Free zone
International Free Zone Authority company formation
Dubai-issued, broad activity list, no mandatory office.
At a glance
- Year-1 authority fee (from)
- AED 12,900≈ $3,515
- Residence visas
- Yes — bought by package (0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 5+)
Estimate. Government fees pass through at cost on your real proposal.
Calculate your all-in cost →Key facts
- Location
- Dubai (Dubai Silicon Oasis); launched Fujairah 2018, Dubai from 2020
- Foreign ownership
- 100% + full profit/capital repatriation
- Share capital
- No minimum enforced in practice
- Office
- Not mandatory — flexi/virtual desk bundled; physical office optional
- Activities
- 2,000+, multiple under one licence
- Residence visas
- Yes — sold by package (0/1/2/3/5+)
- Setup time
- ≈2–5 working days once KYC clears
- Known for
- Low-cost Dubai address; consultants, agencies, holding
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is the go-to when a founder wants a Dubai-issued licence without DMCC-level cost. It sits in Dubai Silicon Oasis, its activity list is one of the broadest available (over 2,000, with multiple activities under one licence), and — critically — it doesn't force you into a real office. A bundled flexi/virtual desk satisfies licensing and most visa needs.
That low-overhead model makes IFZA a clean fit for consultants, agencies, holding companies, and multi-activity businesses that don't slot neatly into one category. For founders who specifically want 'Dubai' on the licence at a sensible price, it is usually the most economical route to get it.
One quirk to know upfront: IFZA sells only through registered partners, so pricing is package- and promo-driven. The headline number varies by channel — what matters is the all-in, and what each quote actually bundles.
What IFZA is
IFZA launched in Fujairah in 2018 and relocated to Dubai in 2020 under Dubai Silicon Oasis. Its proposition is simple: a Dubai-issued licence with one of the widest activity lists in the country and no requirement to lease real space. That combination is why it has become one of the most-filed free zones for service businesses.
Because it sells exclusively through registered agents, there is no public 'list price'. Packages are defined by visa count, and multi-year prepayment (2, 3, or 5 years) typically earns a meaningful discount.
What it costs in 2026
Indicative ranges — promo-dependent, so confirm exactly what's bundled. We show your real all-in on the proposal.
- Zero-visa licence: from roughly AED 12,900 (standard, before promos).
- One-visa licence, all-in (immigration card + visa + medical + Emirates ID): roughly AED 21,000.
- Each additional residence visa: roughly AED 3,750–4,800.
- Renewal: roughly AED 10,000–15,000/year depending on licence + visa quota.
- Multi-year prepayment: up to ~30% off on 2/3/5-year terms.
How setup works
- Choose the licence type (consultancy, service, trading, general trading, industrial, holding) and visa count.
- Reserve the name, submit KYC; licence issues in roughly 2–5 working days.
- Immigration card, then residence visa (medical, Emirates ID, stamping).
- Bank account — banks are selective with virtual-desk setups, so a clear activity story and some substance help.
Best for
- Consultants, agencies, and professional-services founders
- Multi-activity businesses with unusual or combined activity needs
- Holding companies and remote/online founders wanting a Dubai address cheaply
- Cost-led startups that don't need a physical office
Not ideal for
- Manufacturing, warehousing, or anything needing real space (RAKEZ is cheaper for that)
- Businesses trading inside the UAE to resident customers (need mainland)
- Founders who want a prestige zone brand for banking or investor optics (consider DMCC)
What to watch out for
Pricing is promo- and channel-driven
Because IFZA sells only through partners, headline prices vary and bundling is opaque. Always compare the all-in and model year-two renewal (often AED 10–15k) rather than a discounted year-one promo.
No native mainland access
IFZA is a pure free-zone play. Reaching UAE-resident customers needs a separate mainland setup or distributor — unlike RAKEZ, which can issue a RAK-mainland licence itself.
Banks scrutinise the no-office model
The flexi/virtual-desk setup is IFZA's cost advantage but can make account opening harder. Banks favour demonstrable substance; the 0% corporate-tax (QFZP) lane also expects real substance in the zone.
International Free Zone Authority — FAQ
Does IFZA include a residence visa?
IFZA packages are sold by visa count — 0, 1, 2, 3, or 5+. The base zero-visa licence includes none; you buy the allocation you need. If a visa is essential, compare the all-in numbers in the calculator rather than the headline licence fee.
What activities can an IFZA company do?
IFZA has one of the broadest activity lists of any UAE free zone — over 2,000 — covering consulting, services, trading, media, tech, and holding, with multiple activities allowed under one licence. If you have an unusual or multi-activity business, it's often the cleanest fit.
Is IFZA cheaper than RAKEZ?
Not always. RAKEZ's lower tiers can beat IFZA on total cost, especially because RAKEZ bundles a visa at a low price point. IFZA's edge is the Dubai address and the no-mandatory-office model. Compare the all-in for your exact visa count.
Do I need an office for an IFZA company?
No physical office is required — a bundled flexi/virtual desk satisfies licensing and most visa needs. A dedicated office is optional. Note that banks and the QFZP 0% tax lane both look more favourably on real substance.
Can an IFZA company open a UAE bank account?
Yes, though banks are more selective with virtual-desk free-zone companies. A clear activity description, a coherent business story, and some substance materially improve approval odds. We handle the bank intro as part of setup.
Is International Free Zone Authority right for you?
Run the 5-min diagnostic and we’ll confirm the fit + email the realistic all-in cost in one business day. Not sure between jurisdictions? That’s exactly what the call is for.