approval (valid 90 days, or 180 on the corporate package). We prepare the articles of association and shareholder resolutions for e-signature.
04
Sign the office lease
Flexi desk, serviced office or leased unit in one of 87 JLT towers. Your office choice fixes the visa quota: 3 on a flexi desk, 4–5 on a serviced office, 1 per 9 sqm leased.
05
Pay fees and receive the e-licence
DMCC issues the business license, certificate of registration and share certificates digitally. We then apply for the establishment card to unlock visa processing.
06
Visas, bank account and tax registration
Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping take 1–2 weeks. We prepare the bank compliance file, and after initial approval and once the DMCC license and supporting documents are ready, the company can open a corporate bank account; we then register the company for corporate tax. Bank account opening

2026 rules

Tax, compliance and banking for DMCC companies

DMCC is a designated zone for VAT and a qualifying free zone for corporate tax. Every DMCC company must register with the Federal Tax Authority, keep audited accounts and file an annual return.

0% / 9%

Corporate tax

A qualifying free zone person pays 0% on qualifying income (trading with other free zone companies, exports, commodity trading on the DGCX) and 9% on other taxable income above AED 375,000. Registration is mandatory.

5% VAT

VAT and designated zone

Register once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000. Goods moved between designated zones can be outside VAT scope; services follow normal rules.

Audit

Annual audited accounts

DMCC requires audited financial statements from a DMCC-approved auditor to be filed each year at renewal. We arrange the audit alongside your bookkeeping.

1–4 wks

Bank account

Easiest of any UAE free zone. Digital banks such as Wio often open within days; ENBD, Mashreq, ADCB and FAB typically 2–4 weeks. Approval remains the bank's decision.

Corporate tax registration VAT registration Accounting & audit

Your DMCC consultant

Why set up DMCC through A&A Associate

A decade of DMCC setups

Trading houses, holding structures, crypto start-ups and consultancies serving global markets, with A&A supporting DMCC business setup and DMCC compliance queries answered first time.

We compare before you pay

DMCC against IFZA, Meydan, JAFZA, DIFC and mainland for your activity, visas, banking needs and budget.

Itemised, fixed fees

DMCC fees passed through at cost, A&A fees quoted in writing. Licence, office, visas, bank account, audit, VAT and corporate tax under one roof.

In-house PRO and audit teams

Establishment card, visas and Emirates ID handled by our PRO team; the annual DMCC audit arranged with an approved auditor. PRO services

Business professionals networking at a DMCC event in Dubai

10 yearsA decade of excellence

One teamLicence, visas, banking, audit and tax

Award-winning business setup firm Superbrands UAE's Choice award

As featured in

FAQ

DMCC Free Zone FAQs

Quick answers on DMCC cost, packages, visas, office, documents, tax and timing.

Still have a question?

Speak to a DMCC business setup consultant today. The first consultation is free.

+971 50 483 6190 info@aaconsultancy.ae Chat on WhatsApp

How much does it cost to set up a company in DMCC?

In 2026 a solo founder should budget about AED 42,000–46,000 for year one: licence and flexi desk on DMCC's entry-level package (from AED 35,484) plus establishment card, one residence visa, medical and Emirates ID. A start-up with a small team typically lands at AED 48,000–58,000, and an established company with a serviced office and several visas at AED 60,000 and up, all before professional fees.

What is DMCC Free Zone?

DMCC, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, is a Government of Dubai free zone authority established in 2002 and based in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai. It regulates more than 26,000 companies across trading, services, commodities, technology and holding activities and has been named Global Free Zone of the Year by fDi Magazine repeatedly.

How long does DMCC company formation take?

About 10 working days once documents are complete. Provisional approval typically comes within 3–5 working days, the licence follows after the office lease is signed and fees paid. Visas take a further 1–2 weeks and bank account opening 1–4 weeks depending on the bank.

How many visas can a DMCC company get?

Visa quota depends on your office: a flexi desk is eligible for up to 3 residence visas (1 on the entry-level package desk), a serviced office 4–5, and leased offices roughly 1 visa per 9 square metres. Upgrading the office unlocks more visas later.

Can a DMCC company trade with the UAE mainland?

A DMCC company can sell services and goods to mainland clients, but goods entering the mainland pass through customs with 5% duty, and a mainland distributor or a mainland branch is needed for direct retail or onshore distribution. Many DMCC traders use the zone for import, re-export and international trading.

Does DMCC require minimum share capital?

DMCC free zone companies declare share capital of at least AED 50,000 in the articles of association. It is a declared figure and does not need to be deposited or blocked in a bank account before the licence is issued.

Is a DMCC company subject to UAE corporate tax?

Yes, every DMCC company must register for corporate tax. As a qualifying free zone person it pays 0% on qualifying income, such as transactions with other free zone companies, exports and commodity trading, and 9% on other taxable income above AED 375,000. Audited accounts and an annual return are required.

What is the difference between DMCC and IFZA or Meydan?

DMCC costs roughly three times more in year one but offers a Government of Dubai regulator, a physical JLT address, the strongest bank acceptance of any UAE free zone and sector exchanges for gold, diamonds, tea and coffee. IFZA and Meydan start around AED 12,500–13,000 and suit lower-budget service and e-commerce businesses where a premium address and commodity ecosystem are not required.

Do I need to visit Dubai to set up a DMCC company?

No. The DMCC application, KYC upload, document signing and licence issue are completed online through the DMCC portal. You need to be in the UAE for the visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics, and some banks ask for one in-person meeting.

Which activities can I licence in DMCC?

DMCC offers more than 1,000 activities across trading, services and industrial groups, including gold and precious metals, diamonds, tea, coffee, general trading, consulting, IT, crypto and blockchain, gaming, AI, e-commerce, logistics and holding. Up to 6 activities are included on one licence; extra activities cost AED 1,500 each.

Start your DMCC company this month

Free consultation with a DMCC specialist. A&A can guide foreign investors through package selection to launch, with licence, office, visas, bank account, audit and tax registration handled end to end, plus an itemised quote the same day.

+971 50 483 6190 Request a call-back

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