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Free zone guide

DMCC business setup in Dubai

DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is a Dubai free zone covering Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Uptown Dubai. We check that DMCC lists your exact activity, prepare your application and explain any approvals before you commit.

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Overview

How DMCC company setup works

DMCC is the free zone authority for Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai. It describes a community of more than 25,000 member companies and runs sector ecosystems from gold, diamonds, tea and coffee to crypto, gaming and AI.

You can set up as an individual, as a subsidiary of an existing company or as a branch. A DMCC company needs a director and a company secretary, and one person can hold both roles. Every company needs a registered business address inside DMCC, from a flexi-desk to a fitted office.

DMCC's official activity list mixes trading, service and industrial activities, and some of them name an approval from another regulator. We check your activity against that list first, so you know before you apply whether DMCC is the right fit or another zone would suit you better.

Setup planner

Is your activity on DMCC's official list?

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

Get my setup planOr browse the activity finder
Who it's for

Who DMCC suits

  • 01

    Commodity and trading businesses

    Companies that want to sit inside DMCC's gold, diamond, agri-commodity or energy communities.

  • 02

    Tech, crypto and gaming founders

    Businesses that fit DMCC's technology, crypto and gaming ecosystems and want a JLT or Uptown Dubai address.

  • 03

    Groups opening a Dubai base

    Existing companies adding a subsidiary or branch in Dubai.

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 DMCC 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 DMCC
  • 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 DMCC 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

DMCC 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 DMCC 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 DMCC's official list

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm your exact activity is on DMCC'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 DMCC.

  5. Step 5: Zone review and decision

    Authority

    DMCC 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

What DMCC states on its website

Points from DMCC's own setup pages, checked on 4 November 2026. DMCC can change its products and rules, so we confirm them for your activity before you apply.

  • Setup types: individual, subsidiary or branch
  • A Free Zone Company (FZCO) needs at least one shareholder, an individual or a company
  • Every company appoints a director and a company secretary; one person can hold both roles
  • Workspace ranges from flexi-desks and serviced offices to fitted and shell-and-core space
  • Some activities have extra restrictions where another regulator must approve them

Questions to answer before you choose DMCC

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

  • Is your exact activity on DMCC'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 popular free zones

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 7 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

DMCC: 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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Where is DMCC located?

DMCC covers two Dubai districts: Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai. Every DMCC company needs a registered business address inside DMCC, which can be a flexi-desk, a serviced office, a leased office or fitted space. The workspace you choose also shapes how many visas the company can sponsor, so we look at both together.

Source: DMCC: set up your business

What company types can I set up in DMCC?

DMCC lists three setup types: individual, subsidiary and branch. A Free Zone Company (FZCO) needs at least one shareholder, who can be an individual or a company, plus a director and a company secretary. One person can hold both roles, which keeps a single-founder company simple.

Source: DMCC: set up your business

Can a DMCC company work on the Dubai mainland?

Only with authorisation from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 sets out the routes: a branch outside the free zone, a branch licensed from the free zone, or a temporary permit for listed activities. Each route also needs DMCC's prior approval and any other approval your activity requires.

Source: DMCC: set up your business

How much does DMCC company setup cost?

It depends on your activities, the license term, your workspace and how many visas you need. Rather than a headline price that may not fit your plans, your consultant sends a written quotation with every DMCC fee and our service fee shown separately, so you can compare before you pay anything.

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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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