Skip to content
FreezoneGuide
Compare zonesFind my zoneBy industryGuides
DubaiFinancial centreFinancial centre✓ Checked 2026-10-24

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

DIFC publishes a licence fee from AED 3,673 but no full package price, offers up to 4 visas in a published package, states incorporation in 21 days and requires at least a virtual office (checked 2026-10-24).

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a financial centre free zone in Dubai, licensed by DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Registrar of Companies licenses and registers entities; Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) authorises and regulates financial services, established in 2004. It has its own regulator and legal framework, so costs depend on the activity and are not directly comparable with general free zones.

Official sources onlyOfficial site ↗Online portal ↗

Key facts

Solo, no visa · year 1
Not published
Only conditional, expired or freelance packages published. One founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity.
Founder + 1 visa · year 1
Not published
Only conditional, expired or freelance packages published. One founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office.
Team, 3 visas · year 1
Not published
Only conditional, expired or freelance packages published. Three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
Lowest package, any size
—
Licence fee from
AED 3,673
Largest visa quota
4
In a published package
Minimum office
Virtual office
Incorporation
21 days
As stated by the zone
Min. share capital
None
General trading
No
VAT Designated Zone
No
FTA list
Annual audit
No

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com, difc.com, tax.gov.ae.

Figures as published by the zone. “Not published” means no official source states it. Scenario prices are the published package closest to each set-up: solo, no visa = one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity; founder + 1 visa = one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office; team, 3 visas = three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.

Financial centre. DIFC has its own regulator and legal framework. Costs depend on the licence category and are not directly comparable with general free zones, so it is left out of price rankings by default.

Published packages

DIFC Innovation Licence (non-regulated technology firm) with coworking flexi desk

—year 1

4 visas · Flexi-desk

  • Commercial licence USD 1,500 per year (subsidised)
  • Eligibility for up to 4 visas on the first flexi desk
  • Multiple technology activities at no additional cost
  • Not included: One-time registration fee USD 100
  • Not included: Coworking flexi desk USD 500 per month + VAT (AED 22,200 per year in Sept 2024 brochure)
  • Not included: Visa, establishment card and PSA deposit costs
  • Not included: Data protection fee (USD 250 year 1, USD 200 after)
  • Not included: Confirmation statement USD 300 from year 2
  • Not included: Knowledge and Innovation fee AED 20 per service
Renews AED 5,509Source ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Packages differ in what they include; compare visas, office and fees before choosing.

Identity and legal basis

Former, merged or alternative names
DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) ↗
Licensing / regulating authority
DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Registrar of Companies licenses and registers entities; Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) authorises and regulates financial services ↗
Parent group / government body
Government of Dubai (DIFC governed by Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021; established under Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 and Federal Decree No. 35 of 2004) ↗
Zone type
Financial centre ↗
Year established
2004 ↗
Official website
difc.com ↗
Online application portal
portal.difc.ae/clientportal/s/login ↗
Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
Yes ↗
  • Physical locations / campuses: Gate Village; Gate Avenue; Gate District; DIFC Innovation Hub; DIFC Innovation One. [1]
  • Public contact email: setup@difc.ae. [2]
  • Public contact phone: +971 4 362 2222. [3]
  • Number of registered companies: 10,018. [4]
  1. [1] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  4. [4] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from difc.com, assets.difc.com, moet.gov.ae.

Business activities

Official approved activity list
difc.com/business/non-retail-activities-guide ↗
Licence types offered
Regulated financial services, Services / consultancy, Holding, Virtual assets, Education, Other ↗
General trading licence available
No ↗
  • Activity categories offered: Accounts; Non Profit Activities; Facility Management; Advertising; Consultancy -B- Engineering; Contracting and building works; Education; Building maintenance, surveillance and cleaning services; Machinery and Equipment Rental; Finance Consultants; Representative Office; Consultancy -D- management, information and marketing; Exhibition organizers; Priced Digital Services – Cloud; Fintech and Innovation; Typing and translation; Office & Electronic Equipment Rental; Applied studies; exchange and financial services; Tourism Activities; Priced Digital Services- Telecommunication Services; Priced Digital Services- All Other Priced Digital Services; Investment Fund; Insurance Consultants; Proprietary Investment; Intermediate Special Purpose Vehicle; Labor Supply & employment agency; Legal Services; Real Estate; Office Of International Organization; Art Production; Institutes and Education; Government Liaison Office. [1]
  • Fee per additional activity: AED 0. [2]
  • Activities needing another authority's approval: Dealing in precious metals or stones, real estate-related, legal, accounting or corporate services - DFSA registration as a DNFBP; Law firms / legal practice - Legal Affairs Department of Dubai; Car rental and driving schools - Roads and Transport Authority; Educational institutions - Knowledge and Human Development Authority; Food-related activities - Dubai Municipality; Financial services - DFSA authorisation. [1]
  • Restricted activities: Commercial Representative Office: no trading activity or commercial transactions; Distributed Ledger Technology Services: no trading in, or exchange for, currencies, crypto currencies or commodities; Investment in Real Estate: no direct development, brokerage, agency or third-party fund collection; Corporate Services Provider: excludes legal services; Innovation Licence: no financial services and no trading/selling of physical products; Prescribed Company: passive holding only, no employees or leased office. [1]
  1. [1] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from difc.com, assets.difc.com.

Cost - year one

Lowest licence fee (zero-visa)
AED 3,673 ↗
  • Establishment / immigration card fee: AED 2,290. [1]
  • Cost per visa: AED 3,970. [1]
  • Visa fees: Establishment card AED 2,290 (normal) once per entity; employment visa package AED 3,970 (outside UAE, normal, 7 working days) or AED 5,770 express; inside UAE AED 5,470 normal / AED 8,410 express; seconded visa AED 3,870 / 5,590 (outside); refundable PSA deposit AED 2,500 per visa; all fees include AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee; health insurance separate. [1]
  • Mandatory deposit or bank guarantee: AED 2,500. [1]
  • Extras included: Optional ROC data-sharing integration with Mashreq Bank to start bank account opening; Access to the Leap by DIFC platform for coworking lessees. [2]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Cost - ongoing

  • Renewal costs more than the first-year price: no. [1]
  • Visa renewal cost per person: AED 3,370. [2]
  • Visa validity: 2 years. [2]
  • Late renewal penalty: ROC fine USD 1,000 for the first month of late licence renewal plus USD 1,000 for each further month; USD 2,000 fine for not filing the confirmation statement; USD 1,000 fine for not renewing the data protection notification; establishment card AED 350 first month plus AED 100 per additional month; employment visas not renewed/cancelled within 30 days of expiry: fine up to USD 2,000. [3]
  • Renewal grace period: 30 days. [3]
  • Fee to add activity: AED 0. [1]
  • Fee for shareholder change: AED 0. [1]
  • Fee for name change: AED 2,938. [1]
  • Deregistration / liquidation fee: AED 0. [1]
  • Current promotions and expiry: . [1]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Visas and residency

  • Visa quota rule: Innovation Licence: up to 4 visas on the first coworking flexi desk. No general per-sqm visa quota rule published for other office types; visas require a valid establishment card and Personnel Sponsorship Agreement (PSA) deposit per visa. [1]
  • Max visas without dedicated office: 4. [1]
  • Investor / partner visa available: yes. [2]
  • Employee visa available: yes. [2]
  • Dependant / family visa sponsorship allowed: yes. [2]
  • Golden Visa support: DIFC GSO offers a 'Long Term Residence Visa' service for executives earning over AED 30,000/month sponsored by a DIFC entity, investors with at least AED 2 million invested in the DIFC entity, and DIFC property owners; approval at GDRFA discretion. [2]
  • Typical visa processing time: 7 days. [2]
  • Visa process can start before the founder arrives: yes. [2]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Office and facilities

Minimum facility requirement
Virtual office ↗
Office / facility types
Flexi-desk, Serviced office, Private office, Retail unit ↗
Warehouse available
No ↗
  • Flexi-desk annual cost: AED 22,200. [1]
  • Premises outside the zone allowed: no. [2]
  • Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: Meeting rooms and pods; Conference rooms; 80-person amphitheatre; Open breakout spaces; Fully serviced ready-to-use offices; Complimentary parking allocation (business centres). [1]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com, difc.com.

Market access and customs

Physical operations on the mainland allowed without an extra licence
No ↗
  • Dual licence cost: AED 3,672.5. [1]
  • Can open mainland branch: yes. [1]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Tax status

VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
No ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae.

Compliance and reporting

Annual audited financial statements required by the zone
No ↗
Beneficial-owner register filing required
Yes ↗
  • Audit exemption threshold or conditions: Small private company exemption: 20 or fewer shareholders or annual turnover up to USD 5 million (handbook footnote); Corporate Actions Handbook describes non-small as more than 20 shareholders or turnover above USD 5 million, consolidated with subsidiaries (DIFC Companies Law Art. 124(6)). [1]
  • Audit submission deadline: Within 7 months of financial year end (audited accounts); Private Company handbook gives 9 months for accounts of other (small) private companies. [1]
  • Activities needing anti-money-laundering registration: Dealing in precious metals or precious stones; Real estate-related activities; Legal services; Accounting services; Corporate services. [2]
  • Annual return and renewal documents: Licence renewal; Confirmation Statement (USD 300 for most structures); Data protection notification renewal (if processing personal data); Establishment card renewal (if held); Annual accounts / audited accounts where required; Updated other-authority licence if activity needs external approval. [1]
  • Data protection law applicable: DIFC Data Protection Law, DIFC Law No. 5 of 2020, supervised by the DIFC Commissioner of Data Protection; entities must notify the Commissioner (USD 750 non-financial / USD 1,250 financial / USD 250 retail if processing personal data). [3]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com, difc.com.

Banking

Zone offers bank-account facilitation
Yes ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Setup process and speed

Typical incorporation time stated by the zone
21 days ↗
Direct application without an agent
Yes ↗
  • Documents for an individual shareholder: Passport copy (certified, or digital verification on the portal) for shareholders, directors and company secretary; CV or biography of individual shareholders and directors; Bank statements for the most recent six months of each individual funding the entity; Group ownership structure (if there is a parent); Director Appointment Declaration (portal-generated); Fit and Proper Questionnaire; Other-authority approval or DFSA DNFBP in-principle approval where applicable. [1]
  • Attestation requirements for corporate shareholders: Certificate of incorporation (or equivalent) certified by the issuing authority; if not electronically certified it must be issued within the last six months. Board resolution approving incorporation, AoA adoption and signatories, not older than six months. Non-English documents need a legal translation certified to the Registrar's satisfaction. Audited financial statements for the last two years for body-corporate funders. [1]
  • Trade name rules: Private company names must end with 'Limited' or 'Ltd.', comply with the DIFC Naming Policy and reflect the business activity (e.g. 'Holding' for a holding company); consent letter needed if identical to a non-affiliated existing entity. [1]
  • Refund policy if rejected: No payment is required when submitting the initial 'Register with DIFC' application; fees are paid only after initial approval. [2]
  1. [1] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Operations, ecosystem and flexibility

  • Moving to larger premises: Coworking flexi desk -> dedicated desk -> coworking private office (Innovation Licence) -> business centre offices up to 600 sq ft -> commercial offices 100-1,500 sq ft or shell-and-core from 1,000 sq ft; retail units in Gate Avenue/Gate Village. No warehouse tier. [1]
  • Adding shareholders: Filed online via the DIFC Portal ('Update Company Shares'), ROC fee Nil, within 30 days of the change; new UBOs must also be filed. [2]
  • Moving a company in or out (re-domiciliation): yes. [2]
  1. [1] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] assets.difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from difc.com, assets.difc.com.

Freelancer and solo founder

Freelancer permit available
No ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com.

Industry-specific regulation

  • Virtual-asset regulator and licences: DFSA Crypto Token regime (introduced 2022; updated rules in force 12 January 2026): firms carrying on financial services involving Crypto Tokens in or from DIFC must be authorised by the DFSA; firms must assess and document each token's suitability, and the DFSA no longer prescribes a list of Recognised Crypto Tokens. DIFC non-financial DLT services licence cannot trade or run an exchange for crypto. [1]
  • Financial services regulator and capital requirements: Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from DIFC (asset management, banking and credit, securities, collective investment funds, custody and trust, commodities futures, Islamic finance, insurance, exchanges) and AML/CTF supervisor; DFSA in-principle approval needed before DIFC registration. [2]
  • Healthcare and education approvals: Educational institutions require Knowledge and Human Development Authority approval. [3]
  1. [1] dfsa.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dfsa.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] difc.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dfsa.ae, difc.com.

Activity fit (our view)

Needs a regulator's approval

Our assessment from the zone's published licence types. Always confirm your exact activity on the zone's official activity list. Official activity list ↗ Licence types the zone publishes: Regulated financial services, Services / consultancy, Holding, Virtual assets, Education, Other.

Verified on 2026-10-24 from difc.com.

Notes and history

  1. History · 2004

    The DIFC Courts are the subject of Dubai Law No. 12 of 2004 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts. According to the Courts' website, the Small Claims Tribunal was established in 2007, the Technology and Construction Division in 2017 and the Arbitration Division in 2020. [source 1][source 2]

  2. Legal basis · 2004-06-27

    DIFC was set up as a financial free zone in the Emirate of Dubai by Federal Decree No. 35 of 2004 (27 June 2004), under Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 on Financial Free Zones. That federal law applies all federal laws to financial free zones except federal civil and commercial laws, and requires companies licensed in the zone to be physically located within its boundaries. [source 1][source 2]

  3. Good to know · 2017-04-30

    Under a memorandum of understanding of 30 April 2017 between the DIFC Authority and Dubai's Department of Economic Development, certain non-financial companies licensed on the Dubai mainland can obtain a Commercial Permission from the DIFC Registrar of Companies to operate from a group company's DIFC premises without a separate DIFC licence. DIFC's Guidance on Dual License (June 2020) limits this to law, accounting, consulting, corporate service, holding and family businesses, most with minimum DIFC office sizes of 5,000 to 7,000 sq ft. [source]

  4. Good to know · 2020

    DIFC has its own data protection law, DIFC Law No. 5 of 2020, overseen by the DIFC Commissioner of Data Protection, according to DIFC's Registrars and Commissioners page. [source]

  5. History · 2021-04-27

    Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre, issued on 27 April 2021, now governs DIFC and supersedes Dubai Law No. 9 of 2004. DIFC laws and regulations made under the 2004 law remain in force where they do not conflict with the 2021 law. [source]

  6. Legal basis

    Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021 names three main DIFC bodies: the DIFC Authority, whose Registrar of Companies registers firms; the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), which regulates financial services; and the DIFC Courts. DIFC describes its legal framework as based on English common law. [source 1][source 2]

  7. Good to know

    Firms that want to provide financial services must first apply to the DFSA for in-principle approval; the DIFC registration application cannot be submitted until that approval is granted, according to DIFC's Setting up a Financial Entity handbook (August 2026). Non-financial firms apply to the DIFC Registrar of Companies only. [source 1][source 2]

Verified on 2026-10-24 from assets.difc.com, difc.com, difccourts.ae.

Questions worth asking

How much does a DIFC licence cost?

DIFC publishes a licence fee from AED 3,673. Visa, office and registration costs are extra.

Does DIFC require a physical office?

The minimum facility DIFC states is: virtual office. Facility types offered: flexi-desk, serviced office, private office, retail unit.

How many visas come with a DIFC package?

The largest visa quota in a package DIFC publishes is 4. Larger quotas usually need more office space; ask the zone for the rule that applies to you.

How long does DIFC company setup take?

DIFC states about 21 days for incorporation. Visas take extra time after the licence is issued.

Can I get a general trading licence in DIFC?

DIFC does not offer a general trading licence.

Is DIFC a VAT Designated Zone?

DIFC does not appear on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones.

What is the minimum share capital in DIFC?

DIFC states no minimum share capital.

About this data

Every fact comes from DIFC's own channels or a UAE government source, linked next to it. Last checked 2026-10-24. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

Rules for every zone

Explained in the guides on corporate tax, VAT Designated Zones and mainland access.

How we check

Prices are re-checked every 90 days and other facts on a schedule. How we verify →