DIFC Free Zone

A DIFC business license is issued by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for regulated activities, while for non-financial activities a commercial licence is issued through the DIFC Authority, allowing companies to legally operate in the free zone.

A DIFC company setup expert will be able to give you an exact cost breakdown for setting up a company in Dubai International Financial Center. It will be influenced by factors like office space, number of employees and shareholders, business activity, license type.

DIFC offers modern business facilities like coworking spaces, business centers, commercial offices, and retail spaces. They also offer state-of-the-art meeting spaces and conference rooms.

The time to set up a company in DIFC depends on whether your business activities are regulated or non-regulated. For regulated activities, it takes around 4-6 months for DIFC company registration. For non-regulated activities, it takes around 1-2 months.

If you’re carrying out business activities in DIFC, you can apply for a visa for yourself and your employees. Working with a consultant that specializes in free zones can make the process easier for you.

Business licenses in DIFC depend on the type of activity your company is engaged in. For financial activities, licenses are categorized from 1-5, including areas such as asset management, fund administration, trust services, money services, and dealing as matched principal. For non-financial services, you can apply for a commercial, professional, or holding or family office license. Professional services and corporate services are also common non-financial licensing categories. The Innovation License is available to technology companies and costs approximately USD 1,500 per year.

There are a lot of amenities in DIFC:

• Coworking spaces

• Retails spaces

• Business centers

• Commercial offices 

• Art galleries

• Meeting & event spaces

• Conference venues

• Shopping venues

• Restaurants & cafes 

The cost of license renewal depends on factors like business activity, lease agreement, and number of shareholders and employees. Renewal costs can also vary based on registration fees, licensing fees, office lease terms, and the nature of the business activity. You can always ask a business consultant who is an expert in the workings of the DIFC free zone to guide you.

If you’re conducting business activities in DIFC, you can make amendments to your legal structure and trade license. However, if you are making major changes like adding shareholders, changing business name, or changing your business activity, you need to get approval from the authorities and draft new documents.

You can choose between setting up a branch of a foreign company, a branch of a representative office, general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or a company limited by shares—these company structures are designed for different business needs. DIFC also supports structures such as a prescribed company for holding assets, family wealth arrangements, and succession planning.

To get a DIFC trade license, you must first choose a business activity or business activities that align with your proposed operations. Then you can apply for a license and wait for approval from the DFSA (Dubai Financial Service Authority). Some regulated firms may also need approval for activities involving financial products or a collective investment fund, depending on the licence scope. Once your license has been issued, you can start your business.