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Not for crypto / Web3
→ DMCCVirtual-asset activities need a VARA / FSRA / DIFC licence; this zone doesn't issue one.
Not for F&B
→ MainlandRestaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens need a mainland DED foodservice licence. Free zones don't issue these.
Not for clinics
→ DHCCDHA-regulated medical/clinical activity requires Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
Visa cap: 6
→ Browse higher-cap zonesPlanning a team of 7+? You'll hit this zone's visa cap. Consider SRTIP / IFZA / JAFZA (unlimited).
Dubai · Free Zone
Coming as channel partnerFull UAE Free Zone profile · pricing on request
Formenzo files directly at DUQE as part of our full-coverage service — complete formation, visa, and banking support. Pricing is quoted per case based on your passport, activity, and visa count. The figures on this page reflect the authority’s published rate card.
DUQE Free Zone (QE2)
World's only floating free zone — on the QE2 at Port Rashid
7d
License in
6
Visa quota
1200+
Activities
6/10
Bank score
DUQE is the UAE's most unique free zone — operating from the Queen Elizabeth 2 floating hotel at Port Rashid. 1,200+ activities, general business licensing from AED 12,500. Novelty + prestige.
Starting from
AED 18,000
Formenzo all-in estimate
Includes: Government fees, Formenzo service, flexi-desk, establishment card
Invoice transparency · DUQE
What lands on your invoice. Line by line.
Every fee, in the order it hits. No “admin” tax, no hidden markup — Formenzo's margin is the zone's channel-partner commission, not a line on your invoice.
0 visas · licence only
- DUQE licenceAED 18,000
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo service feeAED 0
1 visa · founder
- DUQE licenceAED 18,000
- Entry permit × 1AED 3,500
- Medical + EID × 1AED 690
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo service feeAED 0
2 visas · partners
- DUQE licenceAED 18,000
- Entry permit × 2AED 7,000
- Medical + EID × 2AED 1,380
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo service feeAED 0
Visa bundle uses DUQE-standard rates. Final visas stamped per applicant; typing-centre and translation fees are only added when they actually occur and billed at cost (usually AED 0 for English-passport applicants, AED 100–200 otherwise).
Banking reality · DUQE
The real bank-approval picture for a DUQE licence.
Channel-partner outcomes by passport bucket, over the last 90 days. “Limited” means the bank rarely approves this combo — we'll re-route you rather than waste your time.
| Bank | IN / UK / PH Low friction | PK / BD / NG Enhanced DD | RU / IR / SY Sanctions screen | US FATCA disclosure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wio | Strong | Limited | Limited | Standard | 5–7 |
| Mashreq NeoBiz | Strong | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Standard | 10–14 |
| Emirates NBD | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Enhanced DD | 14–21 |
| RAKBANK | Strong | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 12–18 |
| CBI | Standard | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | 14–25 |
| ADCB | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 18–21 |
Outcomes are directional channel-partner patterns, not a guarantee for any specific applicant. “Days” = typical time from licence issuance to funded IBAN.
Banking partners
Banks that open accounts for DUQE companies with 90%+ approval.
Average time to IBAN
21 days
from license issuance
Formenzo setup timeline
Day-by-day what we deliver end-to-end, from signed engagement to funded IBAN.
Initial approval
We file your application with the Free Zone authority.
~2 days
License issued
Trade license + Establishment Card in hand. You can sign contracts.
~5 days
Investor visa
Entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → stamping.
~9 days
Bank account opened
Funded UAE IBAN ready to receive payments.
~5 days
Full cost breakdown
Every fee, transparent. Real 2026 AED pricing, no surprise invoices.
| Government license fee | AED 12,500 |
| Formenzo service fee (all-inclusive) | AED 3,500 |
| Establishment Card (only with visas) | AED 2,000 |
| Per-visa cost (optional) | AED 3,500 |
| Emirates ID (per person) | AED 370 |
| Medical fitness (per person) | AED 320 |
| Minimum setup (no visa) | AED 18,000 |
| With 1 investor visa (most founders) | AED 22,190 |
Why founders pick DUQE
- ✓Operates on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ship — Port Rashid
- ✓1,200+ activities permitted
- ✓Tourist-friendly Dubai address with unique story
- ✓All-in package from AED 12,500
- ✓Part of Dubai's Port Rashid revitalization
Best for these activities
consulting · ecommerce · marketing · it services · premium
Not allowed
DUQE — frequently asked questions
Quotable, answer-first, optimized for AI search (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Mode).
How much does a DUQE license cost in 2026?
+
A DUQE Free Zone (QE2) (DUQE) license costs AED 18,000 all-in for the zero-visa package in 2026 — that includes government license fee, Establishment Card, and Formenzo's all-inclusive service fee. Add one investor visa (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping) and the total becomes AED 22,190.
How long does DUQE company setup take?
+
DUQE issues the trade license in 7 business days after initial approval (2 days). A residency visa adds approximately 9 more days. Opening a UAE corporate bank account adds 5 days on top. Total from signup to funded UAE IBAN: about 21 days.
How many visas can I get with DUQE?
+
DUQE default package includes 3 visas, and the maximum allowed per license is 6. Each additional investor or employment visa costs approximately AED 3,500 including entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, and stamping.
Which UAE banks open accounts for DUQE companies?
+
DUQE companies primarily bank with Emirates NBD, Mashreq NeoBiz, WIO. Formenzo coordinates the KYC process and typical time from license issuance to funded account is 14 days. Bank approval rates vary by nationality; we pre-match you to the right bank before filing.
What business activities does DUQE allow?
+
DUQE permits approximately 1,200 business activities. It is best suited for consulting, ecommerce, marketing, it services. Activities not allowed include restaurant, retail physical, industrial — these require a UAE Mainland license.
Can I form a DUQE company without visiting the UAE?
+
Yes — DUQE formation is fully remote through Formenzo. We handle document collection, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, and submission without a UAE visit. You only come to the UAE for one day to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — and only if you want a residency visa. The trade license itself can be issued with zero travel.
Is DUQE eligible for 0% UAE Corporate Tax?
+
Yes. DUQE is a recognized UAE Free Zone, so companies qualifying as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can maintain a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% above AED 375,000. DUQE companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months of incorporation — Formenzo handles this filing.
Why choose DUQE over other UAE Free Zones?
+
World's only floating free zone — on the QE2 at Port Rashid. Operates on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ship — Port Rashid. 1,200+ activities permitted. Banking score: 6/10. Setup speed: 7 days. Starting cost: AED 18,000. Take Formenzo's 60-second assessment to compare DUQE against 47 other UAE Free Zones based on your nationality, budget, and business activity.
Other Dubai Free Zones
Compare DUQE with other options in the same emirate.
IFZA
Best balance of price, speed, and Dubai address
Meydan FZ
Premium Dubai address with strong banking & ecommerce support
DMCC
9-time #1 Free Zone — JLT + Uptown Dubai with unmatched banking and commodity ecosystems
DWTC
Iconic Sheikh Zayed Road address · MICE + digital assets + family offices
Ready to form your DUQE company?
Take our 60-second assessment. We'll prepare your docs, file with DUQE, and have your license in 7 days.