WhatsApp quoteIf you are weighing up where to register in the UAE, IFZA Free Zone deserves a close look for its Dubai address and routine renewal process. In practice, setting up a company in IFZA Free Zone gives you 100% ownership, a UAE trade licence and the option to sponsor residence visas for yourself and your family. The most common businesses French nationals open through GoldenKey are in luxury retail, hospitality, aviation and energy, although IFZA Free Zone supports almost any activity. French brands and groups have a major footprint in the UAE, from Louvre Abu Dhabi to the Sorbonne campus, which gives French entrepreneurs a ready market and supply chain the moment their IFZA Free Zone licence is issued.
Why IFZA Free Zone
In short, popular activities in IFZA Free Zone include trading, services, technology, consultancy and manufacturing, and most of them can be combined on a single licence. Put simply, the authority permits Free Zone Establishment (FZE), Free Zone Company (FZCO) and Branch, which covers solo founders, partnerships and overseas groups opening a UAE branch.
How IFZA Free Zone works with GoldenKey
Step 1Consultation and activity selection
As a rule, we confirm that your activity is available in IFZA Free Zone, choose the licence type and agree the visa package and office option that match your plan. We keep a written record of this step so your file for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder is audit-ready.
Step 2Name reservation and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved with the IFZA Free Zone authority and initial approval is obtained; this stage rarely takes more than two business days.
Step 3Document submission and payment
With the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested documents and settles the licence fee with the issuing authority on your behalf. Your portal shows the status of this step for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder in real time.
Step 4Licence issued and next steps
Once the IFZA Free Zone licence and company documents are released, we move immediately to the immigration file, residence visas and the bank meeting.
Documents required
The document list for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder is short, and most customers already have everything on it.
- A passport issued by France with at least six months' validity
- A bank statement from your France bank for the last three months, which banks use to understand your profile
- A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
- Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
Pricing
As we tell every client, pricing for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. The figures below for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.
Why the UAE
The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many entrepreneurs choose it as a base for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder. There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely.
Why GoldenKey
GoldenKey's consultants have handled opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder for traders, consultants, tech entrepreneurs and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Crucially, our quotations for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before you pay anything. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped company owners from more than 60 countries with opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us.
Importantly, message GoldenKey now and we will prepare a personalised quotation for opening a holding company in the UAE as a French founder, valid for 30 days and confirmed in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the IFZA Free Zone licence take?
Day to day, once your documents are complete, the authority usually issues the licence within 5 working days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in IFZA Free Zone?
Most IFZA Free Zone licences can be granted 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 residence visa is completed.
What is the difference between an FZE and an FZCO in IFZA 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 IFZA Free Zone are typically the same.
Do French nationals need a UAE visa before applying for IFZA Free Zone?
No. You can apply for the licence from France with scanned supporting documents, and the investor UAE residence visa is completed afterwards.
Can a French citizen own 100% of a company in IFZA Free Zone?
Yes, it can. French nationals can own the full share capital of a IFZA Free Zone company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
