Consulting0vSRTIP 5,500QUOTEStarter package · licence-only14m ago
IT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400LICENCELicence issued · day 447m ago
Trading1vRAKEZ 10,500REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed1h 12m ago
Consulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGCBI pack routed · KYC2h agoE-commerce0vSHAMS 5,750LICENCEMedia package · 4h express2h 44m ago
General Trading3vRAKEZ 18,500QUOTE3 visas bundled · Portal 3603h ago
Consulting1vIFZA 16,700REROUTEDRAKBANK declined → HSBC pending3h 18m agoFreelance1vAFZ 10,800BANKINGADCB pack ready · KYC4h ago
Marketing0vSPC 5,750LICENCE24-hour express issue5h ago
Fintech0vADGM 44,000QUOTERegLab application opened6h agoConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500BANKINGWio checklist ready8h ago
Freelance1vUAQ 11,000LICENCEUAQ START · day 29h ago
Trading2vANCFZ 15,200QUOTEUpgraded from zero-visa package11h agoCrypto / Web30vDMCC 31,000LICENCEVARA sandbox licence · day 813h agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400EIDEID issued · founder + partner14h ago
Marketing0vSHAMS 5,750QUOTEInstallment · 12 × 57316h ago
Consulting1vSRTIP 9,690LICENCEStarter · day 518h agoGeneral Trading4vDMCC 51,684REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed20h ago
Consulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGEmirates NBD pack readyyesterdayE-commerce1vANCFZ 10,800LICENCE15-min registration · same-dayyesterdayLogistics3vJAFZA 25,000QUOTEFZE Type 1 + warehouse leaseyesterday
Consulting0vIFZA 12,200BANKINGMashreq pack routed2d agoIndustrial4vKIZAD 145,000LICENCEIndustrial + 2,000 sqm plot2d agoInnovation0vInnovation City 6,600LICENCEIdea package · on-chain issuejust nowConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500QUOTEStarter package · licence-only14m agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400LICENCELicence issued · day 447m agoTrading1vRAKEZ 10,500REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed1h 12m agoConsulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGCBI pack routed · KYC2h agoE-commerce0vSHAMS 5,750LICENCEMedia package · 4h express2h 44m agoGeneral Trading3vRAKEZ 18,500QUOTE3 visas bundled · Portal 3603h agoConsulting1vIFZA 16,700REROUTEDRAKBANK declined → HSBC pending3h 18m agoFreelance1vAFZ 10,800BANKINGADCB pack ready · KYC4h agoMarketing0vSPC 5,750LICENCE24-hour express issue5h agoFintech0vADGM 44,000QUOTERegLab application opened6h agoConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500BANKINGWio checklist ready8h agoFreelance1vUAQ 11,000LICENCEUAQ START · day 29h agoTrading2vANCFZ 15,200QUOTEUpgraded from zero-visa package11h agoCrypto / Web30vDMCC 31,000LICENCEVARA sandbox licence · day 813h agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400EIDEID issued · founder + partner14h agoMarketing0vSHAMS 5,750QUOTEInstallment · 12 × 57316h agoConsulting1vSRTIP 9,690LICENCEStarter · day 518h agoGeneral Trading4vDMCC 51,684REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed20h agoConsulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGEmirates NBD pack readyyesterdayE-commerce1vANCFZ 10,800LICENCE15-min registration · same-dayyesterdayLogistics3vJAFZA 25,000QUOTEFZE Type 1 + warehouse leaseyesterdayConsulting0vIFZA 12,200BANKINGMashreq pack routed2d agoIndustrial4vKIZAD 145,000LICENCEIndustrial + 2,000 sqm plot2d agoInnovation0vInnovation City 6,600LICENCEIdea package · on-chain issueCompare · No signup
DMCC and JAFZA are Dubai's two heaviest-hitting commercial free zones. DMCC is commodities-and-trading-flagged with strong fintech/crypto support; JAFZA is heavy industrial / logistics / B2B-trading flagged with the Jebel Ali port on its doorstep. Both bank well at HSBC, Standard Chartered and Emirates NBD.
Verdict: Pick DMCC if you trade, run a fintech, or want a Dubai-Marina-adjacent brand. Pick JAFZA if you're moving physical goods through Jebel Ali Port or running industrial / B2B-trading at scale.
Live channel-partner figures from Formenzo's pricing engine. Authority + Formenzo service scope only — visas, EID and medicals are extra and shown on each zone page.
| Metric | DMCC | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Starting priceAuthority licence + bundled flexi-desk; visas + EID extra. | 35,484 | 11,500 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Visas (default → max) | 0 → 6 | 0 → 999 |
| Licence in | 10 days | 10 days |
| Visa complete in | 17 days | 14 days |
| Banking scorePre-screened bank fit. Final approval is bank-side. | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Prestige score | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Activities allowed | 1,000 | 7 |
| Bank panel | HSBC · Mashreq Bank · Emirates NBD | Emirates NBD · HSBC · Mashreq |
Pick DMCC when
Pick JAFZA when
Not as cleanly as DMCC. JAFZA's licensing pathways for virtual-asset activities are limited and slow. The DMCC Crypto Centre is the standard answer — VARA-aligned, recognised regulatory framework, bank panel that understands crypto-business profiles.
JAFZA's entry licence is AED 11,500, much lower than DMCC's AED 35,484 Basic Biz. But JAFZA's costs scale faster if you need warehouse/factory space, whereas DMCC's high entry already includes a flexi-desk in JLT.
Yes — DMCC and JAFZA both have strong HSBC and Standard Chartered relationships. JAFZA additionally banks well with Emirates NBD's commercial-banking arm because of the industrial / trade-finance overlap.
Depends on the goods. Physical commodities → DMCC (commodities licence + Crypto Centre + Tea Centre + Coffee Centre + Diamond Exchange). Bulk industrial / port-related trading → JAFZA. Software / digital trading → IFZA or Meydan are cheaper alternatives.
Yes — both DMCC and JAFZA support fully online incorporation. The single in-person UAE visit is for medical fitness + Emirates ID biometrics (1 day). Pre-approval, licence issuance and bank file prep all happen remotely.
Compare
If DMCC's AED 35,484 entry feels steep, IFZA at AED 12,200 is the cost-leader alternative.
See side-by-sideCompare
If your structure is holding-only (no UAE operations), offshore RAK ICC may fit better.
See side-by-sideCompare
Northern Emirate (RAKEZ) at AED 6,000 — for B2B + industrial without the Dubai premium.
See side-by-sideStop comparing, start filing
Seven questions — passport, activity, visas, budget, banking expectation. We return the 2–3 best-fit zones with full all-in pricing. No callback unless you ask.