FREE ZONE · DUBAI

DMCC Free Zone Business Activities

World's #1 free zone — the premium choice for commodity traders and global brands

2–3 weeks · 100% digitalSetup time100%OwnershipFlexi desk up to 3 · 1 per 9 sqmVisas

2–3 weeks · 100% digitalSetup time
Trading · Service · IndustrialLicence type
Flexi desk · Serviced · PhysicalOffice / facility
Flexi desk up to 3 · 1 per 9 sqmVisa eligibility
NOC for regulated activitiesApprovals needed
From AED 35,483Renewal cost

About DMCC Free Zone

Why DMCC Free Zone

A DMCC Free Zone company can be owned entirely by foreign nationals, needs no local sponsor and can start trading internationally as soon as the licence is released. DMCC Free Zone issues commercial, professional and industrial licences from its base in Dubai, and GoldenKey processes new registrations there every week. If you are weighing up where to register in the UAE, DMCC Free Zone deserves a close look for its world's #1 free zone (Fitch) and simple renewal process.

DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is the world's most interconnected free zone and Dubai's leading hub for trade and commodities, headquartered in Almas Tower, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT). Over 20,000 member companies work across 87 towers in a freehold community where offices can be rented or bought from private landlords. Company setup is 100% digital — pre-approval, registration and licensing are completed online in around 2–3 weeks without visiting Dubai. Facilities start with a flexi desk (up to 3 visas), serviced offices (4–5 visas) and physical offices (1 visa per 9 sqm). GoldenKey manages the whole DMCC process for you: application, name reservation, activities, e-signing, office selection and visas.

In short, popular activities in DMCC Free Zone include commodity trading, gold & diamond, crypto & fintech, technology and professional services, and most of them can be combined on a single licence. DMCC Free Zone is located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai — central business district, and the registrar's processing time for a standard file is around 7 working days. One of the reasons we point clients to DMCC Free Zone is its world's #1 free zone (Fitch), which matters more than most founders realise once the business is running.

Get my exact cost DMCC Free Zone overview

Key points

100% foreign ownership, full capital repatriation, 0% customs duties within the GCC, no local employee quota and a fully digital setup process (around 2–3 weeks).
Facilities: flexi desk (up to 3 visas) · serviced office (4–5 visas) · physical office to rent or buy (1 visa per 9 sqm). JLT is a freehold area, so office rents can be negotiated with hundreds of landlords.
Specialised clubs and ecosystems: Tech, Crypto, Gaming, E-commerce, AI, Energy, Gold, Diamonds, Agriculture — plus the Dubai Diamond Exchange and Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange.
Setup timeline: pre-approval 5–7 working days (valid 60 days) → registration 2–3 working days (provisional approval and bank letter valid 90 days) → licensing 2–3 working days. Flexi-desk companies with no third-party approval and share capital under AED 500,000 are licensed straight after registration.
Share capital: the company decides the amount, but some activities require a set minimum and AED 50,000 is the usual benchmark. It must be deposited in the company's UAE bank account within 6 months of licence issue and can be withdrawn afterwards; a bank deposit letter is submitted on the DMCC portal.
Annual audited financial statements are mandatory for every DMCC company — even if it has not started operating. The first financial year runs 6–18 months from registration.
Employee Protection Insurance (EPI) is mandatory for every visa and charged separately; medical insurance depends on the chosen plan.
Regulated activities need a third-party No Objection Certificate (DMCC issues an introductory letter to the authority). Some activities are restricted to a property type — e.g. a restaurant needs retail space, gold refining needs a workshop or industrial plot.
Setup packages (Basic Biz, Jumpstart, Jumpstart+, Prime Plus) are for individually owned companies only (no branches or subsidiaries) and for activities allowed on a flexi desk; Basic Biz is limited to 3 activities from one activity group.
Post-licensing: within 180 days upload the bank share-capital letter; physical offices also need the Annual Operational Fitness Certificate (AOFC) and a Third Party Liability insurance letter; a retail shop needs a Certificate of Conformity from an approved fit-out company.

Packages & cost

Pricing — choose the right package for your business

All prices for choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before any payment. The figures below for choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.

Basic Biz Package

1 residence visa · 1-year licence

AED 35,483

Trade licence & registration
Establishment card included
1 visa eligibility
Flexi-desk / office options
GoldenKey PRO support

Get started

Most chosen

Jumpstart Package

3 residence visas · 1-year licence

AED 43,780

Trade licence & registration
Establishment card included
3 visa eligibilities
Flexi-desk / office options
GoldenKey PRO support

Get started

Prime Plus

3 residence visas · 1-year licence

AED 40,145

Trade licence & registration
Establishment card included
3 visa eligibilities
Flexi-desk / office options
GoldenKey PRO support

Get started

Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-24.

Business activities

Full list of DMCC Free Zone activities

DMCC Free Zone lets you combine related activities on one licence. Search by what your business does — in English or Arabic — or filter by licence type. Quote the GK code when you ask for a quotation.

Showing 60 of 1,002

GK codes are GoldenKey references — quote the code and we know exactly which licence activity you mean. Click a row for the full description, documents and other zones offering it. Availability and approvals are confirmed in writing before payment.

Required documents

Documents required

The document list for choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone is short, and most clients already have everything on it.

Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.

For individuals

Passport copy of every shareholder, director, manager and secretaryOriginal passport is verified on a video call
Proof of residential address in the country of residenceTenancy contract, utility bill or bank letter — not older than 6 months
Three proposed company names, share structure, share value and latest business experience of each shareholderEntered on the DMCC portal application
Electronic Signature Undertaking and HR Signatory Appointment LetterSystem-generated — signed and uploaded
Specimen signature form, Shareholders' Resolution, Articles of Association, Standard Terms & WarrantiesSystem-generated — e-signed via DocuSign at registration
Bank share-capital deposit letter or stamped bank statementUploaded within 6 months of the licence (post-licensing)
UAE residence visa page and Emirates ID (front and back)Only if already a UAE residentif applicable
Third-party No Objection Certificate for regulated activitiesDMCC issues an introductory letter to the authorityif applicable
Attested Power of AttorneyOnly when signing powers are delegatedif applicable
Property lease agreement or title deed (non flexi-desk offices)In the exact reserved company name, valid at least one yearif applicable

For companies

Parent company documents: licence / certificate of incorporation, Memorandum & Articles and board resolutionFor branches and subsidiaries

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about DMCC Free Zone. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.

View all FAQs

Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in DMCC Free Zone?

Put simply, most DMCC Free Zone licences can be released remotely with scanned papers and a signed power of attorney. You will need to enter the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics when your residency visa is processed.

Can a DMCC Free Zone company do business on the UAE mainland?

A DMCC Free Zone company can sell to mainland customers through a mainland distributor, invoice services to mainland clients for most applicants, and apply for a dual-licence arrangement where the emirate offers one. Direct retail or on-site contracting on the mainland needs a mainland licence.

How many visas can I get with a DMCC Free Zone licence?

Crucially, visa quota is tied to the package and office you choose. DMCC Free Zone packages typically start from a zero-visa option and scale to five or more visas with a physical office, and additional visas can be added later for the per-visa fee shown in our pricing.

How long does the DMCC Free Zone licence take?

Just as important, once your supporting documents are complete, the registrar typically issues the licence within 7 working days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.

Is an audit required for a DMCC Free Zone company?

Requirements vary by zone and by company size. GoldenKey will confirm the current DMCC Free Zone rule when we prepare your quotation, and we provide bookkeeping if you need accounts in any case for corporate tax.

Get a free quote

Ready to start your business in DMCC Free Zone?

Just as important, message GoldenKey now and we will prepare a personalised quotation for choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone, valid for 30 days and confirmed in writing.

Good to know

More about DMCC Free Zone

Commercial, professional and industrial

DMCC Free Zone groups its activities into commercial (trading goods), professional (services and consultancy) and industrial (manufacturing). Each group has its own fee schedule and office expectations, and some professional activities ask for a qualification or experience letter.

Adding activities later

For most clients, if your business changes direction, DMCC Free Zone allows an activity amendment at any time for a modest authority fee. We process the amendment and update your bank and tax records so every document stays consistent.

Why the UAE

Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone no longer requires a local partner. To be clear, the dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone and makes international pricing simple.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped business owners from more than 60 countries with choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. As a rule, we will tell you plainly if DMCC Free Zone is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. GoldenKey's consultants have handled choosing activities for DMCC Free Zone for traders, consultants, tech entrepreneurs and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves without delay.

Activity groups you can license

General TradingCommercial licence

E-commerceCommercial licence

IT & SoftwareProfessional licence

Business ConsultingProfessional licence

Marketing & Advertising AgencyProfessional licence

Real Estate BrokerageCommercial licence

Restaurant & CaféCommercial licence

Retail ShopCommercial licence

Logistics & Freight ForwardingCommercial licence

Import & ExportCommercial licence

Manufacturing & IndustrialIndustrial licence

Construction & ContractingCommercial licence

Healthcare ClinicProfessional licence

Education & TrainingProfessional licence

Media & Content ProductionProfessional licence

Recruitment & HR ServicesProfessional licence

Travel & Tourism AgencyCommercial licence

Event ManagementProfessional licence

Interior Design & Fit-outProfessional licence

Cleaning & Facilities ManagementCommercial licence

Beauty Salon & SpaCommercial licence

Fitness & SportsProfessional licence

Photography & VideographyProfessional licence

Legal ConsultancyProfessional licence

Accounting & BookkeepingProfessional licence

Automotive & Spare Parts TradingCommercial licence

Gold & Jewellery TradingCommercial licence

Crypto & BlockchainProfessional licence

Fintech & PaymentsProfessional licence

Tourism & HospitalityCommercial licence

Textile & Garments TradingCommercial licence

Perfume & Cosmetics TradingCommercial licence

Foodstuff TradingCommercial licence

Engineering ConsultancyProfessional licence

Architecture & DesignProfessional licence

Printing & PackagingIndustrial licence

Car Rental & LeasingCommercial licence

Pharmaceutical & Medical SuppliesCommercial licence

Oil & Gas ServicesCommercial licence

Maritime & Ship ServicesCommercial licence

Holding CompanyCommercial licence

Why DMCC Free Zone

Pricing — choose the right package for your business

Basic Biz Package

Jumpstart Package

Prime Plus

Full list of DMCC Free Zone activities

Documents required

For individuals

For companies

Frequently asked questions

Ready to start your business in DMCC Free Zone?

More about DMCC Free Zone

Commercial, professional and industrial

Adding activities later

Why the UAE

Why GoldenKey

Activity groups you can license

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