Category · Q&A index
Corporate & Business
UAE corporate tax, FZE setup, mainland vs free zone.
0%CORPORATE TAX
UAE mainland & free zones until 2023
AED 835SETUP FEE
DED trade license (mainland Dubai)
5–7DAYS
FZE company registration timeline
100%OWNERSHIP
Foreign ownership allowed in free zones
Start here
01
I need to start a business in Dubai
Learn how to obtain a DED trade license or e-commerce license for your Dubai business, including the application process, required documents, and associated fees.
1 question
02
I'm comparing free zone options for my company
Explore major UAE free zones like JAFZA, IFZA, and SAIF Zone to understand costs, location benefits, and which zone best suits your business type and budget.
1 question
03
I'm deciding between mainland and free zone operations
Understand the key differences between establishing a mainland company versus a free zone company in the UAE, including licensing, ownership, and cost implications.
21 answered questions
0 lawyer-reviewed
I'm comparing free zone options for my company
Other questions
- Provisional
Do You Need an E-Commerce License in Dubai?
# E-Commerce License Dubai: What You Actually Need in 2025 If you're selling online from Dubai — whether dropshipping abacayas, running a Shopify store, or flipping electronics on Noon — you need an e commerce license dubai issued by either the Department of Economy and Tourism (
- Provisional
What Are Al Riyadi Corporate Services?
# Al Riyady Corporate Services: What They Do and When You'd Use One If you're setting up a company in the UAE or trying to keep an existing one compliant, you've probably come across firms like Al Riyady Corporate Services. Here's what a corporate services provider actually does,
- Provisional
How to Get a DED E-Trader License in Dubai
DED e-trader license costs AED 1,070/year and lets UAE, GCC, and expatriate residents sell online from home in Dubai with no physical office required.
- Provisional
How to Get a DED Trade License in Dubai?
# DED Trade License: What You Actually Need to Know If you're setting up a mainland business in Dubai, the DED trade license is the document that lets you legally operate. It's issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (formerly DED, and most people still call it that). Her
- Provisional
How a Professional License in Dubai Actually Works
# How a Professional License in Dubai Actually Works If you're a consultant, freelancer, designer, doctor, or service provider planning to set up in Dubai, you'll almost certainly need a professional license. It's the category that covers skill-based work — anything where you sel
- Provisional
Meydan Free Zone Review: Is It Right for You?
Meydan Free Zone offers affordable commercial licences from AED 12,500/year with fast 5–10 day setup, ideal for freelancers and small services. Limited physical space and no warehouse activities.
- Provisional
IFZA Dubai Free Zone: Costs & Setup Guide
# IFZA Dubai: Costs, Activities and What to Watch in 2025 If you're shopping for a UAE free zone and IFZA Dubai keeps coming up in your searches, here's the straight version — what it actually costs, what you get, and where it falls short. No brochure language. ## Quick answer
- Provisional
How to Pay Your DED Payment Voucher in Dubai?
Pay your DED voucher through Invest in Dubai portal, DED Trader app, smart kiosks, or service centres within 30 days to unlock your trade licence.
- Provisional
Dubai DED Services: Licenses & Fees Guide
# DED Services Dubai: Licences, Fees & Timelines in 2025 If you're starting or running a mainland business in Dubai, you'll deal with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, still widely called DED) sooner or later. Trade licences, instant licences, amendments, renewals — the
- Provisional
Dubai South Free Zone Location: Where It Actually Is
# Dubai South Free Zone Location: Where It Actually Is If you're scouting a free zone for logistics, aviation, or e-commerce, you've probably hit Dubai South on the shortlist. Good — but where is it, exactly? Most clients I deal with picture "somewhere near the airport" and stop
- Provisional
List of Companies in SAIF Zone: How to Actually Find One
# List of Companies in SAIF Zone: How to Actually Find One If you're trying to verify a supplier, run due diligence on a counterparty, or just confirm whether a business is really licensed at Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, you want a real list of companies in SAIF Zone
- Provisional
Companies in Dubai Silicon Oasis: Setup, Costs, Rules
# Companies in Dubai Silicon Oasis: Setup, Costs, Rules If you're eyeing companies in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) as your launchpad — tech startup, e-commerce shop, consultancy, light industrial — you're looking at a free zone that's been operating since 2004 and now sits under the
- Provisional
How Much Does a JAFZA Free Zone Company Cost?
JAFZA free zone company costs AED 30,000-50,000 first year plus rent. Setup takes 4-8 weeks. Best for warehousing, port, or logistics; overkill for consultants.
- Provisional
Free Zone vs Mainland Company in UAE?
Mainland companies in UAE allow 100% foreign ownership since 2021 and can trade with local customers; free zones offer 100% ownership and 0% tax on qualifyin…
- Provisional
SAIF Zone Admin Building: Location & Services
SAIF Zone admin building in Sharjah handles licensing, immigration, and lease signing. Open Mon-Thu 7:30 am–3:30 pm, Fri 7:30 am–12:00 pm. Bring original documents and Emirates ID.
- Provisional
What Is JAFZA 15? UAE Business Address Guide
JAFZA 15 is a standard office building in Jebel Ali Free Zone. Companies here hold JAFZA licences, not onshore DED licences, and are governed by JAFZA rules and Dubai Law No. 9 of 1992.
- Provisional
Dubai Multi Commodities Center DMCC: What You Need to Know
# Dubai Multi Commodities Center DMCC: What You Need to Know If you're looking at setting up a free zone company in Dubai, the Dubai Multi Commodities Center DMCC sits near the top of most shortlists. Here's the practical version — what it actually is, what it costs, and where it
- Provisional
Jebel Ali Freezone Setup Cost: What You'll Pay
Jebel Ali Freezone setup costs AED 30,000-50,000 year one for a standard FZCO plus facility fees. Suits trading, logistics, and industrial businesses with port access needs. Setup takes 4-8 weeks.
- Provisional
How Does Corporate Finance Work in UAE?
# Corporate Finance in the UAE: What You Need to Know If you're raising capital, restructuring debt, or planning an acquisition in the UAE, corporate finance here doesn't work the way it does in London or New York. The rules split across federal law, free zones, and sector regula