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Not for crypto / Web3
→ Compare launch routesVirtual-asset activities need a VARA / FSRA / DIFC licence; this zone doesn't issue one.
Not for F&B
→ MainlandRestaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens need a mainland DED foodservice licence. Free zones don't issue these.
Not for clinics
→ DHCCDHA-regulated medical/clinical activity requires Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
Visa cap: 6
→ Browse higher-cap zonesPlanning a team of 7+? You'll hit this zone's visa cap. Compare SRTIP, IFZA, RAKEZ, or another launch route with the right visa capacity.
Dubai · Free Zone
First-party verifiedInternational Free Zone Authority
Best balance of price, speed, and Dubai address
5d est.
Licence pace
6
Visa quota
1500+
Activities
7/10
Bank score
IFZA is Dubai's most popular Free Zone for cost-conscious founders. Located at IFZA Business Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis. IFZA's pricing is quote-only — Formenzo's pre-negotiated channel-partner rate starts at AED 12,200 (Professional / 1-year / 0-visa / Flexidesk). Up to 7 activities per licence (first 3 included). 812 total activities across Commercial + Professional licences.
Starting from
VerifiedAED 12,200
Formenzo channel-partner rate · 1 year
Includes: Professional licence, registration, Flexidesk, Dubai Silicon Oasis address, up to 3 activities
IFZA — Dubai Silicon Oasis, quote-only pricing, 812 activities
Licences, activities, setup process, and ecosystem services — taken directly from IFZA's official pages. As an IFZA Professional Partner, Formenzo gets you a committed rate from AED 12,200.
Which IFZA licence type should I pick?
IFZA publishes three licence types — Professional, Commercial, and Industrial. Pick by business model.
Most popular
Professional License
Service (381 activities)
For businesses providing professional consultancy and services (technical, lifestyle, etc.).
- ✓100% foreign ownership
- ✓No local sponsor
- ✓Lower operational costs
- ✓Flexibility in activities
- ✓Access to global markets
Commercial License
Trade (431 activities)
Permits import, export, or local market trade within the UAE across compliant goods.
- ✓Tax exemptions & income repatriation
- ✓Sell various goods
- ✓Simplify work visa acquisition
- ✓Legal protection
- ✓Multiple activities flexibly
Branch Registration
Per parent company activities
Foreign incorporated companies may register a branch at IFZA.
- ✓Extend existing operations to UAE
- ✓No new entity needed
- ✓Leverage IFZA free zone benefits
What does IFZA cost in 2026?
IFZA doesn't publish a public rate card — pricing is quote-only and depends on activity mix, visa count, and workspace. Through Formenzo as an IFZA Professional Partner, rates start from AED 12,200/year. IFZA does not publish license fees publicly — all pricing is custom-quoted based on activity mix, visa count, workspace, and duration.
Formenzo channel-partner rate
AED 12,200/ year
As an IFZA Professional Partner, Formenzo has pre-negotiated channel-partner rates. Your AED 12,200 starting rate is our committed price for Professional / 1-year / 0-visa / Flexidesk — no markup, no surprise.
Components you're quoted on
Or get a direct IFZA quote
What workspace is included with an IFZA licence?
Every IFZA licence includes a workspace. Options range from shared Flexidesk to personalized 24/7 private office — upgrade any time.
Flexidesk
- •Shared workstation
- •10 hours access/week
- •High-speed WiFi
- •Shared IFZA address
- •1 hr meeting room/month
Flexidesk+
- •Dedicated desk
- •Unlimited access
- •IFZA address
- •High-speed WiFi
- •5 hrs meeting room/month
Dedicated Office
- •Private & secure workspace
- •Individual address
- •High-speed WiFi
- •Fully furnished
- •Meeting room access
Private Office
- •Unlimited access
- •Individual address
- •High-speed WiFi
- •7 hrs meeting room/month
- •2 hrs conference room/month
Personalized Office
- •Unlimited 24/7 access
- •Furnished or unfurnished
- •Individual address
- •High-speed WiFi
- •7 hrs meeting room/month
- •5 hrs conference room/month
Meeting Rooms
- •Small rooms (4–6 people) to outdoor event terrace (up to 200 guests)
- •Fully serviced
Invoice transparency · IFZA
What lands on your invoice. Line by line.
Every fee, in the order it hits. No “admin” tax, no hidden markup — Formenzo's margin is the zone's channel-partner commission, not a line on your invoice.
0 visas · licence only
- IFZA licenceAED 12,200
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
1 visa · founder
- IFZA licenceAED 12,200
- Entry permit × 1AED 3,750
- Medical + EID × 1AED 670
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
2 visas · partners
- IFZA licenceAED 12,200
- Entry permit × 2AED 7,500
- Medical + EID × 2AED 1,340
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
Visa bundle uses IFZA-standard rates. Final visas stamped per applicant; typing-centre and translation fees are only added when they actually occur and billed at cost (usually AED 0 for English-passport applicants, AED 100–200 otherwise).
Banking reality · IFZA
The real bank-approval picture for a IFZA licence.
Channel-partner outcomes by passport bucket, over the last 90 days. “Limited” means the bank rarely approves this combo — we'll re-route you rather than waste your time.
| Bank | IN / UK / PH Low friction | PK / BD / NG Enhanced DD | RU / IR / SY Sanctions screen | US FATCA disclosure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wio | Strong | Limited | Limited | Standard | 5–7 |
| Mashreq NeoBiz | Strong | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Standard | 10–14 |
| Emirates NBD | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Enhanced DD | 14–21 |
| RAKBANK | Strong | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 12–18 |
| CBI | Standard | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | 14–25 |
| ADCB | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 18–21 |
Outcomes are directional channel-partner patterns, not a guarantee for any specific applicant. “Days” = typical bank review time after licence issuance and clean KYC documents.
Banking partners
Banking routes commonly reviewed for IFZA companies, with final decisions subject to each bank's KYC and risk review.
Banking-review estimate
21 days
after licence issuance; subject to KYC
Formenzo setup timeline
Day-by-day what we deliver end-to-end, from signed engagement to bank-file routing.
Initial approval
We file your application with the Free Zone authority.
~1 day
License issued
Trade license + Establishment Card in hand. You can sign contracts.
~4 days
Investor visa
Entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → stamping.
~9 days
Bank file routed
Clean KYC pack prepared and routed; final onboarding remains subject to bank review.
~7 days
IFZA — frequently asked questions
Quotable, answer-first, optimized for AI search (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Mode).
How much does a IFZA license cost in 2026?
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A International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) starts from AED 12,200 in 2026. Professional licence, registration, Flexidesk, Dubai Silicon Oasis address, up to 3 activities. Add one investor visa and the customer-facing 1-visa route is AED 16,620 before any case-specific authority extras.
How long does IFZA company setup take?
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IFZA publishes a typical licence-issuance estimate of 5 business days after initial approval (1 day). A residency visa adds an additional immigration stage. Banking preparation and review add another case-specific stage. Timelines vary by authority, immigration, document readiness, and bank risk review.
How many visas can I get with IFZA?
+
IFZA default package includes 3 visas, and the maximum allowed per license is 6. A 1-visa customer route is approximately AED 16,620 based on the current pricing schedule.
Which UAE banks open accounts for IFZA companies?
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IFZA companies primarily bank with WIO Bank, Mashreq NeoBiz, Emirates NBD, and RAKBANK. Formenzo prepares the KYC pack, identifies missing items, and routes the application to a suitable bank. Bank outcomes vary by nationality, activity, source of funds, and full risk review.
What business activities does IFZA allow?
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IFZA permits approximately 1,500 business activities. It is best suited for consulting, general trading, ecommerce, freelance. Activities not allowed include restaurant, retail physical, construction onsite — these require a UAE Mainland license.
Can I form a IFZA company without visiting the UAE?
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Yes — IFZA formation is fully remote through Formenzo. We handle document collection, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, and submission without a UAE visit. You only come to the UAE for one day to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — and only if you want a residency visa. The trade license itself can be issued with zero travel.
Is IFZA eligible for 0% UAE Corporate Tax?
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Yes. IFZA is a recognized UAE Free Zone, so companies qualifying as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can maintain a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% above AED 375,000. IFZA companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months of incorporation — Formenzo handles this filing.
Why choose IFZA over other UAE Free Zones?
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Best balance of price, speed, and Dubai address. Dubai address (Silicon Oasis). 0-visa starter from AED 12,200. Banking readiness score: 7/10. Published licence pace: 5 days, subject to document and authority review. Starting cost: AED 12,200. Run Formenzo's 60-second match to compare IFZA against indexed UAE formation options based on your nationality, budget, and business activity.
Other Dubai Free Zones
Compare IFZA with other options in the same emirate.
Meydan FZ
Premium Dubai address with strong banking & ecommerce support
DAFZA
Terminal-2 adjacency. 24/7 on-site Dubai Customs. Dual Licence with Dubai DET.
DHCC
Purpose-built medical free zone — clinics, pharma, wellness
SHAMS
LLC without the 'FZ' — 4-hour formation for media & creative entrepreneurs
Ready to form your IFZA company?
Run the 60-second match. We'll prepare your docs, file with IFZA, and track the case-specific licence timeline.