How much does a Dubai South licence cost?

From roughly AED 12,500 for year one on a light package, rising to AED 40,000 and beyond with an office, and further again with warehouse or land. It generally undercuts JAFZA for comparable facilities while still offering genuine logistics infrastructure, which is its main commercial argument.

Is Dubai South good for e-commerce?

It is one of the better choices where you hold and ship your own stock, because warehousing sits beside air cargo capacity. If you hold no stock, the airport adjacency earns you nothing and a cheaper service-focused zone will do the same job. The test is whether goods physically pass through your hands.

Dubai South or JAFZA for logistics?

JAFZA is sea freight and container volume through Jebel Ali Port. Dubai South is air freight and e-commerce fulfilment through Al Maktoum. If your goods arrive by sea in containers, JAFZA. If they move by air, or you are fulfilling parcel orders, Dubai South is usually cheaper and better matched.

Does Dubai South offer licences without an office?

Yes, there are licence-only and light packages for companies with no physical requirement, which is unusual for a logistics-oriented zone. That makes it viable for a service company that simply wants a Dubai South address, though you should compare the price against the dedicated low-cost zones.

How long does setup take in Dubai South?

Typically five to fifteen working days for the licence with documents ready. Taking a warehouse or land extends this considerably because of lease negotiation, fit-out and Civil Defence inspection, so plan on months rather than weeks for a physical facility.

Dubai South Free Zone

Dubai South is the district built around Al Maktoum International Airport and the former Expo site, and it is positioned as the logistics and aviation counterpart to Jebel Ali. It offers licence-only packages at the light end and warehouse and land at the heavy end, which makes it unusually broad. It is most compelling for e-commerce fulfilment and air freight, where the airport adjacency does real work.

Starting from: AED 12,500 - 40,000 for year one

Why choose Dubai South Free Zone?

Built around Al Maktoum International Airport, with cargo capacity designed for scale
Distinct districts for logistics, aviation, business park and e-commerce
Cheaper entry than JAFZA while still offering warehouse and land
Licence-only packages available for companies with no physical requirement
Expo legacy infrastructure, with residential and commercial development around it
100% foreign ownership and full profit repatriation

How much does a Dubai South Free Zone licence cost?

A licence here typically runs AED 12,500 - 40,000 for year one. The licence is normally issued in 5 - 15 working days once documents are ready, and entry package tiers carry 0 - 6 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.

Al Maktoum airport and logistics district; strong for e-commerce fulfilment.

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 12,500 - 40,000	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

Trading licence — import, export and distribution
Service licence — consultancy and professional services
Industrial licence — light manufacturing and assembly
Logistics licence — freight, warehousing and fulfilment
Aviation licence — aviation services and support activity
E-commerce licence — online retail with fulfilment capability

How to set up, step by step

Choose the district that matches your activity, as terms differ between them
Reserve the trade name and obtain initial approval
Select the facility: licence-only, office, warehouse or land
Pay the licence and facility fees and sign the lease
Complete fit-out and inspection where a physical facility is taken
Open the immigration file, process visas and register with customs if trading

Documents you need

Passport copy and recent photograph for each shareholder
UAE entry stamp or visa page, if already in the country
Two or three preferred trade names
Business activity description and facility requirement
Parent company documents, attested, for a branch or subsidiary
NOC from your current sponsor if you hold a UAE residence visa

Popular activities

Related guides

Compare before you commit

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.