Start your IT business in the UAE’s growing market, whether it’s software development or IT consulting.
8,000 AED
3-4 weeks
Guaranteed
2 years
Setting up a company in the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) Free Zone is overseen by the DWTC Authority and typically takes around 3 to 4 working weeks. The process can also be facilitated by professional business consultants in Dubai. Notably, the physical presence of the company’s shareholders is not required for the setup.
Carefully identify the business activities your company will engage in and choose the appropriate license type accordingly. This step is crucial for a smooth company setup. Selecting the wrong activity or license can lead to complications during the registration process, and may affect your ability to open a corporate bank account or secure residency visas for you and your employees.
Decide on the legal entity that best suits your business needs. The Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) offers various company structures based on the number of shareholders and the nature of your business activities:
FZE (Free Zone Establishment): A limited liability company with a single shareholder, which can be either an individual or a corporate entity.
FZCO (Free Zone Company): A limited liability company formed by multiple shareholders, including individuals, corporate entities, or a mix of both.
Branch: A fully owned branch of an existing parent company, established within DWTC. It operates under the parent company’s name and activities. The parent company can be based in the UAE or abroad.
Gather and file all necessary documents along with your application form to initiate the company registration process in the Dubai World Trade Center Free Zone. For initial approval, you’ll need to provide:
A copy of your passport
A CV outlining your professional background
A brief business plan detailing your proposed activities
Once you receive initial approval, you’ll be required to submit additional documents, including:
Specimen signature of the General Manager
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA & AOA)
Bank certificate confirming the deposit of share capital
Board resolution authorizing the company setup
This stage also includes the payment of all applicable registration and processing fees.
Once the setup process is complete, collect all official documents for your company, which typically include:
Certificate of Incorporation
Business License
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA & AOA)
Lease Agreement
If you need any additional documents—such as a Certificate of Incumbency or a Certificate of Good Standing—an extra fee of AED 3,000 per document will apply.
Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes.
Submit your application for an entry permit as part of the visa process.
If you’re outside the UAE when the entry permit is issued, you must enter the country within 60 days to complete the required medical tests and biometric procedures for your residency visa.
If you’re already in the UAE, a status change will be carried out to switch from your current tourist or residency visa to the new one associated with your company setup.
Undergo the mandatory medical examination and submit the required documents to process your residency visa and Emirates ID. The number of visas available for company owners and employees will depend on the specific registration package selected during the setup process.
Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card.
Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. Once you receive your account details, you are free to start running your business.
One of the key reasons the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) Free Zone is a popular choice for business setup in Dubai is its cost-effectiveness. It is among the most affordable free zones in the city, offering a wide range of benefits at highly competitive rates. To cater to different business needs, DWTC provides four tailored setup packages:
| COMPANY REGISTRATION PACKAGE | COST |
|---|---|
| License + flexi-desk + 1 visa (for individual shareholders only) | 17,800 AED |
| License + flexi-desk + 2 visas (for individual shareholders only) | 25,500 AED |
| License + executive office + 3 visas | 42,800 AED |
| License + executive office + 6 visas | 67,300 AED |
Please note that a General Trading license requires a minimum facility of an executive office. Additionally, it involves an extra annual deposit of AED 12,000.
The mentioned packages do not include visa fees, car parking charges, or the one-time refundable security deposit of AED 3,500.
Yes
You’re a startup or SME aiming to expand locally or enter regional and global markets.
Your business activities involve trading, consultancy, or other professional services.
You’re seeking an affordable and efficient business setup in a Dubai free zone with minimal documentation—DWTC offers cost-effective solutions, including flexi-desk options.
You want your company to be located in a prestigious business district with world-class infrastructure and excellent networking opportunities—DWTC is strategically situated in the heart of Dubai’s World Trade Center area.
You or your employees are from countries considered “high-risk” (e.g., Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Turkey, etc.)—DWTC improves your chances of obtaining residency visas and opening a bank account through a pre-approval process.
You’re open to exploring alternatives—Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Free Zone and Dubai South Free Zone are also strong options.
No
Your business involves heavy industry, manufacturing, or logistics and requires facilities such as warehouses, industrial units, or land plots—in such cases, consider JAFZA or RAKEZ.
You’re specifically looking to establish a business outside of Dubai.
The Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) Free Zone supports a wide range of business activities, categorized into the following broad sectors:
Trading
Services
Consultancy
A standout feature of DWTC is the ability to incorporate multiple activities under a single license—up to 10 activities, as long as they fall within the same category. If you wish to add an activity from a different category (with a different parent code) under the same license, you can do so for an additional fee of AED 1,500. Please note that DWTC does not accommodate industrial activities.
The DWTC Free Zone offers four types of licenses tailored to businesses of all sizes. Below is a list of the business licenses available through DWTC, along with their respective descriptions.
Start your IT business in the UAE’s growing market, whether it’s software development or IT consulting.
A Commercial License enables you to start a business in retail, wholesale, or import-export, providing access to both local and international markets.
With a Professional License, you can offer specialized services in fields like consulting, management, education, real estate, and more.
Offer professional services in sectors like consulting, marketing, or IT with a hassle-free setup process.
Gold is always a profitable investment. Buy and sell gold and precious metals with a Gold Trading License in the highly lucrative UAE market.
Trade multiple products across various industries with a single license, offering maximum business flexibility.
Have you always dreamed of opening your own bakery and delighting the community with the aroma of fresh pastries? The UAE loves coffee and sweets.
Document processing services are in high demand in the UAE due to the large expat population. Open your Typing Center and help people with paperwork.
Provide financial services, including accounting, auditing, and tax consulting.
Opening a good coffee shop or tea house in busy areas or shopping malls is a great business idea, as the UAE is full of coffee and dessert lovers.
Quality food is in ever-growing demand in the UAE. A Foodstuff Trading License will allow you to import, distribute, and sell food products.
A Project Management License allows you to help companies effectively complete complex tasks.
Start a car rental or leasing business and serve both residents and tourists in a country with high demand for mobility.
With a FOREX license, you can trade foreign currencies in the dynamic financial market of the UAE.
Operate legally in the UAE’s growing cryptocurrency sector with a license for trading, exchanges, and blockchain services.
The Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) Free Zone offers clients a variety of workspace options, including conventional offices, executive offices, and flexible workspaces, all located within the iconic Sheikh Rashid Tower. This tower, which was Dubai’s first skyscraper, built in 1979, is a historic landmark and houses the Dubai Financial Market.
The flexible workspaces, or ‘flexi-desks,’ provide the adaptability that modern businesses need. However, due to high demand, office space availability may vary and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The facility options available at DWTC include:
A fully equipped dedicated workspace. It offers privacy, essential support services, and a professional environment for business growth.
A shared working space available for a certain number of hours. It provides minimal facility requirements for company registration.
No matter your specific requirements, you’ll find a suitable workspace either within the DWTC Free Zone or at one of the nearby business centers.
In addition to its own facilities, the free zone offers clients the option to rent workspaces at business centers within the One Central Development or Convention Tower. One Central, located within the World Trade Center, is recognized as one of Dubai’s most vibrant and stylish business hubs. Convention Tower, a 13-story commercial building, caters to large corporate entities and offers expansive office spaces.
Like other UAE free zones, the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) Free Zone offers eligibility for resident visas. The number of visas available depends on the type of company and the size of the office space chosen.
Flexi-desk: Up to 2 visas
Executive office: Up to 6 visas
DWTC offers some of the most competitive visa costs across the UAE.
DWTC Visa Costs:
| VISA TYPE | DWTC FEE | MEDICAL CHECKUP | EMIRATES ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor visa | 2,000 AED (for applicants outside the UAE) 3,200 AED (for applicants in the UAE) | 755 AED | 390 AED |
| Employee visa | 2,000 AED (for applicants outside the UAE) 3,200 AED (for applicants in the UAE) | 755 AED | 390 AED |
An Investor visa is available for shareholders who hold more than 50% of company shares.
All visas are valid for 2 years.
The renewal of a company in DWTC must be completed one year after the registration date. The renewal process involves renewing the business license and office lease. To proceed with the company renewal, you will need to pay the following fees:
License fees
Establishment Card costs
Office (facility) fees
The specific amounts for these fees are as follows:
| FEE | COST |
|---|---|
| DWTC license renewal (does not include other associated fees like lease etc.) | 10,000 AED |
| Establishment Сard annual payment | 2,300 AED |
| Flexi desk annual renewal (1-2 visa quota) | 7,500-13,200 AED |
To renew your business license, get in touch with your business setup consultant, who will prepare the renewal application with the necessary documents for the free zone authorities. The consultant will also sign the renewed lease agreement, pay the renewal fees, and wait for the license to be officially renewed.
In DWTC, an audit is not required for license renewal. However, if your company is registered for VAT, you will need to provide your tax registration certificate to the free zone during the renewal process.
DWTC Company Amendments
Corporate amendments in the DWTC Free Zone can be made at any time after the license is issued. Common amendments include:
Change of activity
Change of trade name
Transfer of shares
Change of manager
Each amendment carries its own fee. Once the amendment is made, the free zone authority will issue a new license reflecting the updated information.
DWTC Company Liquidation
If you decide to close your company in the DWTC Free Zone, you must return the original documents and pay the liquidation fee.
| SERVICE | COST |
|---|---|
| DWTC license de-registration | 3,000 AED |
The company liquidation procedure in DWTC involves the following steps:
Provide the mandatory documents:
A notarized, attested special resolution signed by shareholders, stating the reason for liquidation
Deregistration documentation
Business license and all company incorporation documents
Bank account clearance and closure letter
Clearance from the DWTC finance department
Clearance from DU and Etisalat
Pay the cancellation fees and settle any outstanding payments. Once completed, the liquidation process will begin.
Cancel all residence visas and other immigration-related documents issued under the company.
Receive notification and the corresponding documents once the liquidation is finalized.
Additionally, you are required to publish a notice about your company closure in a UAE national newspaper. Once all documents are submitted, deregistration will typically take a few days.
Inaugurated in 2016, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) Free Zone is one of the newest and most affordable additions to Dubai’s portfolio of free zones. Located at the heart of Dubai’s commercial district, it provides an ideal environment for startups and SMEs aiming to expand locally, as well as those looking to tap into regional and global markets.
Strategically positioned within the renowned World Trade Center area, DWTC is home to a variety of exhibitions, creating continuous networking and business opportunities. It also offers a wide selection of office spaces available for lease, accommodating businesses from various sectors seeking a prestigious commercial address.
Managed by the DWTC Authority, the free zone spans a vast area that begins at the iconic Sheikh Rashid Tower, formerly known as the Trade Centre Tower, and extends to the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, as well as the newly developed One Central commercial area.
The location boasts excellent accessibility, with Dubai International Airport just a 10-minute drive away, and numerous hotels and banks within walking distance. These factors make DWTC an attractive and vibrant hub for businesses.
DWTC is also a preferred choice for individuals from “high-risk” nationalities, as it offers the possibility of obtaining a resident visa through pre-approval.
The brand name Visa Kings Global is used under licence by Visa Success Limited. Visa Success Limited is not a firm of solicitors and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Visa Success Limited does not give financial, legal or tax advice.
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