# 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. - Emirate: Dubai - Licensing authority: Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA) - licensing authority for the Dubai Silicon Oasis free zone, within which IFZA Dubai operates - Official website: https://ifza.com/en/ - Also known as: IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) - Last checked: 2026-10-24 - Page: https://freezoneguide.com/uae/dubai/ifza ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Solo, no visa (year 1): one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity | Not published | | Founder + 1 visa (year 1): one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office | Not published | | Team, 3 visas (year 1): three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office | Not published | | Lowest package of any size, without stated conditions (year 1) | Not published | | Lowest licence fee | Not published | | Largest visa quota in a package | Not published | | Minimum office | Not published | | Licence types | Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, E-commerce | | Minimum share capital | AED 1 | | Incorporation time (stated) | — | | On the FTA VAT Designated Zone list | No | ## 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: https://ifza.com/en/ - Online application portal: https://ifza.com/en/partner-portal-login/ - Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars: No Physical locations / campuses: IFZA Business Park (Dubai Digital Park, Buildings A2 & B5), Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai. [1] Public contact email: info@ifza.com. [2] Public contact phone: +971 4 228 5285; toll free 800-IFZA (4392). [2] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/industry-analysis/flexi-desk-uae-maximize-business-flexibility/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/about/) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/set-up-your-business/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/guide/uae-business-activity-license-mapping-guide/) · [3] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/industry-analysis/flexi-desk-uae-maximize-business-flexibility/) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/ecosystem/ifza-banking-services/) ## Legal structure and ownership - Entity types available: FZCO (several shareholders), Branch of a foreign company - Legal system: UAE civil law - Minimum share capital: AED 1 Minimum shareholders: 1. [1] Corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [2] Foreign corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [1] Courts and arbitration: Courts of Dubai. [1] Sources: [1] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://dso.ae/documents/d/dubai-silicon-oasis/dieza_implementing_regs_2023-pdf) · [2] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/set-up-your-business/) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://dso.ae/documents/d/dubai-silicon-oasis/executive-council-resolution-no-11-of-2025-regulating-the-conduct-of-free-zone-establishments-activities) · [2] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2021/Law%20No.%20(16)%20of%202021.html) ## Tax status - VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list): No Which areas of zone are designated: None - not a Designated Zone. [1] Sources: [1] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://tax.gov.ae/-/media/Files/EN/PDF/Guides/Designated-Zones---21-09-2021-sep21.pdf) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Government source (opened 2026-10-24)](https://dso.ae/documents/d/dubai-silicon-oasis/dieza_implementing_regs_2023-pdf) ## Banking - Zone offers bank-account facilitation: Yes ## Setup process and speed - Direct application without an agent: No Documents for an individual shareholder: Licence application form (including UBO); Passport copy; Digital passport photo; Emirates ID and visa copy (UAE residents). [1] Sources: [1] [Zone website (opened 2026-10-24)](https://ifza.com/en/set-up-your-business/) ## 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] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) ## Freelancer and solo founder - Freelancer permit available: No ## 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] Sources: [1] [Zone document (opened 2026-10-24)](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) ## 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](https://ifza.com/en/dubai-silicon-oasis-authority-signs-agreement-with-ifza/) [source](https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2020/october/24-10/dubai-silicon-oasis-authority-signs-agreement-with--international-free-zone-authority-ifza) - **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](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) - **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](https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2021/Law%20No.%20(16)%20of%202021.html) [source](https://cdn.ifza.com/docs/01_new/references/tnc_190821.pdf) ## FAQ ### 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. ## Compare with - [IFZA vs DAFZ](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=dafza&z=ifza) - [IFZA vs DCC](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=dubai-commercity&z=ifza) - [IFZA vs DWTC Free Zone](https://freezoneguide.com/uae/compare/custom?z=dwtc&z=ifza) Rules that apply to every zone: [corporate tax](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/qualifying-free-zone-person-corporate-tax.md), [VAT Designated Zones](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/vat-designated-zones.md), [mainland access](https://freezoneguide.com/guides/free-zone-vs-mainland.md) --- 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. --- Source: FreezoneGuide (https://freezoneguide.com/). AED, as published by each zone on its official channels. 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.