UAE Flag United Arab Emirates
  Middle East's Premier Financial Free Zone

DIFC Free Zone

DIFC sits 220 km north of Dubai, right on the Gulf of the UAE. For manufacturers, logistics operators, and industrial companies targeting the GCC, it's the obvious choice — 4,600 hectares of developed land, direct port access, and a 25-year tax holiday with 100% foreign ownership from day one.

110 Acres Zone Area 5,000+ Companies 0% Corporate Tax 100% Foreign Ownership
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DED Licensed
1,200+ Clients
24/7 Support
Key Metrics
25yr
Tax Holiday
15
Days Setup
GCC
Market Access
0%
Import Duty
4.9/5 from 200+ reviews
DED Licensed
ISO 9001 Certified
30-Min Response
Money-Back Guarantee
G2 Top Rated 2024
1,200+ Clients

Recognized & Registered with the UAE's Regulatory Authorities

0
Companies Registered
0
Free Zones Covered
0
Years Experience
0
Success Rate
Zone Overview

Middle East's Financial &
FinTech Capital

DIFC is governed by the DIFC Authority and regulated by the DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority). Its independent legal system based on English common law provides the certainty global financial institutions require. Established in 2004, DIFC hosts 17 of the world's top 20 banks alongside leading law firms, audit firms, family offices, and 600+ FinTech companies.

DIFC's Gate Avenue provides a premium business ecosystem with Grade A office towers, fine dining, and retail. The DIFC Courts handle commercial disputes under English common law, providing world-class adjudication. Company formation typically takes 10–15 working days with EnterSlice managing all DFSA and DIFC Authority filings.

Direct access to DIFC Port — the UAE's busiest commercial port
Road, rail & air connectivity to all GCC markets
Dedicated industrial plots with ready-built infrastructure
One-stop authority for all permits, licenses & visas
Proximity to global shipping lanes (Strait of Hormuz)
Quick Facts
Key details at a glance
Established
2004
Authority
DIFC Authority (DFSA regulated)
Location
Downtown Dubai (Sheikh Zayed Road)
Total Area
110 Acres
Key Sectors
Financial Services, FinTech, Law, Asset Management
Min. Capital
AED 5,000 (approx.)
Setup Time
10–15 working days
Tax Holiday
25 years, renewable
Ownership
100% Foreign Ownership
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Key Benefits

Why Businesses Choose DIFC

Here's what the numbers actually mean for your business — and why DIFC consistently ranks as one of the GCC's most cost-efficient industrial locations.

0% Corporate Tax

Your company pays zero corporate income tax for 25 years — renewable for another 25. That's potentially 50 years of tax-free profits. It's one of the longest tax holidays offered by any free zone in the GCC.

100% Foreign Ownership

You don't need an local sponsor or local sponsor. Your shareholding is 100% yours — which means full control over profits, decisions, and the direction of your company from day one.

0% Customs Duty

Bring in raw materials and ship out finished goods without paying import or export duties. Inter-zone transfers are also duty-free — a significant cost advantage for manufacturers sourcing inputs from multiple suppliers.

World-Class Infrastructure

Unlike many free zones that hand you a license and leave the rest to you, DIFC offers ready-to-use warehouses, serviced industrial plots, and dedicated utilities — power, desalinated water, and fibre — already laid in. You can begin operations without waiting for construction.

Visa Sponsorship

Your DIFC establishment card lets you sponsor as many employees as your business needs — no Emiratization quota ceiling applies here. Investor visas for directors process in 5–7 working days through our PRO team.

GCC Market Access

DIFC puts your goods within a 4-hour sea transit to Dubai, Mumbai, and Karachi. That's not marketing copy — it's geography that directly reduces your shipping costs and delivery timelines to the GCC, South Asia, and East Africa.

Business Activities

Permitted Activities & Sectors

DIFC hosts 30+ permitted business activities across 6 major industrial and commercial sectors.

Manufacturing
Steel & MetalsFood ProcessingPetrochemicalsPlasticsChemicalsBuilding MaterialsPackaging
Logistics & Trade
Freight ForwardingWarehousingDistributionCold StoragePort ServicesCustoms Clearance
Energy & Resources
Oil & Gas ServicesSolar EnergyGreen HydrogenMining ServicesPower Generation
Services & Tech
Engineering ServicesIT & SoftwareMaintenanceTesting LabsR&D Centers
Trading
General TradingImport/ExportRe-ExportCommodity TradingWholesale
Construction
Civil EngineeringInfrastructureProject ManagementMEP Services
How It Works

Your DIFC Company — Step by Step

From your first consultation to a fully operational company — EnterSlice handles every step while you focus on your business vision.

Start Now — Free Consultation
1
Free Consultation & Activity Selection

Our DIFC experts assess your business plan, recommend the right license type, and confirm permitted activities for your industry.

2
Document Preparation & Name Reservation

We prepare and notarise all required documents, reserve your company name, and draft the Memorandum of Association.

3
Authority Filing & Approval

EnterSlice submits your application to DIFC Port & Freezone Authority, coordinates approvals, and handles all DED registrations.

4
License Issuance & Space Allocation

Receive your free zone trade license, allocate office/industrial space, and get your establishment card within 10–15 days.

5
Corporate Bank Account Opening

We facilitate account opening with Bank Dubai, HSBC, or NBO — typically within 5–10 business days post-incorporation.

What's Included

Everything Handled End-to-End

All-inclusive service — from document preparation to final delivery. No hidden extras.

Core Services
  • Free Zone Trade Licence
  • Company Name Reservation
  • DIFC Authority & DFSA Filing
  • Establishment Card
  • Free Zone Registration Certificate
  • MOA & Legal Drafting
  • DED Coordination
Additional Support
  • Virtual Office (1 year, Starter)
  • Dedicated Zone Liaison Officer
  • 1 Investor Visa (Business+)
  • Bank Account Assistance
  • Full Document Package
  • Annual Renewal Management
  • Activity Amendment Support
Timeline

Your Journey — Milestone by Milestone

A clear, step-by-step timeline so you always know what's happening and when.

1
Day 1–2
Zone Selection & Consultation
2
Day 3–4
Document Prep & Name Reservation
3
Day 5–7
DIFC Application & DFSA Filing
4
Day 7–8
Licence Issuance & Establishment Card
5
Day 8–9
Bank Account Opening
Visa Services

Visa Options for DIFC

As a DIFC licensee, sponsor employees and investors with full government support from EnterSlice.

Investor Visa

Long-term residency for business owners and directors. Renewable 2-year visa with multiple entry benefits.

Processing: 5–7 working days
Employment Visa

For hired staff and expatriate employees. Sponsor unlimited workers under your free zone establishment card.

Processing: 7–10 working days
Family Residence

Sponsor your spouse and dependants once your investor or employment visa is active. School registration support included.

Processing: 5–8 working days
Documentation

Required Documents

EnterSlice pre-checks and prepares all documents. Here's what you'll need to provide.

Personal Documents
  • Passport copy (all shareholders)
  • Passport-sized photographs
  • CV / Resume (shareholders)
  • Bank reference letter
  • Proof of address (utility bill / bank statement)
  • No Objection Certificate (if employed)
  • Source of funds declaration
Company Documents
  • Proposed company name (3 options)
  • Business plan / activity description
  • Memorandum & Articles of Association
  • Board resolution (corporate shareholders)
  • Certificate of Incorporation (existing cos.)
  • Shareholder structure / ownership chart
  • Lease agreement or space application

EnterSlice provides a full document checklist, notarisation, and legalisation services as part of every package.

Why EnterSlice

the UAE's Most Trusted Business Setup Partner

Over 1,200 companies successfully registered across all the UAE free zones. Here's why investors choose EnterSlice.

1,200+
Companies Registered
Across all 9 the UAE free zones and mainland since 2009
15yr
Years in the UAE
Deep DED relationships and regulatory expertise
98%
Success Rate
First-attempt approval rate across all registrations
50+
In-House Experts
Legal, accounting, visa, and PRO specialists on call
Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Trusted by 1,200+ businesses across 50+ countries

“EnterSlice handled our DIFC setup end-to-end — name reservation, DED approvals, and bank account with HSBC. All done in 14 days. Phenomenal service for first-time investors in the UAE.”

AK
Ahmed Al-Khatib
CEO, TradeCo FZCO — DIFC
Verified Client

“We needed a mainland LLC in Dubai urgently for a government tender. EnterSlice completed full registration in 8 working days and helped us get VAT-registered. Their DED relationships are unmatched.”

SR
Sarah Robinson
Director, Gulf Ventures LLC — Dubai Mainland
Verified Client

“The CBUAE fintech sandbox process was complex and multi-step. EnterSlice guided us through every regulatory touchpoint. Our payment gateway is now fully licensed and operational in the UAE — could not have done it without them.”

MJ
Muhammad Javed
Founder, PayUAE Fintech — CBUAE Regulated
Verified Client

“We relocated our regional HQ from Dubai to Dubai under We the UAE 2031 incentives. EnterSlice managed our branch registration, Emiratization plan, and Golden Visas for our founding team. Seamless from start to finish.”

RA
Rania Al-Amri
COO, MenaLogix Group — Dubai HQ
Verified Client

“DIFC industrial setup with all environmental and sector permits — EnterSlice coordinated everything with DIFC authority and delivered ahead of our project deadline. Outstanding professionalism.”

LP
Liu Peng
VP Operations, SinoGulf Industries — DIFC
Verified Client
FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

Quick answers to the most common questions about setting up in DIFC.

Still have questions?
Our experts are available
Sun – Thu, 9AM – 6PM GST.
Talk to an Expert

DIFC allows registration of Free Zone Establishments (FZE — single shareholder), Free Zone Companies (FZCO — 2+ shareholders), and branches of foreign companies. All can be 100% foreign-owned with no local sponsor required.

With EnterSlice's streamlined process, DIFC company registration typically takes 10–15 working days from document submission to license issuance. Bank account opening adds a further 5–10 days. We offer a fast-track service for clients with urgent timelines.

The minimum share capital for a DIFC company is approximately AED 5,000 (around USD 13,000). Capital requirements vary by activity type — manufacturing activities may require higher minimum capital. EnterSlice will advise on the optimal capital structure for your specific business.

Free zone companies primarily operate within the zone or for export. To sell to the Emirati domestic market, goods must pass through customs and import duties apply. Most clients use a local distribution agent or set up a separate mainland company for local market access. EnterSlice can help structure both entities optimally.

DIFC requires a registered address within the zone, but flexible options are available: virtual offices (flexi-desk), shared offices, dedicated offices, or industrial warehouses/plots depending on activity type. Our Starter package includes a 1-year virtual office. We match the right space to your license activity.

DIFC companies enjoy 0% corporate income tax for 25 years (renewable), 0% personal income tax, 0% customs duty on imports/exports within the zone, and exemption from withholding tax on dividends, interest, and royalties. the UAE's 5% VAT applies to some transactions — our tax team provides full compliance advisory.
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0% Tax • 30 Yr Holiday 100% Foreign Ownership Setup in 15 Days Free UAE 200 Consultation

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