IFZA Company Setup in Dubai With Commercial or Professional Licensing
IFZA Dubai is a frequent pick for small and medium businesses that want a straightforward Free Zone Company and the freedom to combine several activities on one licence. Emiracle delivers IFZA company setup from planning to operation: we decide with you between a commercial and a professional licence, prepare and submit the FZCO application to IFZA, arrange attestation and legal translation of documents through licensed providers, and then handle residence visas and introductions to banks. The zone's base is in Dubai Silicon Oasis, a short drive from our Downtown Dubai office.
Get my proposal A consultant replies within 30 minutes during working hoursLocal facts for Dubai
IFZA's headquarters is IFZA HQ in Dubai Silicon Oasis, with client reception at IFZA Business Park, Building A2, also in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
SourceIn October 2020 the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority signed an agreement with IFZA so that new and existing IFZA companies could work from Dubai Silicon Oasis alongside its technology firms and start-ups.
SourceDubai Silicon Oasis, where IFZA is based, is itself a free zone established under Dubai Law No. (16) of 2005 and has been supervised by the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority since that authority's law took effect on 1 January 2022.
SourceTypical IFZA clients
IFZA tends to attract owner managed businesses: consultants, trading houses that use third party logistics, marketing and design studios, IT service providers and family holding companies. Many are founders relocating to Dubai who want a licence, a visa and a bank account in one coordinated sequence rather than separate projects.
Because IFZA sits inside Dubai Silicon Oasis, clients can also tap the wider tech community there, which was part of the reason for the 2020 agreement between the two.
Commercial versus professional licence
IFZA lists two main licences. A commercial licence covers buying, selling and trading activities, while a professional licence covers services delivered by skilled individuals or firms, such as consulting, design or IT. The site notes that different activities can be combined under one licence, which helps a founder who both consults and sells products.
We look at whether the activities you want can sit together legally, whether any of them need an external approval, and what that means for your visa plans, before the application is filed.
- Commercial licence: general trading, e-commerce, import and export
- Professional licence: consulting, IT, creative and other services
- Free Zone Company (FZCO) as the incorporation vehicle
- Combined activities on a single licence where permitted
Our part in an IFZA setup
Emiracle collects passports, photographs and any corporate documents, arranges legalisation and Arabic translation through licensed providers when a company is a shareholder, drafts the activity list and submits the FZCO application. We keep track of IFZA queries and answer them with you, so the file does not stall waiting for one missing signature.
Once IFZA issues the licence and incorporation papers, we open the establishment card, file residence permits with GDRFA Dubai and prepare the bank document pack, then introduce you to banks used to IFZA clients. As an authorised channel partner across 45+ UAE free zones, we can also tell you plainly if a different zone fits your activity better.
What we confirm before quoting
IFZA licence prices, visa allocations and any share capital expectations depend on the package and change from time to time. We request current terms for your exact plan and present them alongside our fixed fee, so there are no surprises at renewal.
Where the official steps happen
IFZA Business Park, Building A2
Free zone authority · Dubai Silicon Oasis, DubaiIFZA's client reception. Emiracle submits the FZCO incorporation and licence application through IFZA's channels so you do not have to queue.
GDRFA Dubai
GDRFA · Dubai, online and service centresIssues private sector residence permits for IFZA shareholders and staff. You attend for the medical test and biometrics only.
u.ae guide to free zone business
Portal · OnlineFederal guide confirming the usual free zone steps and that not every zone registers every company type.
How it works with Emiracle
- Plan the licence
We confirm whether a commercial, professional or combined licence fits your activities. - Gather documents
Emiracle collects passports and corporate papers and arranges attestation and translation where needed. - File the FZCO
We submit the incorporation and licence application to IFZA and manage follow up queries. - Receive the licence
IFZA issues the licence and company documents, digitally in most cases. - Visas and banking
We arrange the establishment card, residence visas and bank introductions.
Documents to prepare
- Passport copies of every shareholder and the manager
- Recent passport photograph
- UAE visa or entry stamp for residents
- List of intended activities
- Company name options
- For a corporate shareholder: legalised and translated incorporation documents and board resolution
Fees
IFZA licence, registration and visa charges are paid at cost and listed separately. Emiracle charges a fixed service fee, quoted in writing per request.
Frequently asked questions
Where is IFZA located?
IFZA is based in Dubai Silicon Oasis, with reception at IFZA Business Park, Building A2. Most IFZA formalities can be completed remotely through Emiracle.
What licences does IFZA offer?
IFZA offers a commercial licence and a professional licence. Different activities can be combined under one licence where the rules allow.
What type of company is formed in IFZA?
IFZA incorporates companies as a Free Zone Company, known as an FZCO. We confirm the shareholder structure IFZA will accept for your case before filing.
Can IFZA companies work from Dubai Silicon Oasis?
Yes, a 2020 agreement with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority allows IFZA companies to work from DSO. That is where IFZA's own headquarters stands.
Do I need to fly to Dubai to set up an IFZA company?
No, Emiracle submits the application on your behalf. You need to be in the UAE only for the residence visa medical and biometrics.
Can you help me open a bank account for my IFZA company?
Yes, Emiracle prepares your document pack and introduces you to suitable banks. Approval remains each bank's decision.
Talk to Emiracle about free zone company setup in Dubai
Email info@emiracle.ae or call +971 52 185 3005. Emiracle Advisory, Level 9, Boulevard Plaza, Tower 1, Downtown Dubai.
Request my proposalOfficial sources
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. (16) of 2021 (Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority) (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. (16) of 2005 Concerning Dubai Silicon Oasis (accessed 2026-10-16)
- u.ae: Starting a business in a free zone (accessed 2026-10-16)
- GDRFA Dubai services (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Dubai Media Office: Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority signs agreement with IFZA (24 October 2020) (accessed 2026-10-16)
- IFZA: About us (accessed 2026-10-16)
