Dubai South Free Zone

Free zone is a particular geographical area in the emirate where 100% foreign ownership is allowed. Free zones do not require partnership with a UAE citizen or with a local service agent.

  • Founded in:  2006
  • Location:  Dubai
  • Time for registration: 15 – 20 days
  • Types of licenses: trading, service, industrial
  • Types of companies:  a new company, branch, subsidiary
  • Share capital:  minimum share capital is AED 300,000/ USD 82,190 (depositing into bank account is not required)

Dubai South Free Zone Former Dubai World Central (DWC)

Dubai South, as its name implies is an area south of Dubai and is the registered trademark of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation, the licensing authority of the free zone. It changed its name from Dubai World Central (“DWC”) into Dubai South in the year 2015.   Dubai South has its well detailed-master plan including several districts dedicated to logistics, aviation, humanitarian sector, residential, commercial, leisure, exhibition and commercial around the centerpiece of the plan which is the airport.

It is home to the world's largest airport to date – the Al Maktoum International Airport with the one of the famous logistics district named jebel ali – and will be hosting landmark events such as World Expo 2020 and the Dubai Airshow.

Dubai South is known as the emirate's leading urban project launched in 2006.  Due to its strategic location including its accessibility to downtown Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Dubai South is the ideal gateway in the middle east to the developing markets in MENA and South Asia regions according to gulf news.

Moreover, its Business Park which is comprise of eleven state-of-the art buildings offer a wide array of office solutions for the corporate and administrative needs of any kind of businesses. 
Its vision is to create a self-sustained urban destination that empower businesses, families and individuals to grow and prosper.

In the commercial sense, it is planned to support every imaginable type of business and industry and create various job offerings.  Dubai South is a fully integrated ecosystem suited to every business and investment portfolios.

At Dubai South, Clients will discover the perfect integrated urban network that enables businesses to be cost-efficient.

Industries within Dubai South:

- Aviation Industry;

- Retail Industry;

- Hospitality;

- Food and Beverages;

- Education; and

- Information Technology.

Prohibited Activities

- Banking business; and

- Any financial/ investment activities on behalf of third parties.

Free Economic Zones at Dubai South offer foreign investors – the entrepreneur, the SME, or the MNC, the following unparalleled benefits:

- Tax free operations.

- Full foreign ownership

- Repatriation of capital as well as profits;

- 0% tax as well as no duty tax for import and export.

- Fast and efficient business setup

- Wide range of business activities.

- Accessibility to major thoroughfares.

- Proof of share capital is not required.

- State of the art facilities

- On site license and visa authorization

- Provide opportunities for expansion

- Cost-effective office solutions with flexible commercial lease terms.

- No public disclosure of information.

The categories of licenses available within the DWC Free Zone are:

- Commercial License – allows the holder to carry out specified commercial services including general trading and logistics services;

- Service License – allows the holder to carry out services specified in the License within the DWC Free Zone and elsewhere in the UAE;

- Industrial License – allows the holder to carry out specified light manufacturing activities; and

- Education License – allows the holder to carry out educational and social services, educational aid training, and educational consultancy services;

The fees for all licenses (except General Trading) are currently AED 10,000 per year, per license, payable in advance. The fees for a General Trading license are currently AED 20,000 per year, also payable in advance.

Facilities available for lease or rent:

Dubai South offer different products suited for Clients’ needs, such as shell & core offices, fitted-out offices, and custom- built offices spaces, industrial facilities and commercial buildings for lease or rent.

Service Packages:

SMART DESK

PERMANENT SMART DESK

SMART OFFICE

PERMANENT SMART OFFICE

License:

AED 10,000

License:

AED 10,000

License:

AED 10,000

License: AED 10,000

Establishment Card: AED 1,800

Establishment Card: AED 1,800

Establishment Card: AED 1,800

Establishment Card: AED 1,800

MOA/AOA:

AED 2,000

MOA/AOA:

AED 2,000

MOA/AOA:

AED 2,000

MOA/AOA: AED 2,000

5 hours / week:

AED 16,900.00

Exclusive Bases:

AED 31,900.00

5 hours/week:

AED 26,900.00

Exclusive Bases:

AED 72,000.00

Visa Allowed: 2

Visa Allowed: 2

Visa Allowed: 3

Visa Allowed: 3

Total: AED 29,900

Total: AED 45,700.00

Total: AED 40,700.00

Total: AED 85,800.00



The above packages include the following services:

- Guest reception services;

- Meeting rooms;

- Secretarial support; and

- Ancillary business services.

- There are also Business Park offices which offers 1 visa eligibility for each 9.sq. m. with annual rent ranging between AED 600-AED 1,400 per sq. m.

Documents Required for Dubai South Free Zone Company Formation

- Passport copy

- UAE entry stamp/visa copy

- Phone number

- Email address

- Residence and correspondence address

- Shareholding ratio

- Company name

- Additional information such as birth certificates, business plans, letters of undertaking and three (3) month bank statements may be required.

Steps for incorporation:

- Submit application with legal documents

- Name and activity approval

- Company registration

- Payment

- Registration Certificate, License and Lease Agreement collection

- The timeline to incorporate a company in Dubai South Free Zone is between 7-10 working days.

Significant details for Dubai South companies:

- Number of shareholders and directors required is 1-3 for companies with shared desk or shared office facility and 1-6 for companies with permanent office.

- The company’s Manager should be a U.A.E. resident.

- The minimum capital of a DWC-LLC company will be AED 300,000 (each share is AED 1). If the capital is AED 1,000,000 or more, then a proof of capital is required.

- Audit report should be filed with the registrar at the time of license renewal.  For new companies however, audit report is required for 2nd year renewal and onward.

- The details of shareholders, directors, and manager are provided to the Dubai South Free Zone authority.  However, this information is not publicly available.

Residence Visa Procedure

- A Dubai South Free Zone company can immediately arrange visas after obtaining its license. It can apply for shareholder visa or employment visa, with visa validity period for three (3) years.

- An FZE is allowed to have 1 visa per 8 square meter of leased space in DWC office and warehouse buildings. A different ratio applies for FZE’s established through the DWC Business Centre, depending on the setup package taken. For FZE’s leasing development land for constructing their own facility, the number of visas should not exceed a reasonable allocation determined by the Free Zone Administration.

- The company needs to have an establishment card to enable the company to register in Residency Department.  The establishment card costs around AED 1,800.

- The minimum age for acquiring residence visa is 21 years old.

- UAE resident visa holders should not remain outside of the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days, otherwise, visa will be invalid and consequently cancelled.

- Visa cost is around AED 8,000.

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Dubai South Free Zone

MAIN TYPES OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN Dubai South Free Zone

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COSTS OF BUSINESS SETUP

Dubai South Free Zone
  •  
  • Registration feeAED 2,000 / USD 550
  • License feeAED 10,000 / USD 2,740
  • Flexi-deskAED 16,900 / USD 4,630
  • Establishment cardAED 1,000 / USD 274
  • TOTALAED 29,900 / USD 8,195

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