Form an International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) company in Dubai with 2,500+ permitted activities, flexible 0–9 visa packages, and setup from AED 12,500 — the most popular low-cost premium free zone in the UAE.
Founders building on IFZA
The International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) is one of Dubai's fastest-growing free zones, headquartered at Dubai Digital Park (Dubai Silicon Oasis). Originally established in Fujairah, IFZA relocated to Dubai in 2018 and has since become the go-to free zone for founders prioritising flexibility, speed, and cost efficiency.
IFZA's edge: 2,500+ permitted activities, 0–9 visa packages, full digital onboarding, and pricing that undercuts DMCC and DAFZA by 40–50%. It's particularly suited to digital businesses, consultancies, holding companies, freelancers, and bootstrapped SMEs who want premium Dubai positioning at a sustainable cost.
Companies registered
Nationalities served
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Tax holiday
IFZA is headquartered at Dubai Silicon Oasis — the UAE's flagship tech & innovation hub.
IFZA punches above its price point by combining premium Dubai positioning with the flexibility and cost-structure of a smaller free zone.
From AED 12,500 — among the most affordable Dubai free zone packages while still carrying a Dubai address.
One of the broadest activity lists in the UAE — combining commercial, professional, and educational activities under one license.
Choose from 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, or 9 visa packages — pay only for what you need, scale up later as the business grows.
Fully digital onboarding — most IFZA licenses are issued within 24–72 hours of complete document submission.
No local sponsor required — IFZA-Dubai has always permitted full foreign ownership.
0% corporate tax on qualifying free-zone income. Personal income remains 0%. 50-year guaranteed tax holiday.
License management, visa applications, and renewals all happen through IFZA's online portal.
Combine up to 7 activities under one IFZA license — no penalties for changing focus as your business evolves.
No restrictions on capital movement, dividends, or profit transfers. No currency controls.
IFZA issues licenses in three main categories — most clients combine 2–3 categories under a single license, which is allowed by IFZA's flexible structure.
The most popular IFZA license — covers consulting, marketing, IT services, design, and most digital business activities. Best fit for solopreneurs and SaaS founders.
For e-commerce, import-export, and general trading operations. IFZA permits up to 7 trading activities under a single license.
For SPV, holding companies, and asset-protection structures. Increasingly used by international founders for tax-efficient group structures.
For online education, training providers, and ed-tech companies. IFZA was an early adopter of e-learning licenses.
IFZA's fully digital onboarding gets your trade license issued in 1–3 working days.
Pick activities (up to 7) and visa quota (0–9)
Reserve a compliant trade name with IFZA
Digital submission of passport, photo, application
IFZA issues trade license & establishment card
Investor visa stamping & Emirates ID
Corporate bank account opening
IFZA's lean documentation requirements are part of why it's so fast. Most submissions happen via the IFZA online portal — no physical paperwork until visa biometrics.
Original presence in the UAE is required only for visa biometrics (1 day) and bank account opening (1–2 days).
Get Document ChecklistEvery business is different — your jurisdiction, visa needs, banking requirements, and timeline shape the final cost. Tell us about your plans and we’ll send a transparent, all-in quote within one business day.
IFZA is fast and cheap — but only if you pick the right activity codes and visa configuration upfront. Fairway has set up 2,000+ IFZA companies and we know which combinations cause downstream banking, visa, or activity-conflict issues.
Talk to a SpecialistDirect IFZA portal access — license issued within 1–3 working days.
We map activities to avoid bank rejections and future amendment costs.
Pre-vetted IFZA-friendly banks: Mashreq NeoBiz, WIO, RAKBank, ADCB.
Renewals, amendments, PRO, and accounting under one engagement.
As a digital nomad SaaS founder, I needed a Dubai license fast and cheap with no office baggage. Fairway sorted my IFZA license in 48 hours, my visa in week three, and my Mashreq NeoBiz account was active within a month. Total spend: AED 17,500.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Have a different question? Just WhatsApp us.
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is a Dubai-based free zone headquartered at Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis. Originally established in Fujairah, IFZA relocated to Dubai in 2018 and now operates as one of the city's most popular low-cost premium free zones.
IFZA built its model around digital-first onboarding, flexi-desk addresses (no mandatory physical office), and modular visa pricing. Without the premium real estate overhead of DMCC's Almas Tower or DAFZA's airport-side property, IFZA passes savings on to founders. The license itself carries the same 0% qualifying tax and 100% ownership benefits.
Up to 7 activities can be combined under a single IFZA license — provided they fall within compatible categories (services, trading, holding). This flexibility is one of IFZA's biggest selling points versus single-activity free zones.
No. IFZA's standard packages include a digital flexi-desk address that satisfies regulatory requirements. Founders who need physical workspace can upgrade to IFZA's co-working or business-centre options at Dubai Silicon Oasis.
IFZA's digital onboarding typically issues licenses in 24–72 hours from full document submission. Visa stamping adds another 7–10 days. Bank account opening takes 10–15 working days. Full active-business setup within 3–4 weeks is realistic.
Yes. IFZA-friendly banks include Mashreq NeoBiz (digital-first SME banking), WIO Bank (digital bank popular with founders), RAKBank, ADCB, and Emirates NBD. Some traditional banks are stricter with IFZA — Fairway pre-matches your structure to the right banking channel.
Yes. IFZA investor visas allow you to sponsor spouse, children, and parents — subject to standard UAE family sponsorship requirements (minimum salary AED 4,000 + accommodation). Family visas are typically processed within 4–6 weeks of your own visa being issued.
For B2B services and digital products, yes — most clients invoice UAE customers directly with VAT registration. For physical goods, IFZA companies typically work through a UAE distributor or set up a mainland branch. Fairway helps design the right channel mix during setup.
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