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Free zone guide

DAFZA business setup next to Dubai International Airport

DAFZA, the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ), is a free zone established by the Government of Dubai next to Dubai International Airport, near Terminal 2. We check your activity against DAFZ's official list, prepare and submit your application, and flag any approvals from other government entities before you commit.

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Overview

How DAFZ company setup works

Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) is a free zone that the Government of Dubai established in 1996 under Law No. 2. It sits next to Dubai International Airport, and its FAQ is clear that, although DAFZ is near Terminal 2, it is not part of the airport. The zone's own pages use both DAFZ and DAFZA, and it describes itself as a member of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ).

DAFZ says it is home to more than 3,400 registered businesses from over 20 sectors. It allows 100 percent foreign ownership, so foreign shareholders can own the whole company. Setup follows three steps on DAFZ's site: choose your license, choose your company type and choose your space.

Space is a real decision at DAFZ. Visas follow the office you lease, and the zone offers warehouses and cold storage as well as offices. Some activities also need a no objection certificate (NOC) from another government entity, which DAFZ flags on its setup page, so we check your activity, space and visa needs together before you apply.

Setup planner

Is your activity on Dubai Airport Freezone's official list?

Search your activity to see whether Dubai Airport Freezone lists it and which approvals it names, then get a setup plan in 4 short steps. A consultant sends your quotation.

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Who it's for

Who DAFZ suits

  • 01

    Importers, exporters and distributors

    Businesses that trade, re-export or distribute goods and want a base next to Dubai International Airport.

  • 02

    Light industry and cold storage users

    Companies that need light industrial units, bonded warehouses or cold storage at the DAFZ Industrial Park in Al Qusais.

  • 03

    Family offices and independent professionals

    Single-family or multi-family offices, and freelancers whose field fits DAFZ's Talent Pass license.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • A check that DAFZ lists your exact activity, and which approvals it names
  • A comparison with one or two other zones, if another fits you better
  • Application forms prepared, typed and submitted to DAFZ
  • Document checks, plus translation and attestation guidance for corporate shareholders
  • Follow-up with the zone until it makes a decision
  • Post-license guidance on your establishment card, visas and corporate tax registration

Not included

  • We don't issue DAFZ licenses; the zone's authority decides.
  • We don't decide bank account applications; banks apply their own policies.
  • Work outside the free zone needs separate approvals; we explain the options, the authorities decide.
  • We don't give legal or tax advice on complex group structures; a licensed adviser can.
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • Passport copies for all shareholders and the manager
  • Emirates ID and residence visa copies, if you live in the UAE
  • Your chosen activities and a shortlist of trade name options
  • A short business plan or activity description, if the zone asks for one
  • For corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents, a board resolution and a good standing letter, attested for UAE use

DAFZ sets its own document list; we confirm it for your activity before you apply.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Set by DAFZ and paid at cost. Your consultant sends a written quotation with every fee before you pay.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Depends on your activity, any approvals and how quickly documents and attestations are ready. We give you a realistic plan once your activity is confirmed.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Tell us your activity and plans

    You

    Share what you will do, where your customers are, how many visas you need and what workspace suits you.

  2. Step 2: Check DAFZ's official list

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm your exact activity is on DAFZ's list, note any approval it needs and compare other zones if they fit better.

  3. Step 3: Approve your quotation

    You

    Your consultant sends a written quotation with every zone fee and our service fee. Send the documents on your checklist.

  4. Step 4: Prepare and submit

    Global Sky PRO

    We type the application, check every document for consistency and submit the file to DAFZ.

  5. Step 5: Zone review and decision

    Authority

    DAFZ reviews the application, may ask for more information and decides whether to issue the license.

  6. Step 6: License and next steps

    Global Sky PRO

    Once the license is issued, we guide you through the establishment card, residence visas and corporate tax registration.

Good to know

Details that save time

DAFZA company and license types

DAFZ offers three company types: a Freezone Company with 1 to 50 shareholders, who can be individuals or companies; a public limited company (PLC) with limited liability; and a branch of an existing foreign company. Your license type then sets what the company may do.

DAFZ says all trading activities, including trading of specific products, are allowed as long as they are not hazardous or illegal. Some activities still need a NOC from an outside government entity, so we confirm the exact activity wording first.

  • Trade: import, export, re-export and distribution, with an optional e-commerce license for selling goods and services online
  • General trading: trade in general activities, including import, export and re-export
  • Service: for service-oriented businesses
  • Industrial: light manufacturing, packaging and assembling
  • Single-family and multi-family office licenses for managing family wealth
  • Talent Pass: for individual freelancers in fields DAFZ lists, such as media, education, marketing, consultancy and technology

Offices, warehouses and visas at DAFZ

DAFZ ties your visa allocation to the space you lease. On its office page, a Standard office carries one visa for every 8.33 square metres, a Smart Office desk carries one employment visa, and a Business Boutique closed office carries two, with a note that additional visa quota can be applied for.

For goods, DAFZ says its Industrial Park is in Al Qusais, about 5 km from Dubai International Airport. It offers light industrial units of about 350 square metres with ground and mezzanine floor offices, bonded warehouses and cold-storage enabled warehouses.

  • Office options named by DAFZ: Standard, Business Boutique, Premium, Premium Plus and Smart Office
  • Light industrial units can serve as a warehouse for storage and distribution
  • DAFZ lists 10 cold-storage enabled warehouses at the Industrial Park
  • DAFZ's government services include employment, visit and dependants' visas, family sponsorship and visa transfers

Next to Dubai International Airport: cargo and on-site services

DAFZ's main draw is its address. The zone says it is strategically located next to Dubai International Airport, and its Industrial Park page says proximity to the airport provides shorter cargo clearance times. DAFZ also says its bonded warehouses give companies more control of inventory.

DAFZ's dedicated government service centre lists Dubai Customs, Dubai Police, the Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Chamber, Emirates Post and the residency directorate. The zone also runs the Halal Trade & Marketing Centre, which it describes as a business development hub for the halal sector.

Working with the Dubai mainland from DAFZ

A DAFZ company can serve the Dubai mainland only through a permitted route. Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 sets three: a license for a branch in the emirate, a license for a branch operating out of the free zone, or a permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for specific activities. Each route needs the free zone's approval.

DAFZ also lists a dual license with DET. It says this lets DAFZ companies apply for a DET license without physical office space on the mainland. We confirm with DAFZ which route fits your activity before you sign a lease.

DAFZ vs DWTC Free Zone vs Dubai South: airport, city centre or logistics district

All three are Dubai free zones, but they suit different operations. The right one depends on whether you move goods by air, serve clients in the city centre or need a logistics base near the port.

  • DAFZ: next to Dubai International Airport, with offices, light industrial units, bonded warehouses and cold storage
  • DWTC Free Zone: offices from Rashid Tower to One Central in Dubai's central business district, run by the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority
  • Dubai South: a master-planned city near Al Maktoum International Airport, with a logistics hub near Jebel Ali Port offering warehouses and bonded corridors
  • License mix: DWTC lists event management and virtual assets licenses; DAFZ lists industrial, family office and Talent Pass licenses

Questions to answer before you choose DAFZ

Headline offers rarely tell the whole story. We answer these for your activity before you decide.

  • Is your exact activity on DAFZ's official list, or only something close to it?
  • Does the activity need approval from another regulator first?
  • Which workspace options are available, and how many visas does each allow?
  • What does renewal involve each year, and which costs recur?
  • Will most of your customers be in the zone, abroad or on the mainland?
Compare zones

Other free zones to compare

If this zone doesn't fit your activity, visas or budget, one of these may. Each guide is checked against the zone's own website.

Swipe to see all 8 zones

Logos and names are trademarks of their owners, shown only to identify each free zone. Facts are from each zone's own website, checked on 4 November 2026.

FAQs

Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ): your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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Is DAFZA part of Dubai International Airport?

No. DAFZ states that, although it is conveniently located near Terminal 2, it is not part of Dubai International Airport. It is a separate free zone that the Government of Dubai established in 1996, with its own offices, Industrial Park and government service centre. Its location next to the airport is the main reason to consider it if your business moves goods by air.

Source: DAFZ: FAQs

What company types can I set up in Dubai Airport Free Zone?

DAFZ offers three company types. A Freezone Company can have 1 to 50 shareholders, who may be individuals or companies. A public limited company (PLC) suits businesses that may offer shares on a securities market, and a foreign company can open a branch of its existing business. DAFZ allows 100 percent foreign ownership, so you do not need a UAE national shareholder.

Source: DAFZ: business setup process

Which license types does DAFZA offer?

DAFZ lists trade, general trading, service and industrial licenses, plus an optional e-commerce license for selling goods and services online. It also offers single-family and multi-family office licenses, a Talent Pass for individual freelancers and a dual license with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Your activity decides the license, and some activities need a NOC from another government entity.

Source: DAFZ: business setup process

Can a DAFZA company do business on the Dubai mainland?

Yes, through a permitted route. DAFZ lists a dual license that lets its companies apply for a DET license without physical office space on the mainland. More broadly, Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 allows a branch in the emirate, a branch operating out of the free zone, or a DET permit for specific activities, each with the free zone's approval.

Source: Dubai Legislation Portal: Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025

Does DAFZ have warehouses and cold storage?

Yes. DAFZ lists warehouse and industrial space and cold storage alongside offices. Its Industrial Park in Al Qusais, about 5 km from Dubai International Airport, offers light industrial units of roughly 350 square metres with ground and mezzanine floor offices, bonded warehouses and 10 cold-storage enabled warehouses. Availability changes, so we check current units with the zone before you plan around one.

Source: DAFZ: Industrial Park

How much does DAFZA company setup cost?

It depends on your activities, the license term, your workspace and how many visas you need. At DAFZ, the space you lease also sets how many visas you can hold, so we plan both together. Your consultant sends a written quotation with every DAFZ fee and our service fee shown separately, so you can compare before you pay anything.

Source: DAFZ: office spaces

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Licenses are issued by the relevant authority (DET for Dubai mainland, or the chosen free zone authority). Global Sky PRO prepares and submits your application. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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