How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai South Free Zone?

Dubai South Free Zone company setup is starting from AED 12,500 Dubai South Business Hub base licence; confirm current package. Costs include the trade license, registration, and establishment fees. Additional costs include visa processing, office or flexi-desk, and annual license renewal.

How long does it take to register a company in Dubai South Free Zone?

Registration in Dubai South Free Zone typically takes Package and activity dependent. This covers name reservation, document verification, license issuance, and delivery of incorporation documents. Express processing may be available.

How many visas does a Dubai South Free Zone license include?

Dubai South Free Zone provides Visa allocation and processing are selected separately per license. The allocation depends on your office package — flexi-desks typically allow 1 to 3 visas while larger offices allow more. Additional visas can usually be purchased separately.

Can a Dubai South Free Zone company trade with UAE mainland clients?

Dubai South Free Zone is authorised to operate within Dubai and internationally. To sell directly to UAE mainland businesses or consumers, companies typically need a local commercial agent or a separate mainland branch licence.

Is Dubai South Free Zone suitable for startups and freelancers?

Dubai South Free Zone in Dubai offers 100% foreign ownership, no minimum share capital for most license types, and flexible flexi-desk or virtual office options. It is a strong choice for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and SMEs targeting the UAE, GCC, and international markets.

What business activities are permitted in Dubai South Free Zone?

Dubai South Free Zone permits a broad range of activities including trading, consultancy, technology, media, e-commerce, and professional services. Regulated activities such as financial services or healthcare require additional regulatory approvals. Use our comparison tool to verify specific activity availability.

Is Dubai South Free Zone official government advice?

No. UAE Freezone Compare is an independent private comparison platform. Use this page for planning and confirm final requirements with the relevant authority, bank, licensed advisor or government channel.

Can prices, visa rules, activities or banking requirements change?

Yes. Free zone packages, renewal fees, visas, office requirements, activity approvals, banking review and government charges can change. Request a current verified quote before payment.

What should I confirm before choosing a UAE free zone?

Confirm the exact activity wording, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, establishment card, renewal exposure, hidden fees, banking suitability and source-backed price confidence.

Dubai South Free Zone Company Setup 2026

Dubai South Free Zone — Quick Facts 2026

Compare Dubai South Free Zone setup cost, visa options, activities, renewal fees, banking difficulty, hidden costs and best alternatives in UAE.

Starting Cost	From AED 12,500 Dubai South Business Hub base licence; confirm current package
Price Confidence	Indicative public price
Source Type	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted
Last Reviewed	July 2026
Emirate	Dubai
Best For	Aviation, Logistics & Future Smart City
Visa Options	Visa allocation and processing are selected separately
Setup Time	Package and activity dependent
Key Activities	Logistics & Freight, Aviation & Aerospace, Aircraft Maintenance, E-commerce Fulfillment, Manufacturing and more

Final pricing may vary by activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure and authority updates. See our pricing methodology.

About This Page

Written by: UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team | Last reviewed: July 2026 | Data sources: Pricing Methodology

Pricing uses available authority material, public package data and internally reviewed evidence; quote-based rows require current confirmation. Referral relationships may support quote fulfilment, but they do not control editorial rankings. Read our partner disclosure.

Dubai Aviation, Logistics & Future Smart City From AED 12,500 Dubai South Business Hub base licence; confirm current package

Compare Tool

Dubai South Free Zone Quick Facts

Emirate	Dubai
Package reviewed	Dubai South Business Hub base licence
Starting cost	From AED 12,500 base licence in current official Business Hub content
Price status	Indicative public price
Visa options	Visa allocation and processing are selected separately
Best for	Logistics, aviation, import/export and Dubai address companies near Al Maktoum Airport.
Banking access	Medium
Setup time	Package and activity dependent
Office requirement	Official content lists flexible coworking / flexi-desk options; confirm the selected package
Source type	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted - review source
Last reviewed	July 2026
CTA	Request current verified quote

Quick Verdict

Choose Dubai South Free Zone if:

Logistics, aviation, import/export and Dubai address companies near Al Maktoum Airport.
The Dubai South Business Hub base licence configuration matches your activity, visa and facility requirements.
You have compared the current renewal evidence, banking readiness and excluded costs before committing.

Avoid Dubai South Free Zone if:

Avoid Dubai South if your activity is regulated, your visa count requires a different office allocation, or your bank file needs a stronger jurisdictional fit.
You need bank account approval without document, activity and compliance review.
You need mainland trading without checking distributor or mainland-license requirements.

Starting price

From AED 12,500 base licence in current official Business Hub content Indicative public price

This is a planning figure, not a guaranteed final government or authority fee. Request the current breakdown before choosing a package. UAE Freezone Compare does not charge you a service fee for quote support.

Free quote support: UAE Freezone Compare is not only a comparison site. We help shortlist suitable UAE free zones and request the best available market quote for your activity, visa count and budget - with no service charge from us.

Dubai South Free Zone Cost Table

Cost item	Amount or status	Included?	Notes	Confidence	Source type
Year 1 package	From AED 12,500 base licence in current official Business Hub content	See package inclusions below	Applies only to the named package and configuration. Confirm the exact activity before payment.	Indicative public price	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted
Renewal	Quote-based renewal - official content contains conflicting package references	Package dependent	Do not assume a promotional Year 1 amount repeats unless the cited source supports the same renewal.	Needs confirmation	Current authority or partner quote required
3-year planning total	Quote-based 3-year total - depends on confirmed renewal and package	Package dependent	Shown only where renewal evidence supports the calculation; otherwise a current renewal quote is required.	Needs confirmation	Depends on confirmed renewal evidence
Office / flexi desk	Official content lists flexible coworking / flexi-desk options; confirm the selected package	Package dependent	Facility allocation can affect visa eligibility, substance and renewal cost.	Indicative public price	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted
Visa option	Visa allocation and processing are selected separately	Package dependent	Medical, Emirates ID, insurance, establishment card and status change may be separate.	Indicative public price	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted
Registration / establishment card	See current package inclusions; confirm the itemised invoice	Package dependent	No universal amount is assumed. Confirm authority, immigration and registration components in writing.	Needs confirmation unless listed by the source	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted

What Is Included

Current official Business Hub content presents AED 12,500 as the base licence starting point and describes flexible coworking infrastructure.

What Is Not Included

Visa processing, establishment card, insurance, office upgrades, extra activities, regulated approvals and support services unless the final package states otherwise.

Banking Difficulty

Medium Banks usually review the business activity, shareholder profile, contracts, invoices, website, source of funds and expected transaction flow.

Visa Options

Visa allocation and processing are selected separately Confirm whether allocation means eligibility or an issued visa, then budget establishment card, medical, Emirates ID, status change and insurance separately unless included.

Hidden Costs

Official Business Hub articles contain conflicting entry-price references. UAE Freezone Compare does not average them; confirm the current package and full invoice before payment.

Setup Timeline

License processing and visa steps depend on the selected package, activity approval, document readiness, facility route, immigration checks and the relevant authority or bank review. Confirm current timing before relying on any setup plan.

Documents Required

Passport copy and contact details
Shareholder and manager information
Business activity description
Proof of address, CV or business plan if requested

Best Alternatives

IFZA, RAKEZ, SHAMS, SPC Free Zone, and Meydan Free Zone are common alternatives to benchmark.

Calculate total cost, check activity eligibility, review bank account difficulty, compare alternatives, and view our pricing and ranking methodology.

Dubai South Free Zone FAQs

Is the listed price final?	No. Figures are indicative and may change based on business activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure, authority approval, and free zone updates. Request the current verified quote before committing.
Can Dubai South Free Zone support my activity?	Activity eligibility depends on the authority activity list and approval process. Check the exact activity name before paying setup fees.
Will a bank account be easy?	Banking depends on activity risk, documents, shareholder profile, contracts, invoices and expected transactions. No free zone can guarantee approval.

Our free zone guides are prepared by the UAE Freezone Compare Editorial Team and reviewed using public authority information, official package pages, available fee schedules, partner quotations, and manual research. Prices may change depending on activity, visa count, office requirement, shareholder structure, and authority approval. Reviewed by UAE Business Setup Research Team. Last reviewed: July 2026. Price confidence: Indicative public price. Source type: Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted. View our pricing and ranking methodology or report outdated information.

Pricing Evidence & Source Notes

Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.

Free Zone	Package	Year 1 Cost	Renewal Cost	3-Year Total	Visa Option	Office / Flexi Requirement	Year 1 Confidence	Source Type	Conflict Status	Last Reviewed
Dubai South	Dubai South Business Hub base licence	From AED 12,500 base licence in current official Business Hub content Confidence: Indicative public price	Quote-based renewal - official content contains conflicting package references Confidence: Needs confirmation	Quote-based 3-year total - depends on confirmed renewal and package Confidence: Needs confirmation	Visa allocation and processing are selected separately	Official content lists flexible coworking / flexi-desk options; confirm the selected package	Indicative public price	Official Dubai South Business Hub content; conflicting entry figures noted	Conflicting public sources - confirm current package	July 2026

What is included	Current official Business Hub content presents AED 12,500 as the base licence starting point and describes flexible coworking infrastructure.
What is not included	Visa processing, establishment card, insurance, office upgrades, extra activities, regulated approvals and support services unless the final package states otherwise.
Hidden-cost risk	Official Business Hub articles contain conflicting entry-price references. UAE Freezone Compare does not average them; confirm the current package and full invoice before payment.
Banking difficulty	Medium
Best fit	Logistics, aviation, import/export and Dubai address companies near Al Maktoum Airport.

Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.