How much does it cost to set up in DIFC?

For a non-regulated professional firm, expect from roughly AED 60,000 in year one including the licence and a small office. A DFSA-regulated firm is in a different bracket entirely once application fees, paid-up capital, compliance staffing and a mandatory physical office are counted, commonly reaching several hundred thousand dirhams. The Innovation Licence is the cheap entry point for startups.

What is the DIFC Innovation Licence?

A discounted licence aimed at fintech and technology startups, giving DIFC registration and access to the ecosystem without the cost of a full commercial licence. It is the sensible route for an early-stage company that wants a DIFC address and investor credibility before it needs regulated permissions.

DIFC or ADGM — which should I choose?

They are closely comparable: both are common-law financial free zones with their own courts and regulators. DIFC is larger, longer established and has deeper banking and fund presence. ADGM is in Abu Dhabi, is often more flexible on newer activities, and has been more aggressive on digital assets. For most firms the deciding factors are where your clients and staff are, and which regulator better fits your specific activity.

Do I need a physical office in DIFC?

Yes. Unlike commercial free zones, DIFC requires real premises within the district, and regulated firms must have space appropriate to their activity and headcount. There is no flexi-desk route to a regulated licence, and the office cost is a material part of the budget.

Can a non-financial company set up in DIFC?

Yes. Law firms, auditors, consultancies, recruitment firms, family offices and retail operators within the district all license there. The question worth asking is whether you need the common-law environment and the address. If you do not, a commercial free zone licenses the same activity for far less.

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

DIFC is a financial free zone with its own civil and commercial laws based on English common law, its own courts, and its own regulator, the DFSA. That independence is the product. If you need a regulated financial licence, a fund structure, or an English-law environment for a family office, DIFC is one of only two serious choices in the UAE alongside ADGM. If you do not, it is an expensive address for work that any commercial free zone can license.

Starting from: AED 60,000 - 250,000 for year one

Why choose Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)?

Independent legal system based on English common law, with its own courts
Regulated by the DFSA, recognised internationally by counterparties and banks
The deepest concentration of banks, funds and professional firms in the region
Innovation Licence gives fintech startups a far cheaper entry than a full licence
Non-financial professional firms, law firms and family offices can also license here
Established regime for funds, foundations and wealth structuring

How much does a Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) licence cost?

A licence here typically runs AED 60,000 - 250,000 for year one. The licence is normally issued in 3 - 6 months once documents are ready, and entry package tiers carry 2 - 10 visas. The low end is a single-activity licence with no staff visas; the high end reflects extra activities, a dedicated office or a higher visa quota.

Financial free zone with its own regulator, common-law courts and capital requirements.

Estimate. Indicative market range for planning, not confirmed with the authority. Check current figures before you apply.

Indicative year-one cost — reviewed October 2026
Item	Indicative cost	Notes
Trade licence (year one)	AED 60,000 - 250,000	Varies with activity count and facility
Establishment / immigration card	AED 1,200 - 2,000	One-off per company, required before any visa
Investor or partner visa (2 years)	AED 3,500 - 5,500	Includes medical, Emirates ID and status change
Employee visa (2 years)	AED 4,000 - 6,500	Per employee
Annual licence renewal	85 - 100% of year-one fee	Excludes one-off formation items

Indicative ranges for planning, not a quote. Zone packages and government fees change — confirm current figures with the authority before you apply.

How many visas do you get?

Quota follows the facility you take, not the licence itself.

What you lease	Typical visa quota	Notes
Licence only (zero-visa)	0	Trade licence with no residency for anyone
Flexi desk / smart desk	1 - 6	Set by the package tier you buy, not by the activity
Dedicated office (15 - 25 sqm)	4 - 8	First step up when a flexi desk runs out of quota
Larger office or warehouse	about 1 per 9 sqm	Subject to the zone approving the allocation

Full detail, including how to increase your allocation: free zone visa quota explained.

Licence types available

Regulated financial licence — DFSA Categories 1 to 5, each with its own capital requirement
Innovation Licence — discounted route for fintech and startups, with a tech testing licence option
Non-regulated professional services — law, audit, consultancy, recruitment
Family office and single family office structures
Retail and restaurant licences for occupants of the district
Foundations and holding structures under DIFC law

How to set up, step by step

Establish whether your activity is DFSA-regulated or not, as the paths differ entirely
For regulated activity, submit a regulatory business plan and pass DFSA assessment
Obtain in-principle approval, then meet the capital requirement for your category
Secure DIFC premises, since a physical office is mandatory
Complete registration with the DIFC Registrar of Companies
Receive the operating licence, then open the immigration file and process visas

Documents you need

Passport copy, CV and photograph for each shareholder and proposed director
Regulatory business plan with three-year financial projections for regulated activity
Evidence of the required paid-up capital for the DFSA category
Fit and proper declarations and background checks for controllers and senior managers
Parent company documents, attested, where applicable
DIFC tenancy documentation

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Last updated: October 2026

General information, not advice. Fees, packages and visa quotas are set by the free zone authority and change without notice — confirm current terms before applying.