Logistics & Freight Forwarding in the UAE

Key points

Unlike some zones, the UAE does not require a large paid-up capital to be blocked in a bank account before the licence is granted. the UAE is located in Jebel Ali Port area, Dubai — adjacent to Jebel Ali Port (world's 9th busiest), and the authority's processing time for a standard file is around 10 working days. In practice, popular activities in the UAE include import/export, logistics, manufacturing, commodities and retail, and most of them can be combined on a single licence.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   As we tell every client, in the first call we check that the UAE lists your activity, settle the licence type and match the visa package and office to what you actually need.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name with the the UAE authority and obtains initial approval, usually within one to two working days. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to starting a logistics company in the UAE.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   Day to day, you sign the submission forms and memorandum, we submit the attested documents and the licence fee is paid to the licensing authority.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   To be clear, your the UAE licence, certificate of incorporation and lease are released, and we move straight on to the establishment card, visas and bank introduction. We keep a written record of this step so your file for starting a logistics company in the UAE is audit-ready.

Documents required

Gather these supporting documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of starting a logistics company in the UAE.

• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
• A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones

Pricing

Use the table below to compare packages for starting a logistics company in the UAE; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. In practice, all prices for starting a logistics company in the UAE are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay.

Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.

Where to license logistics & freight forwarding

Port-adjacent zones such as JAFZA and SAIF Zone give direct access to cargo terminals, customs and warehousing. A customs code and, for some activities, a transport authority permit are required.

JAFZAJebel Ali — the world's largest free zone and gateway to g…SAIF ZoneSharjah's industrial free zone — warehousing, logistics an…RAKEZRAK's all-in-one economic zone — business, industrial and …Ajman Free ZoneOne of the UAE's most affordable free zones — 0-visa packa…Ajman mainlandGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…

Examples of this activity

• Freight forwarder
• Courier company
• 3PL warehouse
• Customs broker

Logistics & Freight Forwarding guides by nationality

IndianPakistaniBritishRussianChineseNigerianSaudiEgyptianKenyanGermanSingaporeanOmaniFrenchItalianSpanishPortugueseDutchBelgianSwissAustrianSwedishNorwegianDanishFinnishIcelandicIrishPolishCzechSlovakHungarianRomanianBulgarianGreekCroatianSerbianSlovenianUkrainianEstonianLatvianLithuanianAmericanCanadianAustralianNew ZealanderJapaneseSouth KoreanTurkishMalaysianIndonesianThaiVietnameseFilipinoBangladeshiSouth AfricanEmiratiQatari

Why the UAE

Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes starting a logistics company in the UAE a route to relocation as well as a business decision. English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies starting a logistics company in the UAE for international founders.

Why GoldenKey

In our experience, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for starting a logistics company in the UAE happen the same day they are ready. Because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which documents each of them will ask for on a the UAE file. Importantly, you deal with one named consultant from the first call until your the UAE licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally.

Frequently asked questions