Where Is DAFZA Located in Dubai?

DAFZA Location: Where Dubai Airport Free Zone Actually Sits

If you're weighing DAFZA (Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority) for your company setup, the first practical question is where you'll actually be showing up for meetings, inspections, and licence collection. Here's the straight answer, plus what the DAFZA location means for logistics, customs, and staff commutes.

Quick answer

The DAFZA location is on the northern edge of Dubai International Airport (DXB), directly adjacent to Terminal 2, in the Al Twar area of Deira. The official address for the authority is 6th Floor, 6E, DAFZA HQ Building, PO Box 293508, Dubai, UAE. You reach it from Casablanca Road / Airport Road, and the nearest Metro stop is GGICO on the Red Line, roughly a 10-minute drive. Vehicle entry is through gated security — you'll need a visitor pass or company access card.^[1][2]

Getting to the DAFZA location

DAFZA sits inside a customs-controlled zone bordering DXB's cargo village and Terminal 2. If you're driving from Downtown or Business Bay, budget 20-30 minutes off-peak via Sheikh Rashid Road and Airport Road. From Sharjah, plan for 40-60 minutes during morning rush — the Al Ittihad Road bottleneck is real.

By Metro, take the Red Line to GGICO station. From there it's a short taxi ride (roughly AED 12-15) because the DAFZA gates aren't walkable from the station in summer heat.

Visitors need a pass. Call your DAFZA contact ahead so security at the gate has your name, Emirates ID number, and vehicle plate on the list. Without that, you're turning around.^[1]

Watch out: DAFZA is not the same as Dubai South (DWC) or DMCC. Three different free zones, three different regulators, three different locations. Don't show up at the wrong one — it happens more than you'd think.

Why the DAFZA location matters for your business

The physical spot is the whole selling point. DAFZA's location on the airside perimeter means goods can move between DXB cargo and DAFZA warehouses under customs supervision without leaving the bonded zone. For freight-forwarders, pharma distributors, aviation parts suppliers, and time-sensitive e-commerce, that shaves hours off clearance.^[2]

DAFZA operates under Dubai Law No. 25 of 2009 concerning DAFZA, and companies there benefit from 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying free zone income under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on corporate tax (subject to the qualifying income rules), and no personal income tax.^[3][4]

If your operations don't actually need airport proximity, honestly, the DAFZA premium on office rent may not be worth it. JAFZA, Meydan, or IFZA cost less per square foot. The location only pays for itself when speed-to-tarmac matters.

The DAFZA campus itself

The DAFZA location covers roughly 700,000 square metres and includes:

• DAFZA Headquarters Building — where you'll go for licence issuance, immigration, and government-relations desks
• Office towers (6E, 6W, 5E, 5W and the newer blocks) — leased office space for member companies
• Light Industrial Units (LIUs) — warehousing and light manufacturing with direct airside access
• DAFZA Business Park — the newer expansion east of the original zone

The One-Stop-Shop counter inside the HQ handles most government transactions in one visit: trade licence renewal, visa stamping, labour approvals, and customs registration. Bring originals and copies. Not one or the other.^[1]

Practical tip before you go

Park in the visitor lot outside the HQ (not the staff areas — you will get ticketed). Ground-floor reception issues day passes; upper floors require an escort. And the food court on-site is fine for a quick lunch between appointments, but the queues between 12:30 and 14:00 are brutal.

For related setup questions, see our answers on free zone company formation and UAE corporate tax basics.