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Free zone guide

DWTC Free Zone company setup in Dubai's central business district

DWTC Free Zone is the Dubai World Trade Centre free zone, spanning from Rashid Tower to One Central in the heart of Dubai's central business district. We check your activity against DWTC's official list, prepare and submit your application, and flag any approvals, such as a VARA license, before you commit.

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Overview

How DWTC Free Zone company setup works

DWTC Free Zone is run by the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), a public corporation set up under Dubai Law No. (9) of 2015 concerning the Dubai World Trade Centre. The same law established a free zone within the DWTC. DWTC describes the zone as spanning from Rashid Tower to the neighbouring One Central, in the heart of Dubai's central business district.

DWTC says the free zone offers more than 1,200 licensed business activities and is home to more than 1,800 small and medium businesses. It is open to all industries and sectors, and one license can cover up to 10 activities.

You can form a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) with one shareholder, an individual or a company, or a Free Zone Company (FZCO) with up to ten. Existing businesses can open a UAE branch or a foreign branch, and companies from other free zones can apply to transfer in. Every license needs a lease for a business address in the zone, though DWTC says a co-working option can meet that requirement.

Some activities answer to a second regulator. Virtual asset firms, for example, need a license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) as well as DWTC Authority's own licenses. We check where your activity sits before you apply.

Setup planner

Is your activity on DWTC Free Zone's official list?

Search your activity to see whether DWTC Free Zone 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 DWTC Free Zone suits

  • 01

    Virtual asset businesses

    Firms that need a DWTC Authority license alongside a VARA license, and can lease a private physical office.

  • 02

    Event and exhibition companies

    Businesses that fit DWTC's Event Management license and want to sit beside its exhibition calendar.

  • 03

    Consultants, traders and family offices

    Professional, commercial or general trading companies, and wealth managers serving one or more families.

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 DWTC Free Zone 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 DWTC Free Zone
  • 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 DWTC Free Zone 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

DWTC Free Zone 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 DWTC Free Zone 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 DWTC Free Zone's official list

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm your exact activity is on DWTC Free Zone'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 DWTC Free Zone.

  5. Step 5: Zone review and decision

    Authority

    DWTC Free Zone 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

DWTC Free Zone company and license types

DWTC Free Zone offers seven company licenses. You choose the license that matches your activities, then the company type that matches your ownership: an FZE for one shareholder, an FZCO for up to ten, or a UAE or foreign branch of an existing company. A UAE branch must belong to a limited liability company registered on the UAE mainland.

  • Professional: service-based work built on skills and qualifications, such as consultancy
  • Commercial and General Trading: buying and selling goods, with general trading covering a wider range of products
  • E-Commerce: selling goods and services online
  • Event Management: organising events, exhibitions, conferences and seminars
  • Virtual Assets: businesses dealing with cryptocurrencies, digital securities and other digital value representations
  • Family Offices: wealth management for single and multiple families

Offices, co-working and visas

DWTC Free Zone requires a lease for your business address, and your workspace shapes your visa quota. DWTC says flexi desks are limited to one visa, and as a general guideline it allows a minimum of 80 square feet per visa, with any extra quota subject to review.

Options range from DWTC Work Hub co-working and small private offices to standard offices in One Central, Rashid Tower and Convention Tower. DWTC also lists Home Business packages that pair a DWTC Free Zone license with a residential lease in Expo Village, its community in Expo City Dubai.

  • Business centres inside DWTC include The Executive Centre, WeWork, Regus, Zentral, ItaliaCamp and HQ
  • Some activities need a specific facility, such as a physical office or retail space
  • Moving from a physical office to a shared workstation can reduce your visa quota

Who regulates what: DWTC Authority, VARA and DET

The Dubai World Trade Centre Authority licenses free zone companies and issues Business Operating Permits, which let existing companies licensed by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) operate inside the free zone. DWTC's FAQ adds that no other free zone companies are allowed to operate within DWTC at present.

Virtual assets add a second regulator. DWTC states that any firm conducting virtual asset activities in or from Dubai, outside the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), must hold a VARA license. DWTC Authority first issues a non-operational license, valid for one year, then the operational license once VARA grants its license or an exemption. The applicant must also lease a private physical office.

Working with the Dubai mainland from DWTC Free Zone

A DWTC Free Zone license covers the activities on it, conducted from within the zone. DWTC's FAQ says that to trade directly on the mainland you may need extra approvals, permits or licenses from the relevant mainland authority, and that some activities can run through an appropriately licensed local distributor or agent.

Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 sets the formal routes: a branch in the emirate, a branch operating out of the free zone, or a temporary DET permit for specific activities, each with the free zone's approval. Going the other way, DWTC lets DET-licensed companies with a commercial office lease set up a DWTC Free Zone company under a dual license.

DWTC Free Zone vs DAFZ vs DMCC: city centre, airport or JLT

All three are Dubai free zones with office space, but they sit in different parts of the city and lean towards different businesses. Compare them on location, license types and the workspace your visas need.

  • DWTC Free Zone: Rashid Tower to One Central in the central business district, with seven license types including Event Management and Virtual Assets
  • DAFZ: next to Dubai International Airport, with trade, general trading and industrial licenses, plus warehouses and cold storage
  • DMCC: Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai, with more than 26,000 member companies and ecosystems from gold and coffee to crypto and gaming

Questions to answer before you choose DWTC Free Zone

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

  • Is your exact activity on DWTC Free Zone'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

DWTC Free Zone: 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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Who regulates DWTC Free Zone?

The Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA). Dubai Law No. (9) of 2015 set it up as a public corporation with legal personality and established a free zone within the DWTC. DWTC Authority issues free zone licenses and Business Operating Permits. If your activity involves virtual assets, Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) must also license you before you start operating.

Source: Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. (9) of 2015 concerning the Dubai World Trade Centre

What company types can I form in DWTC Free Zone?

DWTC lists four. A Free Zone Establishment (FZE) has a single shareholder, who can be an individual or a company. A Free Zone Company (FZCO) can have up to ten shareholders. Existing businesses can open a UAE branch of a mainland limited liability company or a branch of a company registered outside the UAE. Companies from other free zones can also apply to transfer in.

Source: DWTC Free Zone: company types

How many activities can one DWTC license cover?

Up to 10. DWTC's FAQ says a maximum of 10 business activities are permitted under a single license, chosen from more than 1,200 activities. The zone describes itself as open to all industries and sectors. Some activities need a specific facility, such as a physical office or retail space, so we check your activity list and workspace together.

Source: DWTC Free Zone: FAQs

Can a DWTC Free Zone company trade on the Dubai mainland?

Not on its free zone license alone. DWTC says the license covers activities conducted from within the zone, and mainland work may need extra approvals, permits or licenses, or a licensed local distributor or agent. Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 sets the routes: a branch, a branch operating out of the free zone, or a DET permit, each with the zone's approval.

Source: DWTC Free Zone: FAQs

Can I get a crypto or virtual assets license in DWTC Free Zone?

Yes, DWTC lists a Virtual Assets license, but it comes with a second regulator. Any firm conducting virtual asset activities in or from Dubai, outside DIFC, needs a license from VARA. DWTC Authority issues a non-operational license first, valid for one year, and an operational license once VARA grants its license or an exemption. You also need a private physical office.

Source: DWTC Free Zone: virtual assets

How much does a DWTC Free Zone license cost?

It depends on your activities, the license term, your workspace and how many visas you need. DWTC's on-demand model lets you add visas, workspace or services as you grow, so the right starting setup matters. Your consultant sends a written quotation with every DWTC fee and our service fee shown separately, so you can compare before you pay anything.

Source: DWTC Free Zone: On-Demand Licensing

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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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