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The Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ), also called Dubai Auto Zone, is a free zone for car showrooms in Ras Al Khor, about 11 km from Dubai International Airport. Dubai Customs reported about 400 licensed showrooms there. The zone has no website of its own and publishes no licence fees. Setup agents put the trading licence at AED 5,500 to AED 14,000, and they do not agree with each other. It suits used car traders and re-exporters who need a showroom.
What is confirmed, and what is not
Most of what you read online about DUCAMZ comes from setup agencies. Here is the split, so you know what to trust.
Confirmed by Dubai Customs:
- The zone is in Ras Al Khor, Dubai.
- It was established in 1999, according to a Dubai Customs news item. Agents usually give . Sources disagree.
- It had about 400 licensed showrooms when Dubai Customs published that item in .
Claimed by agents, not confirmed by an official page:
- That Jafza manages the zone.
- That a minimum share capital applies to new companies.
- That setup takes less than a week.
- That an audit report is needed from the second renewal.
We are not saying these claims are wrong. We are saying we could not check them against a zone or government page, so we do not print the numbers. Get them in writing from whoever quotes you.
DUCAMZ cost
There is no published fee schedule for the zone. Setup agencies publish a DUCAMZ trading licence at about AED 5,500 to AED 14,000 (published prices of 3 agencies, checked ). The agents disagree, so read the range as two camps:
| End of the range | Agents | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Low, AED 5,500 | 1 | Yearly trading licence, close to Jafza's own licence table |
| High, about AED 14,000 | 2, in similar words | Trading licence starting price |
Source: published licence prices of three setup agencies, checked .
If the low end mirrors Jafza's table, that would fit the agents' claim that Jafza licenses the zone, but no official page says so. None of the three includes the showroom lease or visas. A fourth agent quotes a full package in US dollars, which cannot be compared with these. The range is not our price.
What you will be asked to pay for, in some form:
| Cost line | Published? |
|---|---|
| Trading licence | No official figure; agents publish AED 5,500 to AED 14,000 |
| Registration or company formation | No official figure |
| Showroom lease | No, quoted per unit |
| Share capital | Agents cite a minimum, not confirmed |
| Visas and establishment card | No zone figure |
Checked against Dubai Customs and agency pages, .
If Jafza does manage the licence, as agents say, Jafza's published fees are a reference point. Our Jafza guide lists them. Use them as a sense check, not as a DUCAMZ price.
What makes a DUCAMZ quote go up or down
- Showroom size. The showroom is the core of the setup. A bigger lot holds more stock and costs more.
- Activities. Trading new cars, used cars, spare parts or a mix can mean different licence activities.
- Share capital. If a minimum applies, it is money you must show, not a fee, but you still need it at setup.
- Staff visas. Sales staff, drivers and a manager each add visa and medical costs.
- Renewal duties. An audit requirement at renewal adds an accountant's fee each year.
Who DUCAMZ suits
The zone was set up for car trading, and its tenants are car showrooms. It fits a trader who buys vehicles, holds them in a showroom and sells them on, often for re-export. It is a poor fit for a car rental firm, a garage serving local drivers, or an online parts seller with no stock. For a mainland showroom that sells to UAE residents, compare a general trading licence.
How do you set up a company in DUCAMZ?
- Decide your activities: new or used cars, parts, or re-export.
- Ask for a quote that names the licensing body, the showroom, the licence fee and any share capital.
- Reserve the showroom and sign the lease.
- Submit passport copies, photos and, for a branch, the parent company's documents.
- Receive the licence, then apply for the establishment card and staff visas.
Pros and cons of DUCAMZ
Pros:
- Hundreds of car showrooms in one place, by the Dubai Customs count.
- About 11 km from Dubai International Airport.
Cons:
- No zone website, no published fees, and agent prices that disagree.
- Basic facts such as the managing body rest on agent claims.
- The showroom lease makes it dearer than a desk-only trading licence.
Other places to compare
If you trade cars without a retail lot, a general trading licence in a large zone such as Jafza may be simpler to price, since Jafza publishes its licence and visa fees. The Dubai free zones list shows the alternatives, and the free zone licence cost guide explains the fee lines you will see on any quote.
Get a checked quote
Fill in the form on this page with your activity, the showroom size you want and your visa needs. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is an independent directory with no link to Dubai Customs or the zone's management. We pass your request to a licensed setup partner who works in the zone and ask them to name the issuing body in the quote.
Setup consultants and DUCAMZ
Few of the setup consultants we list name DUCAMZ on their own websites, so ask the zone which agents it works with. The directory of Dubai setup consultants lists firms by area and service, and the top 15 by weighted Google score shows how they compare.
Sources
- Dubai Customs news item on the zone: location, founding year, showroom count
- Flyingcolour DUCAMZ guide: agent claims on management and share capital
- Shuraa DUCAMZ page: agent claims on setup time and renewal audit, agent licence price
- Takween Advisory used car trading licence cost: agent licence price
- Noble Core Ventures DUCAMZ costs: agent licence price, low end of the range
- YB Case DUCAMZ page: agent package price, not comparable
- Jafza business licence page: reference fees if Jafza issues the licence
