Set up your business in DWTC Free Zone with expert end-to-end support from The Executive Centre. Operate from a prestigious One Central business address.
Business setup plans from AED 12,000
Advisory fees only. Government and authority fees apply separately.
Free Zone Establishment (FZE): Ideal for single-shareholder setups, where an individual or corporate entity maintains 100% ownership.
Free Zone Company (FZC): Designed for partnerships, requiring two or more shareholders, whether individuals or organisations.
Branch of a Foreign Company: Allows international firms to establish a presence in DWTC. This entity operates under the parent company’s activities and carries no capital requirement.
Branch of a UAE Company: Enables existing registered entities to open a legally dependent branch within the Free Zone to conduct all or part of their business operations.
From company registration to post-incorporation support, we manage every stage of your DWTC Free Zone setup, making the process efficient and straightforward.
A premium Grade A commercial destination in Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone, offering a prestigious business address and flexible workspaces in the heart of the CBD.
Choose from a flexible suite of tailored services that can be combined to meet your specific needs, with expert guidance and full regulatory support throughout your business journey.
| Business Licensing Services | Visa Processing | Compliance & Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Business Setup | Dependent Visa | PRO Service |
| Initial Approval | Sponsorship File | Document Attestation |
| External No Objection Certificate (NOC) | New Employment Visa | Translation |
| Licensing | Employment Visa Renewal | Bank Account Assistance |
| Activities Amendment | New Investor Visa | Wage Protection System (WPS) |
| Shareholder Amendment | Investor Visa Renewal | VAT Registration |
| Business Name Change | Visa Details Amendment | Corporate Tax Registration |
| Additional License | Re-Entry Permit Over 6 Months | VAT Filing |
| Custom Registration (Import Code) | Corporate Tax (CT) Filing | |
| Product Registration | Audit Financial Report | |
| Private Label | Accounting & Bookkeeping | |
| Trade Mark Registration | ||
| Copyright |
Purpose: For trading and retail companies handling goods and services.
Examples: Online retailers, drop-shipping businesses, digital marketplaces, E-learning platforms.
Purpose: For individuals and companies providing professional services.
Examples: Consultants, artisans, craftsmen, and other service providers.
Purpose: For companies to operate in the digital asset and blockchain space.
Examples: Cryptocurrency exchanges, NFT marketplaces, blockchain development firms.
Purpose: For businesses to sell goods and services on an online platform from and within Dubai’s free zones.
Examples: Online retailers, drop-shipping businesses, digital marketplaces, E-learning platforms.
Purpose: For companies wishing to engage in local & international trade of a wider range of products and multi-product lines without specific restrictions.
Examples: Import-Export Firms, Retail Chains or Wholesalers, Foodstuff Distributors.
Purpose: For businesses to manage the financial, investment and estate planning affairs of a single family.
Examples: A family-run or a private office dedicated to the wealth management for a single family.
Purpose: For businesses to provide financial, investment and estate planning affairs for multiple families.
Examples: Private wealth management firms, boutique investment advisory firms, shared trust management entities.
Purpose: For businesses to promote, organise and manage events such as conferences, exhibitions, concerts & Corporate gatherings across Dubai (provided they obtain any necessary additional permits).
Examples: Event planning firms, concert promoters, festival coordinators, corporate event managers.
The process involves the following steps:
1. Decide on the type of business activity & license you will need.
2. Obtain the necessary trade license based on your business type.
3. Register your business with the relevant authorities.
4. Secure an office space and complete visa processing, if required.
5. Register your business with the relevant authorities.
6. Secure an office space and complete visa processing, if required.
All kind of licenses require hot desk/office space; however, space requirements vary depending on the trade license activity. Click Here to see our office spaces available in Dubai.
| Feature | Mainland | Free Zone | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership for most activities, but some require Emirati partnership. | 100% foreign ownership guaranteed for all activities. | 100% foreign ownership, but no local operations allowed. |
| Business Scope | Operate anywhere in the UAE but requires approvals for certain activities. | Trade internationally or within the free zone with ease. | Restricted to international markets only (No UAE trading). |
| Office Requirement | Physical office space required. | Flexible office solutions, including hot desks or physical offices. | No physical office required. |
| Taxation | Subject to UAE corporate tax (from 2023) and VAT compliance. | Tax-free incentives in most cases and no customs duties within the free zone. | Tax-free but cannot benefit from UAE's Double Taxation Agreements. |
| Set-up Costs | Higher due to office, licensing, and approval requirements. | Cost-effective setup with minimal bureaucracy and free zone authority support. | Low set-up costs but limited in operational scope. |
| Customs Duty | 5% customs duty on imported goods. | No customs duties for goods traded within the free zone. | Not applicable, as no local trading is allowed. |
| Trading Restrictions | None. | Can trade directly in the mainland with a local distributor. | No trading allowed within the UAE. |
| Regulations | Governed by UAE Commercial Companies Law. | Business-friendly regulations tailored to industries, governed by free zone authorities. | Strict regulations for international compliance. |
With The Executive Centre’s streamlined process, setup is typically completed within:
Application Stage
All:
UAE Residents Only:
Post Initial Approval Stage
Additional Documents for Corporate Shareholders (If Shareholder is a non-individual)
Note: Documents from corporate shareholders must be notarised by a notary public and attested by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin or by the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All documents should be in English or Arabic.
All kind of licenses require hot desk/office space; however, space requirements vary depending on the trade license activity. Click Here to see our office spaces available in Dubai World Trade Centre.
No, you do not need a local sponsor to set up a business in a Dubai Free Zone. One of the primary benefits of setting up in a Free Zone, for example, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), is that it allows 100% foreign ownership of the business.
This eliminates the need for a UAE national to act as a local sponsor, which is typically required for mainland businesses outside free zones.
Yes. There are some regulations specific to E-Commerce Businesses operating in Dubai Free Zones (e.g. website regulations, payment gateways & online specific rules).
You must:
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Contact usBranch of a Foreign Company: Allows international firms to establish a presence in DWTC. This entity operates under the parent company’s activities and carries no capital requirement.
Branch of a UAE Company: Enables existing registered entities to open a legally dependent branch within the Free Zone to conduct all or part of their business operations.
From company registration to post-incorporation support, we manage every stage of your DWTC Free Zone setup, making the process efficient and straightforward.
A premium Grade A commercial destination in Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone, offering a prestigious business address and flexible workspaces in the heart of the CBD.
Choose from a flexible suite of tailored services that can be combined to meet your specific needs, with expert guidance and full regulatory support throughout your business journey.
| Business Licensing Services | Visa Processing | Compliance & Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Business Setup | Dependent Visa | PRO Service |
| Initial Approval | Sponsorship File | Document Attestation |
| External No Objection Certificate (NOC) | New Employment Visa | Translation |
| Licensing | Employment Visa Renewal | Bank Account Assistance |
| Activities Amendment | New Investor Visa | Wage Protection System (WPS) |
| Shareholder Amendment | Investor Visa Renewal | VAT Registration |
| Business Name Change | Visa Details Amendment | Corporate Tax Registration |
| Additional License | Re-Entry Permit Over 6 Months | VAT Filing |
| Custom Registration (Import Code) | Corporate Tax (CT) Filing | |
| Product Registration | Audit Financial Report | |
| Private Label | Accounting & Bookkeeping | |
| Trade Mark Registration | ||
| Copyright |
The process involves the following steps:
1. Decide on the type of business activity & license you will need.
2. Obtain the necessary trade license based on your business type.
3. Register your business with the relevant authorities.
4. Secure an office space and complete visa processing, if required.
5. Register your business with the relevant authorities.
6. Secure an office space and complete visa processing, if required.
All kind of licenses require hot desk/office space; however, space requirements vary depending on the trade license activity. Click Here to see our office spaces available in Dubai.
| Feature | Mainland | Free Zone | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership for most activities, but some require Emirati partnership. | 100% foreign ownership guaranteed for all activities. | 100% foreign ownership, but no local operations allowed. |
| Business Scope | Operate anywhere in the UAE but requires approvals for certain activities. | Trade internationally or within the free zone with ease. | Restricted to international markets only (No UAE trading). |
| Office Requirement | Physical office space required. | Flexible office solutions, including hot desks or physical offices. | No physical office required. |
| Taxation | Subject to UAE corporate tax (from 2023) and VAT compliance. | Tax-free incentives in most cases and no customs duties within the free zone. | Tax-free but cannot benefit from UAE's Double Taxation Agreements. |
| Set-up Costs | Higher due to office, licensing, and approval requirements. | Cost-effective setup with minimal bureaucracy and free zone authority support. | Low set-up costs but limited in operational scope. |
| Customs Duty | 5% customs duty on imported goods. | No customs duties for goods traded within the free zone. | Not applicable, as no local trading is allowed. |
| Trading Restrictions | None. | Can trade directly in the mainland with a local distributor. | No trading allowed within the UAE. |
| Regulations | Governed by UAE Commercial Companies Law. | Business-friendly regulations tailored to industries, governed by free zone authorities. | Strict regulations for international compliance. |
With The Executive Centre’s streamlined process, setup is typically completed within:
Application Stage
All:
UAE Residents Only:
Post Initial Approval Stage
Additional Documents for Corporate Shareholders (If Shareholder is a non-individual)
Note: Documents from corporate shareholders must be notarised by a notary public and attested by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin or by the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All documents should be in English or Arabic.
All kind of licenses require hot desk/office space; however, space requirements vary depending on the trade license activity. Click Here to see our office spaces available in Dubai World Trade Centre.
Yes. There are some regulations specific to E-Commerce Businesses operating in Dubai Free Zones (e.g. website regulations, payment gateways & online specific rules).
You must:
