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Dubai Maritime City is a 249 hectare maritime cluster between Port Rashid and Drydocks World, run by Dubai Maritime City FZE, part of DP World. It does not publish licence or visa fees of its own. Its setup page says Jafza registers the licence, and Jafza licences start at AED 5,000 a year before you add the lease. It suits ship repair firms, marine service companies and yacht builders that need waterfront space, not a desk-only licence.
Who licenses companies in Dubai Maritime City
This is the first thing to settle, because the sources do not agree.
- The zone's own setup page describes three steps: get initial approval from the authority, sign a lease with Dubai Maritime City, then complete the licence. It names Jafza as the body that handles licence registration, and Dubai Maritime City FZE as the leasing side.
- Several setup agents name the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) and Trakhees as the licensing bodies. The old DMCA web address now forwards to the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation site.
Both can be partly true at different points in the process. Our advice is simple: before you pay, ask for the name of the entity that will appear on your licence and on your invoice. If you go through us, we ask for that on your behalf.
Dubai Maritime City costs: what is and is not published
The zone lists what you can lease. It does not list prices.
| Item | Published by the zone? |
|---|---|
| Licence fee | No, but Jafza, which registers the licence, starts at AED 5,000 a year |
| Registration fee | No |
| Visa fees and visa quota | No |
| Office and warehouse rent | No, quoted per unit |
| Setup time | No |
Source: Dubai Maritime City website and setup page, checked .
If Jafza processes your licence, Jafza's own published figures give a rough floor. Jafza says its business licences start at AED 5,000, and its employment visa entry permit is AED 2,378 for a normal one-year permit. Read our Jafza page for how those fees work. Do not assume they transfer one for one to a Dubai Maritime City lease until the issuing body confirms it.
What setup agencies quote
Setup agencies publish Dubai Maritime City first year costs at about AED 8,500 to AED 22,000 and up (published prices of 2 agencies, checked ). The two do not agree:
| Agent figure | What it covers |
|---|---|
| AED 8,500 to AED 22,000, year one | Licence, office space and visa sponsorship for 1 to 3 staff |
| From AED 18,000 | Licence, registration and a facility, rising with the licence and unit |
Source: published prices of two setup agencies, checked .
The first agent calls the zone Port Authority managed, which does not match the zone's own page, so we give its numbers less weight. Neither figure is a quote, and neither is ours.
What drives your price here
In most desk-based free zones the licence is the main cost. Here the space usually is. The things that move the number:
- The unit. The zone leases office space, warehouses, workshops, showrooms, shops, ship repair plots, staff accommodation and freehold plots. A ship repair plot and a small office are different budgets.
- Your activity. Marine engineering or ship repair may need technical and safety approvals on top of the licence.
- Staff. The number of visas you need, and whether you house workers in the zone's accommodation.
- Company type. A new company, or a branch of an existing UAE or foreign company.
Who Dubai Maritime City suits
It fits companies whose work happens on or near the water: ship repair, marine services, yacht building and maritime suppliers that want to be close to Port Rashid and Drydocks World. The leasing menu, with its ship repair plots and workshops, shows who the zone was planned for.
It is a poor fit for a consultant, a trader with no physical stock, or an online business. Those owners pay for space they do not need. Compare Dubai free zones by price first.
How do you set up a company in Dubai Maritime City?
- Confirm your activity is maritime and fits the zone.
- Apply for initial approval from the licensing authority.
- Choose and lease a unit from Dubai Maritime City FZE.
- Submit company documents and complete the licence.
- Apply for the establishment card, then visas for you and your staff.
The zone does not post a document list. Plan on passport copies and photos of shareholders and managers, and for a branch, the parent company's papers. The authority will ask for anything else.
Pros and cons of Dubai Maritime City
Pros:
- A purpose-built maritime site between a port and a major shipyard.
- Real industrial space: workshops, ship repair plots and staff accommodation.
- Backed by DP World, which also runs Jafza.
Cons:
- No published fee list, so you cannot compare prices online.
- The licensing body is described differently by different sources.
- Space-led costs make it dearer than a desk licence for small firms.
Similar zones to compare
For a maritime company in the UAE, the closest alternative is RAK Maritime City in Ras Al Khaimah. For port-side industry and trading in Dubai, look at Jafza. In Sharjah, Hamriyah Free Zone has its own port and waterfront plots. For a wider view of fees, see our free zone licence cost guide.
Get a real Dubai Maritime City quote
The quickest way to a real number is to describe your activity and the space you want in the form on this page. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is an independent directory, not part of DP World or any authority. We send your details to the zone's team or to a licensed setup partner, and they reply with a priced offer.
Setup consultants and DMC
Few of the setup consultants we list name DMC 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
- https://dubaimaritimecity.com/set-up-a-new-maritime-business/ : setup steps and the Jafza and leasing roles
- https://dubaimaritimecity.com/about/ : operator, DP World link, location and size
- https://dubaimaritimecity.com/ : types of space offered
- https://www.jafza.ae/business-setup/business-license/ : Jafza licence starting fee
- https://www.jafza.ae/resources/guides/apply-for-employment-visa-entry-permit : Jafza visa entry permit fee
- Noble Core Ventures DMC cost page and https://www.rizmona.com/business-setup/dubai-maritime-city-free-zone-dmcfz/ : agency first year prices
