International Free Zone Authority (IFZA Dubai)
IFZA does not publish package prices on its own channels (checked 2026-10-24).
International Free Zone Authority (IFZA Dubai) is a general business free zone in Dubai, licensed by Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA) - licensing authority for the Dubai Silicon Oasis free zone, within which IFZA Dubai operates.
Key facts
- Solo, no visa · year 1
- Not published
- No package prices published. One founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity.
- Founder + 1 visa · year 1
- Not published
- No package prices published. One founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office.
- Team, 3 visas · year 1
- Not published
- No package prices published. Three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
- Lowest package, any size
- —
- Licence fee from
- —
- Largest visa quota
- Not published
- No package states a quota
- Minimum office
- Not published
- Incorporation
- —
- Min. share capital
- AED 1
- General trading
- Yes
- VAT Designated Zone
- No
- FTA list
- Annual audit
- Yes
Verified on 2026-10-24 from dso.ae, ifza.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.
Identity and legal basis
- Former, merged or alternative names
- IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) ↗
- Licensing / regulating authority
- Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA) - licensing authority for the Dubai Silicon Oasis free zone, within which IFZA Dubai operates ↗
- Zone type
- General business ↗
- Official website
- ifza.com/en ↗
- Online application portal
- ifza.com/en/partner-portal-login ↗
- Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
- No ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com, cdn.ifza.com, dlp.dubai.gov.ae and 1 more official source.
Business activities
- Licence types offered
- Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, E-commerce ↗
- General trading licence available
- Yes ↗
- Activity categories offered: Commercial; Professional. [1]
- Activities included in base licence: 3. [2]
- Trading and services on one licence: yes. [2]
- Activities needing another authority's approval: Licence activities requiring approval or consent of other regulatory authorities (may be granted provisionally for a specified period); Virtual asset activities (VARA Regulations apply). [3]
- [1] ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
- [3] cdn.ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com, cdn.ifza.com.
Cost - ongoing
- Late renewal penalty: Licence not renewed by its renewal date may attract fines/penalties, suspension or cancellation; fines must be paid before renewal. Late establishment card renewal also attracts fines and blocks new visas. No amounts published. [1]
- [1] cdn.ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.ifza.com.
Visas and residency
- Visa quota rule: Visa entitlement depends on the licence category chosen; more visas require upgrading the licence category, and higher entitlements may also require leasing physical office space in IFZA Dubai. [1]
- How to increase quota and cost: Upgrade the licence category; may require leasing physical office space. [1]
- Employee visa available: yes. [1]
- [1] cdn.ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.ifza.com.
Office and facilities
- Office / facility types
- Flexi-desk, Private office ↗
- Flexi-desk access terms: Shared workstation, 10 hours access per week, IFZA address, 1 hour meeting room per month; Flexi Desk+ gives unlimited access to own dedicated desk and 5 hours meeting room per month. [1]
- Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: Meeting rooms; Conference rooms; Social spaces. [1]
- Tenancy document type accepted by banks: Banks ask for the 'Unit Lease Agreement' among company documents. [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com.
Legal structure and ownership
Verified on 2026-10-24 from dso.ae, cdn.ifza.com, ifza.com.
Market access and customs
- Physical operations on the mainland allowed without an extra licence
- No ↗
- Dual licence cost: AED 10,000. [1]
- Can open mainland branch: yes. [1]
- Customs duty in the zone: Goods brought into, made or stored in the Free Zone are exempt from customs duty; goods moved into the Dubai customs zone are treated as imports and dutiable. [2]
- Customs duty exemption details: Customs duty exemption for goods brought into, produced or stored in the DIEZA Free Zone; duty applies when goods enter the Dubai customs zone. [2]
- [1] dso.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] dlp.dubai.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from dso.ae, dlp.dubai.gov.ae.
Tax status
- VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
- No ↗
- Which areas of zone are designated: None - not a Designated Zone. [1]
- [1] tax.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae.
Compliance and reporting
- Annual audited financial statements required by the zone
- Yes ↗
- Beneficial-owner register filing required
- Yes ↗
- Audit submission deadline: FZCO accounts to be prepared and audited within 30 days after financial year end and filed with the Registrar within 30 days after audit (DIEZA Regs wording). [1]
- Annual return and renewal documents: UBO declaration at each licence renewal; Audited accounts filed with the Registrar; Establishment card renewal (annual). [1]
- [1] dso.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from dso.ae.
Banking
- Zone offers bank-account facilitation
- Yes ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com.
Setup process and speed
- Direct application without an agent
- No ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com.
Operations, ecosystem and flexibility
- Moving to larger premises: Increase visa entitlement by upgrading licence category; move from Flexi Desk to Flexi Desk+, dedicated, private or personalized office at IFZA Business Park. No warehouse tier found. [1]
- Adding shareholders: Share transfers generally not permitted within the first 3 months after registration (AML precaution), exceptions at IFZA discretion; fees not published. [1]
- [1] cdn.ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.ifza.com.
Freelancer and solo founder
- Freelancer permit available
- No ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com.
Industry-specific regulation
- Virtual-asset regulator and licences: Virtual asset activities subject to Dubai VARA (Dubai Law 4 of 2022) per IFZA T&C; no IFZA licence categories published. [1]
- [1] cdn.ifza.com · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.ifza.com.
Activity fit (our view)
Likely possible
Needs a regulator's approval
- None
Not offered
Our assessment from the zone's published licence types. Always confirm your exact activity on the zone's official activity list. Licence types the zone publishes: Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, E-commerce.
Verified on 2026-10-24 from ifza.com.
Notes and history
History · 2020-10-21
On 21 October 2020 the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and IFZA signed an agreement under which new and existing IFZA companies can work from Dubai Silicon Oasis. [source 1][source 2]
Legal basis · 2022-01-01
Since 1 January 2022, Dubai Law No. 16 of 2021 has placed Dubai Silicon Oasis under the supervision of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA) and requires anyone conducting an activity in its free zone to be licensed by DIEZA. The same law repealed the 2005 Dubai Silicon Oasis law that IFZA's 2022 terms refer to. [source 1][source 2]
Good to know
IFZA's Terms and Conditions (October 2022 edition) define IFZA Dubai as the International Free Zone Authority area within Dubai Silicon Oasis. They state that FZCO and branch licences are issued under the rules and regulations of the Dubai Silicon Oasis Free Zone. [source]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.ifza.com, ifza.com, mediaoffice.ae and 1 more official source.
Questions worth asking
Can I get a general trading licence in IFZA?
Yes, IFZA offers a general trading licence.
Is IFZA a VAT Designated Zone?
IFZA does not appear on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones.
What is the minimum share capital in IFZA?
IFZA states a minimum share capital of AED 1.
About this data
Every fact comes from IFZA'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 →