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DMCC vs IFZA is mainly a budget question. On the figures in public, the IFZA free zone is the cheaper way into Dubai: six agencies quote its zero-visa licence at AED 12,900 in government fees. DMCC's cheapest general package, Basic Biz, is AED 35,484 a year on its own site, with flexi desk options and the right to 1 visa. You pay more at DMCC, but you also get a published visa rule and sector packages. IFZA suits cost-led consultants and traders. DMCC suits commodity, crypto and AI firms.
What is the difference between DMCC and IFZA?
| DMCC | IFZA | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting figure | AED 35,484, official, Basic Biz | About AED 12,900, agency figure |
| What the start includes | Licence, flexi desk options, 1 visa eligibility | Licence and registration, no office, card or visa |
| With 1 visa | Jump Start AED 43,780 includes 1 visa | Agencies quote AED 14,900 to AED 15,000 for a visa slot, AED 21,450 to AED 22,200 processed |
| Price list | Published | None; sold through Professional Partners |
| Visa quota | Up to 3 on a flexi desk, more with space | Not published |
| Establishment card | AED 1,825 a year | Agencies quote AED 1,500 to AED 2,200 |
| Activities | 1,000+ across 20 sectors | Thousands; commercial and professional combinable |
| Company forms | Free zone company, branch, CLG | FZCO, FZE, branch |
| Setup time | 2 to 3 weeks | Not published |
| Base | JLT, Dubai | Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai |
Official figures from dmcc.ae and ifza.com. IFZA prices and the IFZA card range are agency figures: 6 agencies for the zero visa price and the card, 2 or 3 for each one visa range. Checked .
Is IFZA cheaper than DMCC?
The two starting numbers are not built the same way. DMCC's AED 35,484 is a package: licence, flexi desk options, a true copy of resolution and Sustainability Hub access, open to individual shareholders. DMCC's cost guide shows what sits behind such a price, including a one-time registration fee of AED 9,020 and a licence fee of AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 a year by activity.
IFZA's AED 12,900 is what agencies say IFZA charges them, before their own fee. One agency says it covers licence and registration but no visa, office or card. Even after adding a service fee, the gap to DMCC is large.
With one visa, DMCC's Jump Start package costs AED 43,780 and includes a standard flexi desk and one residency visa. For IFZA with one visa, three agencies quote AED 14,900 to AED 15,000 with only the visa slot, and two quote AED 21,450 to AED 22,200 with the visa processed (checked ). Agencies also publish DMCC first-year prices of AED 35,000 to AED 46,780 (2 agencies). Neither range is our price.
How many visas do DMCC and IFZA allow?
DMCC gives you the rule before you buy. A flexi desk carries up to 3 visas, a serviced office 4 or 5, and an office 1 visa per 9 sq m. An investor or partner visa needs at least 50 shares worth AED 50,000. The fee is public too: DMCC's schedule of charges lists AED 2,972.50 for a new 2 year employment visa applied from outside the UAE, medical and Emirates ID extra.
IFZA publishes neither a quota nor a fee. Five agencies put its visa processing at AED 3,550 to AED 4,800 per person. Partners sell IFZA by visa slots, and the price rises with each one. Ask three questions of any IFZA quote: how many slots, whether the medical and Emirates ID are inside, and what the card costs in year two. The free zone visa cost page lists the government fees behind any visa.
DMCC licenses, IFZA activities and the mixed licence
IFZA's strongest point is flexibility. Commercial and professional activities can sit on one IFZA licence, so a consultant who also sells goods needs only one company.
DMCC lists more than 1,000 activities across 20 sectors, under Service, Trading, Commercial and Industrial licences. On Basic Biz, you can hold up to 3 activities, all from the same group. If your mix crosses groups, ask DMCC which package takes it.
DMCC's sector focus is a real point in its favour if you fit it. Its Crypto, Gaming and AI Centre packages cost AED 31,000 with co-working access, KDID and VAT included, and 50% off the second-year renewal. IFZA has no similar published package.
Share capital and company forms
DMCC's cost guide lists share capital of AED 50,000. IFZA's pages say nothing about a capital figure, so ask the partner before you sign the articles.
IFZA forms an FZCO, an FZE or a branch. DMCC forms a free zone company or a branch, and offers a Company Limited by Guarantee at AED 34,185 for family offices and associations. Branches cannot use Basic Biz.
How long do DMCC and IFZA setup and renewal take?
DMCC publishes a setup time of 2 to 3 weeks; IFZA publishes none. DMCC describes a fully digital process. IFZA says no physical presence is needed during incorporation but gives no time. A residence visa at either zone means a trip for the medical and biometrics.
At renewal, DMCC offers 2, 3 or 5 year terms to eligible firms, and Prime Plus at AED 40,145 freezes the renewal price. IFZA publishes no renewal fee. Two agencies put renewal at about AED 11,500 to AED 22,000 a year, the low end for a plain zero visa licence. Get year-two pricing in the first quote.
DMCC offers 0% instalments through Wio Bank, and Prime Plus includes free bank account opening. IFZA makes no banking promise on the pages we read. Our corporate bank account guide covers what banks check.
Choose DMCC if
- Your business is commodities, crypto, gaming or AI
- You want the visa rule per office before you choose
- You want to pay a published package price, possibly in instalments
- You are building a family office or association as a CLG
Choose IFZA if
- Budget is your first test
- You want consulting and trading on one licence
- You want an FZCO or FZE and are happy to buy through a partner
- One or two visas are enough for now
For the zone profiles, read DMCC and IFZA. If you are a consultant, see best free zone for consultancy. Crypto founders should read best free zone for crypto. To set IFZA against the other low cost Dubai zone, open Meydan vs IFZA.
Send one request for both
Your activities and visa count go into the form on this page. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is independent of DMCC and of IFZA, and earns from referrals. We pass your request to DMCC and to a licensed IFZA partner, and each sends you its own figure.
Sources
- https://dmcc.ae/business/business-setup-packages : package prices and inclusions, Wio instalments
- https://dmcc.ae/blog/dubai-freezone-company-setup-cost : registration and licence fees, card, share capital, setup time
- 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, partner visa
- https://dmcc.ae/members/support/schedule-charges : employment visa fee
- https://ifza.com/en/about/ and https://ifza.com/en/set-up-your-business/ : sales model, licence types, company forms, remote setup
- https://avyanco.com/ifza-free-zone-cost/, https://safeledger.ae/blog/ifza-license-cost, https://www.rizmona.com/ifza-free-zone/, https://www.businessdubai.ae/blogs/ifza-free-zone-setup, https://emirabiz.com/ifza-license-cost/ and https://binderr.com/marketplace/ae/ifza-company-formation : IFZA agency prices, card range and renewal (with https://osome.com/ae/blog/ifza-company-costs/)
- https://www.vjmglobal.com/feeds/blog/dmcc-company-formation-cost-uae and https://avyanco.com/dmcc-free-zone-cost/ : DMCC agency range
