WhatsApp quoteIn practice, setting up a company in DMCC Free Zone gives you 100% ownership, a UAE trade licence and the option to sponsor residence visas for yourself and your family. Day to day, 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 straightforward renewal process. As we tell every client, free zone traders can import duty-free into the zone and re-export without paying UAE customs duty, so Jebel Ali and Sharjah zones dominate this activity. Selling into the UAE mainland triggers 5% duty. Typical examples of this activity include food re-export, auto parts, textiles and machinery, which can as a rule sit together on one DMCC Free Zone licence.
Why DMCC Free Zone
DMCC Free Zone licences are renewed annually with a simple online payment and updated passport copies, and GoldenKey sends a reminder 60 days before the due date. Home to the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX). DMCC Free Zone is a sensible home for import & export because importing goods into the UAE and exporting or re-exporting them to regional and global markets is a well-understood activity there and the approvals are routine.
How DMCC Free Zone works with GoldenKey
Step 1Consultation and activity selection
GoldenKey starts by confirming your activity is available in DMCC Free Zone, then agrees the licence category, visa quota and office option with you in writing. For import & export in DMCC Free Zone, GoldenKey completes this stage with you on WhatsApp or by email.
Step 2Name reservation and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved with the DMCC Free Zone authority and initial approval is obtained; this stage rarely takes more than two working days.
Step 3Document submission and payment
Just as important, with the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested papers and settles the licence fee with the authority on your behalf. Your portal shows the status of this step for import & export in DMCC Free Zone in real time.
Step 4Licence issued and next steps
DMCC Free Zone issues the licence, incorporation certificate and lease; from there we open the establishment card, process visas and arrange your bank introduction.
Documents required
In practice, gather these paperwork and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of import & export in DMCC Free Zone.
- Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
- Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
- A passport-size photograph on a white background
- Customs code application
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
- Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
Pricing
In our experience, all prices for import & export in DMCC Free Zone are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay. Use the table below to compare packages for import & export in DMCC Free Zone; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation.
Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.
Why the UAE
There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from import & export in DMCC Free Zone can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely. The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many company owners choose it as a base for import & export in DMCC Free Zone.
Why GoldenKey
On the ground, our quotations for import & export in DMCC Free Zone list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before a single dirham changes hands anything. In practice, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for import & export in DMCC Free Zone happen the same day they are ready. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with import & export in DMCC Free Zone, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us.
To be clear, prefer to visit? Our Ajman office welcomes walk-ins during working hours, and we can also meet you in Dubai or Sharjah by appointment to discuss import & export in DMCC Free Zone.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the DMCC Free Zone licence take?
Once your papers are complete, the registrar usually issues the licence within 7 working days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.
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 customers in most cases, 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.
What is the difference between an FZE and an FZCO in DMCC Free Zone?
An FZE has one shareholder and an FZCO has two or more. Both offer limited liability and 100% foreign ownership, and the fees in DMCC Free Zone are usually the same.
What approvals does import & export need?
To be clear, customs code; product-specific approvals for food, cosmetics, medical and telecom goods. GoldenKey obtains these as part of the setup.
Is import & export allowed in DMCC Free Zone?
Yes. Import & Export is an available activity in {ent}, and {brand} lists the exact sub-activities on your licence. Customs code; product-specific approvals for food, cosmetics, medical and telecom goods.
