metrofitt dubai airport freezone authority

Metrofitt Dubai Airport Freezone Authority: What It Means

If you're trying to figure out what "Metrofitt Dubai Airport Freezone Authority" actually refers to, you've probably seen the name on a trade licence, a supplier invoice, or a LinkedIn profile and want to know what you're dealing with. Short answer: Metrofitt is a company licensed under the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), not a government body itself.

Quick answer

Metrofitt is a private company holding a trade licence issued by the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) — the federal free zone regulator based at Dubai International Airport, established by Decree No. 2 of 1996. So when you see "Metrofitt Dubai Airport Freezone Authority" on documents, DAFZA is the licensing authority and Metrofitt is the licensee. The free zone sits next to Terminal 2 and offers 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, 100% foreign ownership, and customs-bonded warehousing. Verify the licence on the DAFZA portal before signing anything.^[1]

How to verify a DAFZA licence

Don't take a PDF at face value. In my experience, half the "free zone licences" people forward me are either expired or for a completely different entity with a similar name.

To check Metrofitt or any other DAFZA licensee:

• Ask for the licence number and expiry date directly.
• Cross-check on the DAFZA Dubai Trade portal (dubaitrade.ae) under entity search.
• Confirm the legal form — FZCO, branch, or sole establishment — and the listed activities. A licence for "general trading" doesn't cover consultancy work, and DAFZA enforces this.
• Request the establishment card and a recent shareholder certificate if you're entering a material contract.

If the counterparty hesitates, that tells you what you need to know.

What DAFZA actually does

DAFZA is the regulator — it issues licences, leases office and warehouse space, and runs immigration and customs services inside the free zone. It operates under Law No. 25 of 2009 concerning DAFZA and the broader UAE free zone framework. Licence fees in 2024 typically run AED 10,000-15,000 for the trade licence itself, plus office/flexi-desk costs starting around AED 15,000 per year for a shared workstation. Setup timelines are realistic: 2-3 weeks if your documents are clean, longer if you need security clearance for sensitive activities.^[2]

DAFZA companies get the standard free zone benefits — full repatriation of capital, no personal income tax, and customs duty exemption on goods kept inside the zone. Corporate tax at 9% under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 still applies to non-qualifying income, so don't assume "free zone" means "tax-free" anymore. That changed in June 2023 and a lot of business owners still haven't caught up.

When the name appears on contracts

If you're contracting with Metrofitt — or any DAFZA-licensed entity — three practical points:

Jurisdiction. DAFZA entities can opt into DIFC Courts jurisdiction by contract, or default to Dubai onshore courts. Check the dispute clause. It matters more than people think when you're chasing payment two years later.

Service of notice. The registered address inside DAFZA is the valid service address. Sending a legal notice to a Business Bay office because that's where you met the manager won't count.

VAT. DAFZA is not a Designated Zone for VAT purposes under Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017, so 5% VAT applies on most supplies the same as mainland. Worth flagging before you negotiate price.

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Citations

^[1] Dubai Airport Freezone Authority — official portal, dafz.ae (company search and licensing information). ^[2] Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses; Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2023 on Qualifying Income for Free Zone Persons.

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