IFZA free zone, the International Free Zone Authority, is one of the most popular places to set up a company in Dubai, based in Dubai Silicon Oasis. It offers 100% foreign ownership, a wide range of commercial and professional activities, flexi-desk packages and residence visas, and it is known for straightforward setup through its network of registered partners. Unlike some free zones, IFZA does not publish a fixed public price list: licences are sold through authorised partners, and quotes commonly start at around AED 12,900 a year for a licence with no visa, with total first-year costs rising once you add an establishment card and residence visas.
This guide explains what IFZA offers, the typical costs and how they are built up, visas and offices, the setup steps, banking, tax and who IFZA suits best, compared with alternatives such as Meydan. Because IFZA quotes through partners, the prices here are figures commonly quoted in published 2026 guides, checked as of October 2026. Always get an itemised written quote for your activity and visa needs, and see our UAE Business Setup Cost Index for zones that publish their own prices.
IFZA Free Zone at a Glance
| Feature | IFZA |
|---|---|
| Location | Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership |
| Licence types | Commercial (trading) and professional (services) licences, with a broad activity list |
| Office | Flexi-desk packages, with dedicated offices available |
| Visas | Packages from zero visas upwards, with the visa allocation depending on the package and office |
| Pricing | No public price list. Quotes through authorised partners |
| Commonly quoted starting price | About AED 12,900 a year for a licence with no visa |
| Multi-year licences | Discounts are commonly offered on two- and three-year licences |
How Much Does an IFZA Licence Cost?
Published 2026 guides commonly quote about AED 12,900 a year for an IFZA licence with no residence visa. That headline figure is usually only the licence package. The real first-year cost depends on what you add:
| Setup | Commonly quoted first-year total | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Licence only, no visa | About AED 12,900 | Suits owners who live outside the UAE or already have a visa |
| Licence with one residence visa | Roughly AED 17,700 to AED 21,400, depending on the guide | Adds the establishment card, visa, medical test and Emirates ID |
| Licence with two visas | Higher again, with each extra visa adding several thousand dirhams | Each person adds visa and medical costs |
Quotes differ between partners because some include the establishment card, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance or their own service fee, and others do not. Ask every partner for a line-by-line quote showing government fees separately from service fees, so you can compare like with like. Our first-year company cost breakdown explains each cost item.
Why IFZA Does Not Publish Prices
IFZA works mainly through a network of authorised business setup partners, who handle applications and set their own service fees on top of IFZA's charges. When we compiled our cost index on 17 October 2026, IFZA's business setup page did not list package prices. This is not unusual, but it means the price you pay depends partly on the partner you choose. A transparent partner will show IFZA's fees and its own fee separately and will not add services you do not need.
IFZA Visas and Office Options
- Visa allocation: IFZA packages range from zero visas upwards. The number of visas you can hold depends on the package and the office or flexi-desk you take.
- Residence visas: each visa needs an establishment card first, then the entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping. See our guide to getting residency through your own company.
- Family: once you hold a residence visa, you can usually sponsor family members if you meet the income and housing rules. See our guide to sponsoring your family.
- Office: a flexi-desk is enough for most start-ups. Businesses that need more visas or a physical presence can take a dedicated office.
How to Set Up an IFZA Company, Step by Step
- Choose your activities and confirm they are on IFZA's activity list.
- Choose the package, including the number of visas and the licence term.
- Reserve the company name, following the UAE company name rules.
- Submit the application through an authorised partner with passport copies and shareholder details.
- Sign the incorporation documents and pay the fees.
- Receive the licence and incorporation documents.
- Apply for the establishment card and visas, if needed.
- Open a corporate bank account.
Straightforward IFZA applications are commonly completed within days to a couple of weeks for the licence, with visas taking longer. See our guide to how long company setup takes in Dubai.
Banking With an IFZA Company
Banks open accounts for IFZA companies regularly, but approval depends on your activity, nationality, source of funds and UAE presence rather than the free zone alone. A clear business plan, real contracts and a resident manager all help. Our guide to why corporate bank accounts get rejected explains how to prepare.
Corporate Tax and VAT for IFZA Companies
IFZA companies are subject to UAE corporate tax like any other UAE company. A free zone company can benefit from the 0% rate on qualifying income if it meets the qualifying free zone person conditions, and pays 9% on other taxable income above AED 375,000. VAT registration is required once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 a year. Our corporate tax guide covers the details.
Renewing an IFZA Licence
An IFZA licence is renewed every year, or every few years on a multi-year package. Renewal usually costs close to the original licence fee, plus the renewal of any office lease and, every two years in most cases, the residence visas. Before renewal, make sure your accounts, corporate tax and VAT filings are up to date and your beneficial ownership records are current, because outstanding compliance issues can delay it. Late renewal can lead to fines and can block visa and bank transactions, so set a reminder at least a month before the expiry date. Multi-year licences reduce the annual cost and the admin, which suits companies that are confident about their plans. Our trade licence renewal guide explains the general process.
IFZA vs Meydan: Which Is Better?
| Factor | IFZA | Meydan Free Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Dubai Silicon Oasis | Nad Al Sheba, near Downtown Dubai |
| Price list | Not published. Quotes through partners | Published line by line on its website |
| Licence with no visa | Commonly quoted about AED 12,900 | From AED 12,500 (published) |
| Adding visas | Often quoted as cheaper per additional visa | Visa allocation and visa fees published separately |
| Best for | Founders who want a flexible Dubai package through a partner | Founders who want transparent, published pricing and fast online setup |
For a no-visa licence, the two are close. Once you add visas, compare full itemised quotes, because the difference often comes from visa-related fees. Read our Meydan Free Zone guide for the published Meydan fees.
Who IFZA Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Good fit: consultants, service businesses, e-commerce and general trading companies that want a Dubai address, flexible packages and room to add visas.
- Consider alternatives: if you need the lowest possible licence cost (some Northern Emirates zones publish lower prices), a specialised ecosystem such as DMCC for commodities, or a mainland licence to trade directly with UAE customers. See our cheapest free zones guide and free zone vs mainland comparison.
Key Takeaways
- IFZA is a Dubai free zone in Dubai Silicon Oasis offering 100% foreign ownership and flexible packages.
- It has no public price list. A no-visa licence is commonly quoted at about AED 12,900 a year.
- With one visa, commonly quoted first-year totals range from about AED 17,700 to AED 21,400.
- Ask for itemised quotes separating government fees from partner fees.
- Compare IFZA with Meydan on the full cost including visas, not just the licence.
Get an Itemised IFZA Quote
SMS Consulting, operating under ISO 9001:2015-certified processes across offices in Dubai, London, Delhi and Dhaka, sets up IFZA, Meydan and other free zone companies with itemised quotes that separate government fees from our service fee. See our company formation services or talk to us.
IFZA or Meydan?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We'll compare both zones line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
IFZA does not publish a public price list. Published 2026 guides commonly quote about AED 12,900 a year for a licence with no visa, and roughly AED 17,700 to AED 21,400 for the first year with one residence visa.
IFZA is based in Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai.
Yes. IFZA packages range from zero visas upwards, and the number of visas depends on the package and office. Each visa needs an establishment card, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping.
IFZA sells mainly through authorised business setup partners, who quote IFZA's fees plus their own service fees. Ask for an itemised quote that shows both separately.
For a licence with no visa they are close, with Meydan publishing a starting price of AED 12,500. Once visas are added, compare full itemised quotes, because the difference usually comes from visa-related fees.
Yes, IFZA companies are within UAE corporate tax. Qualifying free zone persons can pay 0% on qualifying income, with 9% on other taxable income above AED 375,000.