The short answer
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is a Dubai Free Zone with headquarters at Dubai Digital Park. You can open a professional (services) or commercial (trading) company, or combine both, choose from 827 activities with 3 included, sponsor residence visas with a flexi-desk for up to 3 visas, and work with clients worldwide. The licence is usually ready in 3–4 working days, and you can take it for 1, 2, 3 or 5 years.
IFZA key facts
| Location | Dubai Digital Park, Dubai |
|---|---|
| Company type | Free Zone company (FZCO), or a branch of an existing company |
| Licence types | Professional (services and consulting) and commercial (trading); you can combine both |
| Activities | 827 to choose from; 3 included in the licence, up to 10 in total |
| Shareholders | 3 included; more can be added; a company can also be a shareholder |
| Visas and office | Flexi-desk for licences with up to 3 visas; a dedicated office above that |
| Licence length | 1, 2, 3 or 5 years; longer licences cost less per year |
| Time to licence | Usually 3–4 working days with complete documents |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership, no local partner |
Sources: IFZA price list and terms (October 2026), IFZA schedule of fees 2026, IFZA company name terms (November 2023) and IFZA's official activity list. Checked 29 October 2026.
IFZA licences and licence length
- Professional licence: services, consulting, IT, marketing, design, training and similar.
- Commercial licence: buying and selling goods, including general trading and e-commerce activities.
- Both on one licence: IFZA allows professional and commercial activities together.
- 1, 2, 3 or 5 years: multi-year licences cost less per year. IFZA issues them with one year's validity, a multi-year letter and automatic renewal.
- Upgrade later: you can move to a licence with more visas when you grow.
IFZA activities
IFZA's official list has 827 activities: 372 professional and 454 commercial. 3 are included in the licence; you can add more up to 10. Some activities need approval from another authority, before or after the licence is issued (for example food, transport, security or virtual assets).
IFZA company name rules
An IFZA company name has two parts: a name you like + a word from one of your activities, for example "Nova Management" for a management consultancy. IFZA adds "FZCO" at the end. Your first choice is usually approved; names are refused when a very similar name already exists or a word breaks the rules. The main rules from IFZA's name reservation terms:
- Your own word comes first. The activity alone can't be the name: "General Trading" is refused, "Phoenix General Trading" is fine.
- No places: no country, city or well-known area names (Dubai, Emirates, Marina…).
- No religious, political, offensive or discriminatory words.
- No famous brands or trademarks.
- Not as the first word: International, Global, Middle East, Universal, Gulf, Corporate, Group.
- Not allowed at all: words such as Holding, Invest, Corporation, Shop, Mall, Center, United, Expo, Hotel, Hospital, Clinic, School, College, University, Institute, Studio, Palm.
- A person's name only if they are a shareholder, with first and last name.
- No punctuation, symbols or web endings (.com, .ae), and don't add FZCO or LLC yourself.
Our online application builds name ideas from your activities and warns you before you submit a name that would be refused.
IFZA visas and flexi-desk
- Visa allocation: you choose the number of visas when you set up (IFZA licences are priced by visa count) and can upgrade later.
- Establishment card: registers the company with immigration; needed before any visa.
- Each visa: entry permit (or status change if you are in the UAE), medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID.
- Flexi-desk: enough for licences with up to 3 visas; above that you need a dedicated office.
- Family: once you hold your visa, you can sponsor your spouse and children. See family visa.
What an IFZA setup includes
- Trade licence with your activities
- Company documents: certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association, share certificates
- Establishment card, so the company can sponsor visas
- Residence visas for you, partners or staff
- Flexi-desk for licences with up to 3 visas
Not included: a dedicated office, family visas, document translation and attestation, bank fees. We tell you upfront which ones you need.
Documents you need
Each shareholder
- Passport copy
- Passport-format photo
- Proof of address
- UAE visa and Emirates ID, if resident
A company as shareholder
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles
- Board resolution and register of shareholders
- Attestation and translation where needed
Sometimes
- Employer no-objection letter, if employed in the UAE
- Approvals for regulated activities
What decides your IFZA cost
- Number of visas on the licence, and visas processed
- Number of activities above the 3 included
- Number of shareholders above 3, or a company as shareholder
- Licence length: 1, 2, 3 or 5 years
- Whether you are already in the UAE (visa status change)
IFZA changes its offers from month to month. We don't publish a price that may be wrong for you: on a free call we work out your exact cost, line by line, and send it in writing. Renewal costs about the same as the first-year licence.
IFZA vs Meydan vs RAKEZ
| IFZA | Meydan | RAKEZ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah |
| Activities | 827; 3 included | 2,500+; 3 groups included | 3,000+; up to 10 on Pro |
| Shareholders | 3 included | Up to 50 | Up to 50 on Pro |
| Licence length | 1, 2, 3 or 5 years | Up to 10 years | Yearly packages |
| Best for | Consultants and services with a Dubai address | Wide activity mix, mainland clients | Lowest cost, many partners, trading and industry |
IFZA pros and cons
Why people choose IFZA
- A Dubai address for your company
- Fast licence, usually 3–4 working days
- Professional and commercial on one licence
- Multi-year licences that cost less per year
- Fully remote setup until the visa medical and biometrics
Good to know
- Costs more than some zones in other emirates, such as RAKEZ
- Flexi-desk only up to 3 visas
- Extra activities and shareholders add to the cost
- Strict company name rules
Who IFZA suits
A good fit: consultants, agencies, tech and online businesses, traders who sell to companies, and owners who want a Dubai address and a residence visa.
Not the best fit: shops, restaurants and showrooms (they need a mainland licence), companies with many partners or activities (look at RAKEZ or Meydan), or owners who only want the lowest cost.
How we set up your IFZA company
- Free 30-minute call. We check your activities, visas and shareholders, and send your written quote the same day.
- Online application. You fill in our step-by-step form: activities from the official list, name ideas checked against the rules, passports uploaded from your phone.
- Name and pre-approval. We reserve your company name and get IFZA's approval.
- Licence. IFZA issues your licence and company documents, usually in 3–4 working days.
- Establishment card and visas. We book your medical test and biometrics; your Emirates ID is delivered to you.
- Bank account and tax. We help you open the account, register for corporate tax and keep your accounts if you want.
Choose how much we do for you: Basic, Silver or Gold. With Silver and Gold you also get our guarantee: Dubai-Ready, or a full refund of our setup fee.