DMCC free zone, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, is one of Dubai's best-known and most prestigious free zones, based in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT). It is a government authority set up in 2002, home to more than 25,000 member companies according to DMCC, and known for commodities such as gold, diamonds and coffee, as well as specialist hubs for crypto and gaming businesses. It costs more than budget free zones: DMCC's published packages start at AED 10,345 for its Nook licence with a co-working desk, and AED 35,484 for its Basic Biz package with a flexi desk eligible for one residence visa.
This guide covers DMCC's published packages and what they include, visas and offices, how to set up step by step, banking, tax and who DMCC suits, compared with lower-cost zones such as IFZA, Meydan and Ajman Media City. Package prices are as published on DMCC's business setup packages page when we compiled our UAE Business Setup Cost Index on 17 October 2026. DMCC updates its packages and promotions, so confirm the current price before you apply.
DMCC Free Zone at a Glance
| Feature | DMCC |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dubai Multi Commodities Centre |
| Location | Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai |
| Set up | 2002, as a government authority of the Government of Dubai |
| Member companies | More than 25,000, according to DMCC |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership |
| Known for | Gold, diamonds, coffee, tea and other commodities, plus crypto, gaming, trading and professional services |
| Lowest published package | AED 10,345 (Nook licence with co-working desk) |
| Lowest published package with a visa | AED 35,484 (Basic Biz, flexi desk eligible for one visa) |
DMCC Packages and Prices
DMCC publishes several setup packages. These are the ones listed on its packages page when we checked:
| Package | Published price | Visas | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nook | AED 10,345 | Not stated | Licence and a co-working desk at Nook, with 50% off the second-year renewal |
| Basic Biz | AED 35,484 | Eligible for 1 | Licence and a flexi desk eligible for one residence visa, true copy of resolution. Individual shareholders only |
| Jump Start (flexi desk) | AED 43,780 | 1 included, up to 3 | Licence, flexi desk, true copy of resolution |
The jump between Nook and the visa packages is mainly about office space. In DMCC, as in most free zones, the number of residence visas you can hold depends on the office or desk you take, and a co-working membership may not carry a visa allocation. If you need a visa for yourself, compare the visa packages rather than the cheapest licence.
What a DMCC Package Price Leaves Out
- Residence visa costs: the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and health insurance may be charged separately from the package. Ask for an itemised list.
- Renewal: Nook's 50% renewal discount applies to the second year. Ask for the full-price renewal from year three, and the renewal price of any other package.
- Extra visas and office upgrades: if you plan to hire, the office you need for more visas changes the cost substantially.
- Accounting, audit and tax: every DMCC company must keep accounts and register for corporate tax. See our bookkeeping cost guide.
- Bank account: opening a corporate account is separate. See our guide to opening a UAE corporate bank account.
Why Choose DMCC Free Zone Over a Cheaper Zone?
DMCC costs several times more than the cheapest free zones, so the question is what you get for the money:
- Reputation: DMCC is one of the most recognised free zones in Dubai, which can help with clients, partners and banks.
- Sector hubs: DMCC runs specialist communities for sectors such as crypto, gaming and commodities, with sector-specific licences and support. See our guide to setting up a crypto company in DMCC.
- Commodities: for gold, diamond and other commodity traders, DMCC is the natural home in Dubai. See our guide to starting a gold and jewellery business.
- Location: offices in JLT, close to Dubai Marina, with metro access, suit businesses that want a physical presence and to hire staff in Dubai.
If you are a solo consultant who mainly needs a licence and a visa, a lower-cost zone usually makes more sense. If your business depends on reputation, a commodity licence or a physical Dubai office, DMCC often justifies the extra cost.
DMCC vs IFZA vs Meydan vs Ajman Media City
| Free zone | Lowest published or quoted licence | Cheapest one-visa option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMCC | AED 10,345 (Nook) | AED 35,484 (Basic Biz) | Commodities, crypto, established firms wanting a premium Dubai address |
| Meydan Free Zone | From AED 12,500 | About AED 20,100, calculated from published fees | Dubai address at a mid-range price |
| IFZA | About AED 12,900 (commonly quoted through partners) | Partner quotes vary | Flexible activities, Dubai Silicon Oasis address |
| Ajman Media City | AED 4,999 | AED 12,999 (Visionary) | Lowest cost, licence and visa on a budget |
See our full guides to Meydan, IFZA and Ajman Media City, and our comparison of the cheapest free zones in the UAE.
How to Set Up a Company in DMCC Free Zone
- Choose your activities and check them against DMCC's activity list. Some, such as crypto and commodities, need extra approvals.
- Choose a package and office, based on how many visas you need.
- Reserve a company name that follows the UAE company name rules.
- Submit the application with shareholder passports and the required documents. DMCC carries out its own compliance checks.
- Sign the lease and incorporation documents and pay the fees.
- Receive the licence, then apply for the establishment card and residence visas.
- Open a bank account and register for corporate tax.
Timelines depend on your activity and documents. Activities that need extra approvals take longer. See how long company setup takes in Dubai.
Documents You Need to Set Up in DMCC
Exact requirements depend on your activity and whether the shareholder is a person or a company, but most applications need:
- Passport copies of every shareholder, director and manager, and a recent photograph.
- A UAE visa or entry stamp if the applicant is already in the UAE.
- Proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
- Corporate documents if a company is the shareholder: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, a board resolution and, often, attested copies.
- A short business plan or activity description, especially for regulated or specialist activities.
- Source-of-funds information for compliance checks, which banks will also ask for later.
Documents issued outside the UAE may need to be notarised and attested. Getting these ready early is the easiest way to avoid delays.
DMCC Visas, Family and Residency
Once your company has an establishment card, you can sponsor your own residence visa and those of employees, within the allocation of your office. Visa holders can usually sponsor a spouse and children if they meet the income and housing rules. See our guides to residency through your own company and sponsoring your family.
Tax for DMCC Companies
DMCC companies are subject to UAE corporate tax like any other UAE company. A free zone company that meets the qualifying free zone person conditions can pay 0% on qualifying income, with 9% applying to other taxable income above the AED 375,000 threshold, and it must register, keep accounts and file returns. VAT registration is required once taxable supplies pass the threshold. See our UAE corporate tax guide.
Is DMCC Free Zone Right for You?
- Good fit: commodity traders, crypto and gaming businesses, firms that need a premium Dubai address, and companies planning to hire in Dubai.
- Consider alternatives: solo freelancers and consultants on a tight budget, who can often get a licence and visa for a fraction of the cost elsewhere. See the cheapest freelance visa options.
Not sure which zone fits? Book a free consultation and we will compare DMCC with other zones for your activity, visa needs and budget, with an itemised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMCC's published packages start at AED 10,345 for the Nook licence with a co-working desk. Packages with a residence visa start at AED 35,484 for Basic Biz and AED 43,780 for Jump Start, as listed when we checked on 17 October 2026.
DMCC is based in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) in Dubai, with its Uptown Dubai district nearby.
Yes. The number of visas depends on your office or desk. DMCC's Basic Biz package includes a flexi desk eligible for one visa, and Jump Start includes one visa with capacity for up to three.
DMCC is one of Dubai's most established free zones, with a premium JLT address, specialist sector hubs such as crypto, gaming and commodities, and a strong reputation with clients and banks.
DMCC runs a dedicated crypto community and licenses certain crypto activities, subject to extra approvals. Some crypto activities also need approval from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
Yes. DMCC companies must register for UAE corporate tax. Qualifying free zone persons can pay 0% on qualifying income, with 9% on other taxable income above AED 375,000.
Among zones in our Cost Index, Ajman Media City publishes a licence from AED 4,999, and Meydan Free Zone in Dubai starts from AED 12,500.