A Dubai South licence starts at AED 12,540 with us, including a flexi-desk. With one residence visa the package is AED 21,055; with two, AED 27,650. Company registration typically takes two to four working days once documents are in.
Dubai South — formerly Dubai World Central, and still abbreviated DWC on paperwork — is the 145 square kilometre district built around Al Maktoum International Airport in southern Dubai. It is the zone to look at if logistics, freight, aviation or e-commerce fulfilment is what you actually do, rather than a zone you pick for the address alone.
| Package | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Licence only | AED 12,540 | Trade licence and flexi-desk, no visa allocation |
| Licence + 1 visa | AED 21,055 | Adds establishment card and one residence visa allocation |
| Licence + 2 visas | AED 27,650 | Two residence visa allocations |
Prices current September 2026. Warehousing, dedicated desks and private offices are quoted separately, because the right figure depends on square metres. Medical fitness, Emirates ID and visa stamping are charged per person on top and we itemise them before you pay.
The district matters more here than in most free zones, because it determines which facilities you can lease and which activities the authority will approve on your licence.
Proximity to Al Maktoum. The airport is under a major long-term expansion, and businesses that move goods by air are positioning themselves next to it now rather than later. If air freight is in your supply chain, being inside the zone is an operational advantage, not just an address.
A Dubai licence at below Dubai Marina cost. At AED 12,540 it is marginally cheaper than IFZA for the licence alone, though IFZA is cheaper once visas are added — compare the +1 visa column, not the headline.
Real warehousing. Unlike zones that offer only desks, Dubai South has logistics warehousing available, which matters if you hold stock.
This is the practical difference between Dubai South and a package-tier zone like IFZA. Here, visa quota is tied to the facility you take: a flexi-desk supports a small allocation, a dedicated desk a little more, and a private office scales roughly with floor area.
The consequence is worth planning around. If you expect to be ten people in two years, take the space that supports ten visas now rather than moving twice. Size for where you are going, not where you are.
It is a strong fit for logistics, freight, e-commerce fulfilment, aviation services and manufacturing, and a reasonable one for consultancies that want a Dubai licence at a moderate cost.
It is the wrong fit if you need to trade directly with customers inside the UAE mainland — that needs a mainland licence, a branch or a distributor — or if cost is the binding constraint and a Dubai address is not. In that case an ANC licence in Ajman from AED 4,888 or a Shams licence from AED 5,760 does the same legal job for a third of the money.
From AED 12,540 for the licence and flexi-desk with no visa allocation, AED 21,055 with one residence visa, and AED 27,650 with two. Warehousing and private offices are quoted on top, based on area.
Dubai World Central, the former name of Dubai South. You will still see DWC on trade licences, addresses and airport codes.
Company registration is typically two to four working days after documents are submitted. Investor visa processing adds roughly ten to fifteen working days on top.
Quota follows the facility rather than the package: a flexi-desk carries a small allocation, and a private office scales approximately with floor area. If you plan to hire, choose the space with the eventual headcount in mind.
It can trade within the free zone and internationally. Selling directly into the UAE mainland normally requires a mainland licence, a mainland branch, or a local distributor.
They suit different businesses. Dubai South is stronger for logistics, warehousing and anything airport-linked. IFZA is usually cheaper once visas are included and carries a broader activity list for service companies. We price both before recommending either.
Tell us your activity, where your customers are and your two-year headcount. We will price Dubai South, IFZA and the cheaper emirates side by side, so you are choosing rather than guessing.
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