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The DMCC license cost starts at AED 35,484 a year on the zone's general packages. That is the Basic Biz Package: a DMCC licence, flexi desk options and eligibility for 1 visa, paid in advance for one year. The visa itself is extra. DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) suits founders trading commodities, running a trading or service company, or building in crypto, gaming or AI, where DMCC runs its own centres.
How much does a DMCC license cost?
DMCC publishes its packages on one page, with advance-payment prices. Here is what each package costs for the first year and what the page says it covers.
| Package | Price (1 year) | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Biz | AED 35,484 | Licence, flexi desk options, true copy of resolution, Sustainability Hub access, 1 visa eligibility. Individual shareholders only |
| Prime Plus | AED 40,145 | Fast-track setup, renewal price freeze, free bank account opening. Aimed at medium to large firms. Office not in the price shown |
| Jump Start | AED 43,780 | Standard flexi desk, 1 residency visa included, eligible for 3 visas |
| Crypto, Gaming or AI Centre | AED 31,000 | Co-working access, KDID and VAT included, 50% off the second-year renewal |
| JLT Resident | AED 29,205 | For people who live in or own property in JLT |
| Company Limited by Guarantee (new) | AED 34,185 | For family offices and associations. No office, desk or co-working included |
Source: DMCC business setup packages page, checked .
A few points from the same page are worth knowing before you compare. Basic Biz is shown as a discount on a much higher original price, so treat it as a current offer that can change. Jump Start also comes as a co-working version and in two-year and three-year terms; Prime Plus has a three-year option too. The JLT Resident price is slightly different in DMCC's licence guide, so confirm that figure with DMCC.
The packages page also lists some niche bundles at much lower prices, such as a co-working package with an incubator partner. Their conditions were not clear on the page, so we have not used them as the starting price.
The fee lines behind a DMCC licence
DMCC's own cost guide breaks a setup into separate fees. Use these to check a quote line by line:
- Registration fee: AED 9,020, one time
- Licence fee: AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 a year, depending on the activity (DMCC's separate licence guide gives a different starting figure, so confirm the exact fee for your activity with DMCC)
- Establishment card: AED 1,825 a year
- Flexi desk: AED 15,000 to AED 20,000 a year
- Share capital: AED 50,000, described as refundable
Source: DMCC company setup cost guide, checked .
What do setup agencies charge for DMCC?
Setup agencies publish DMCC first-year prices of about AED 35,000 to AED 46,780 (published prices of 2 agencies, checked ). The lower figure is a Basic Biz setup with a flexi desk or co-working seat and no visa. The higher one is government costs with 1 residence visa and the establishment card, and it still leaves out office rent, VAT and the agency's own fee. These are agency prices, not ours and not DMCC's.
What does a DMCC visa cost?
Your visa quota at DMCC follows your office:
- Flexi desk: up to 3 visas
- Serviced office: 4 or 5 visas, depending on size
- Physical office space: 1 visa per 9 sq m
DMCC says the quota can be increased in some cases. A partner or investor visa is valid for 3 years and needs at least 50 shares worth AED 50,000 in total. DMCC's schedule of charges sets the fee for a new 2 year employment visa at AED 2,972.50 when the person applies from outside the UAE, and AED 3,407.50 from inside without a status amendment (AED 4,220 with one). A 1 year visa from outside costs AED 2,237. Medical tests and Emirates ID are not part of these lines, so add them. You also need the establishment card (AED 1,825 a year) before anyone can be sponsored. Our free zone visa cost page explains the government parts of a visa that every zone adds.
What office options does DMCC offer?
DMCC lists four kinds of space: flexi desk, co-working, serviced office and physical office. A flexi desk is the cheapest way to hold a licence and covers a team of up to 3 visas. Once you need a fourth visa, you move to a serviced office or your own space. If you are weighing desks across zones, see our flexi desk in Dubai guide.
Which licence types and company forms does DMCC offer?
The licence guide names four licence categories: Service, Trading, Commercial and Industrial. DMCC says it offers more than 1,000 activities across 20 sectors. On the Basic Biz Package you can hold up to 3 activities, all from the same activity group.
For company forms, the packages page shows a free zone company, branches (which cannot use Basic Biz) and the Company Limited by Guarantee, which DMCC aims at family offices and associations.
How does DMCC license renewal work?
DMCC lets eligible companies take licence terms of 2, 3 or 5 years. You renew before expiry to avoid sanctions, and the renewal price depends on your package. Prime Plus freezes the renewal price, and the Crypto, Gaming and AI Centre packages give 50% off year two. Our free zone license renewal guide covers the general steps.
How do you set up a company in DMCC?
- Pick your activities and check which licence category they fall under.
- Choose a package and office type based on how many visas you need.
- Submit shareholder documents and pay online. DMCC describes the process as fully digital.
- Receive the licence, then apply for the establishment card.
- Apply for residence visas. This is the step that needs you in the UAE, for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.
DMCC gives the setup time as 2 to 3 weeks.
What documents does DMCC ask for?
- Passport copies of every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photos
- Details of the activities you want on the licence
DMCC did not publish a full document list on the pages we read. The Basic Biz Package lists a true copy of resolution among its inclusions. Your setup partner will send the full checklist for your company form.
How do DMCC companies open a bank account?
DMCC offers 0% instalments through Wio Bank on its packages, subject to the bank's terms. Prime Plus includes free bank account opening. For other banks, see our corporate bank account page.
How do I log in to the DMCC portal or contact DMCC?
Existing DMCC companies sign in through the DMCC member portal. It is the zone's own online channel for company requests after setup.
DMCC's own licence guide says the zone offers more than 1,000 approved activities across 20 sectors, and that the full list is a download from DMCC. Some activities, such as financial services, crypto, healthcare and oil and gas, need extra approvals before the licence is issued.
For a question only the zone can answer, such as the status of a file, use the official DMCC contact page. We are a directory, not the zone, so we cannot see your portal account.
Pros and cons of DMCC
Pros:
- Prices for every package are published, with what each includes
- Clear visa rule per office type, up to 3 visas on a flexi desk
- Dedicated packages for crypto, gaming and AI firms
- Fully digital setup in 2 to 3 weeks
Cons:
- The starting package is far above budget zones listed on our Dubai free zones hub
- AED 50,000 share capital listed in DMCC's cost guide
- Visa fees cover the DMCC step only; medical and Emirates ID come on top
- Basic Biz is closed to branches and subsidiaries
If DMCC is close to IFZA or Jafza for you, read DMCC vs IFZA and DMCC vs Jafza.
Ask for a DMCC quote
Use the form on this page to say what you plan to trade or offer and how many visas you need. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is an independent directory, not part of DMCC. We send your request to DMCC or to a licensed setup partner, who replies with a priced package.
Setup consultants that work with DMCC
Several setup consultants name DMCC on their own websites. The highest ranked of them by weighted Google score are KGRN Chartered Accountants, ADS Management Tax Consultancy LLC and PAPERLESS Business Solutions. KGRN Chartered Accountants is based in Business Bay. Check any quote against DMCC's own price on this page, and browse every firm in the directory of Dubai setup consultants.
Sources
- https://dmcc.ae/business/business-setup-packages: package names, prices, inclusions, instalments
- https://dmcc.ae/blog/dubai-freezone-company-setup-cost: fee lines, share capital, setup time, company count
- https://dmcc.ae/blog/complete-guide-on-dmcc-licences: licence types, activity count, renewal terms
- https://dmcc.ae/blog/the-4-types-of-dubai-free-zone-visas-at-dmcc?hsLang=en: visa quota by office, partner visa rules
- https://dmcc.ae/members/support/schedule-charges: employment visa fees, checked
- https://www.vjmglobal.com/feeds/blog/dmcc-company-formation-cost-uae and https://avyanco.com/dmcc-free-zone-cost/: agency price range
- https://portal.dmcc.ae/communitylogin: portal, activity list or contact page, checked
- https://dmcc.ae/contact: portal, activity list or contact page, checked
