IFZA Company Setup: Costs, Benefits and Who It Suits (2026)

The International Free Zone Authority, known as IFZA, has grown into one of the most widely used free zones in Dubai, particularly among consultants, agencies, online businesses and first-time founders setting up in the UAE. Its combination of competitive pricing, a broad activity list and a straightforward setup process makes it a natural first port of call for many UK and international entrepreneurs.

This guide covers everything you need to know to evaluate an IFZA setup: how the zone works, what it costs (indicatively), what activities it covers, the visa options available, and who it suits and who it does not. For a broader comparison of UAE free zones, see our guide to the best free zones in the UAE.

What is IFZA and where does it sit?

IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is a Dubai free zone established in 2018 and administered under the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA). Its registered address is in Dubai, which matters for postal purposes, credibility and banking relationships.

Like all UAE free zones, IFZA allows:

• 100% foreign ownership, no UAE national sponsor or partner required
• Repatriation of profits and capital without restriction
• No personal income tax
• Exemption from import and export duties within the zone
• A corporate tax environment subject to UAE federal rules (introduced from June 2023)

IFZA positions itself as a value-for-money option within Dubai. It is not the cheapest free zone available in the UAE, that distinction tends to go to Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah zones such as SHAMS or RAKEZ, but it offers a Dubai address and a broader activity list than many budget alternatives.

Indicative costs: what does IFZA actually charge?

IFZA publishes package pricing and the figures below are illustrative based on the standard single-shareholder, single-visa setup. All costs are indicative, government fees change, package structures are updated periodically, and your actual quote will depend on the specific activities, visa numbers and office type you require.

Annual renewal costs are broadly lower than year-one because some one-off registration and processing fees do not recur. Indicatively, ongoing annual costs for a basic single-visa licence sit in the AED 10,000–13,000 range, with visa renewals (typically every two to three years) adding further costs in the years they fall due.

For a broader look at what UAE company formation costs across structures and zones, see our cost to set up a company in Dubai guide.

Permitted activities: what can an IFZA company do?

IFZA covers a wide range of business activities across professional services, consulting, trading and technology. One of its practical advantages is the ability to include multiple activities on a single licence, which suits founders whose work spans more than one category.

Commonly chosen activities include:

• Management consulting and business advisory
• IT services, software development and technology consulting
• Marketing, advertising and public relations
• Media production and content creation
• HR and recruitment consultancy
• Import and export trading (on applicable packages)
• E-commerce and online retail
• Financial consulting (note: regulated financial activities require a different structure, typically DIFC or ADGM)

It is worth checking IFZA's current activity list carefully before applying. The categorisation of activities affects both the licence type and which activities can be combined on a single licence.

Visa options under IFZA

A company licence in IFZA entitles the company to sponsor residence visas for its shareholder(s) and employees. The number of visas depends on the package:

Investor visas issued through IFZA are typically valid for three years and renewable. They entitle the holder to UAE residency, an Emirates ID and the ability to open a personal UAE bank account, sponsor family members and access UAE healthcare and schooling.

IFZA licences do not automatically qualify for the UAE Golden Visa, which requires a separate route (property investment, exceptional talent or a qualifying business investment of AED 500,000 or more). For founders who want the ten-year Golden Visa, a company licence is often the first step to building UAE residency, with the Golden Visa pursued separately once the criteria are met. See our UAE Golden Visa guide for details.

Corporate tax: IFZA's position under the 9% regime

UAE corporate tax was introduced for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. The headline rates are:

• 0% on taxable profits up to AED 375,000
• 9% on profits above AED 375,000

Free zone companies, including those in IFZA, can potentially qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) and apply a 0% rate to qualifying income. Qualifying income broadly covers revenue from international clients (outside the UAE mainland) and transactions between free zone entities.

For UK founders who have relocated to Dubai, the corporate tax position in the UAE is one part of a larger picture: the other part is ensuring the company is genuinely managed and controlled from the UAE, not from the UK, so that HMRC does not treat it as UK-tax-resident. These two issues are connected. A properly run IFZA company, with decision-making in Dubai, achieves both objectives.

A worked example

Pros and cons of IFZA

Who does IFZA suit?

IFZA works well for:

• UK and international consultants and agencies relocating to Dubai who need a professional service licence with multiple activity coverage and do not want to pay DMCC or DIFC prices.
• Online and remote businesses with an international client base, where the free zone location is irrelevant to day-to-day operations.
• First-time UAE company founders who want a straightforward setup process, a Dubai address and a single investor visa.
• Founders at the planning stage who want to establish UAE residency quickly and cost-effectively before deciding on a longer-term structure.

IFZA is less suited to:

• Regulated financial services businesses, which need a financial free zone.
• Businesses that sell primarily to UAE mainland clients in a way that triggers the need for a mainland trade licence.
• Founders requiring a prestige central Dubai address, for whom DMCC's Jumeirah Lakes Towers location may be preferable.
• Industrial, manufacturing or logistics businesses, where RAKEZ's warehouse and industrial facilities are a better fit.

Next steps

IFZA is a practical, well-established free zone that suits a wide range of service and consulting businesses. The setup process is straightforward and the costs are competitive within Dubai. But choosing the right free zone is only part of the decision: the structure you choose, the activities you register, and the way you run the company from day one all feed into both your UAE compliance and, for UK founders, your UK tax exit position.

If you would like to explore whether IFZA is the right fit for your business, or compare it with other zones, visit the IFZA free zone page for further detail. To compare across UAE free zones, our best free zones guide covers the main options side by side. When you are ready to discuss your specific situation, get in touch and our UK and UAE specialists can advise on structure, costs and the broader picture.