IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is one of the UAE’s fastest-growing free zones, now home to 40,000+ registered companies. Here is the complete 2025 guide to IFZA.
What is IFZA?
IFZA is a UAE free zone established in 2018 and located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai. Despite being relatively new, IFZA has grown extremely rapidly due to its competitive pricing, fast setup, and broad activity list. IFZA is a dual-zone authority: companies registered at IFZA have a Dubai address, providing credibility and bank account accessibility associated with Dubai-licensed companies. IFZA is managed by IFZA Business Set-up and related government entities.
IFZA Packages 2025
IFZA Standard (1 visa): from AED 12,900/year. Includes: UAE trade licence, 3 business activities, virtual office/registered address in Dubai Silicon Oasis, 1 UAE residence visa slot. IFZA Standard (3 visas): from AED 15,900/year. Additional visa slots can be purchased at AED 3,000-4,500 per slot. IFZA flexi-desk: dedicated desk at IFZA office, available as an add-on. IFZA office: private office units available for rent separately.
IFZA Business Activities
IFZA offers 2,000+ business activities across all sectors: Professional services (consulting, marketing, IT, design), Trading (general trading, specific commodity trading), Technology (software development, SaaS, mobile apps), Media (content creation, social media management, photography), Holding and investment (corporate holding, investment management). One IFZA package includes 3 activities at no extra cost — making IFZA excellent value for multi-discipline businesses.
IFZA Setup Process 2025
Estimated timeline: 5-7 business days (can be as fast as 1-3 days for straightforward applications). Step 1: choose activities and package. Step 2: submit application with passport copy and application form. Step 3: receive initial approval. Step 4: pay licence fee. Step 5: receive trade licence certificate. Step 6: apply for UAE residence visa (requires physical presence in UAE for Emirates ID biometrics). No physical visit to the UAE is required during steps 1-5 (the licence can be obtained remotely).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA | Zero-visa public package range; visa-inclusive totals require current itemised quote | AED 18,900–22,400 (Starter 1-visa: licence AED 12,900 + establishment card AED 3,000 + residence visa AED 3,000–4,500 all-in; Emirates ID AED 370 + medical AED 300–500 included in visa cost) Confidence: Conflicting public sources |
Quote-based renewal - confirm the current package Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on renewal Confidence: Needs confirmation |
0-visa public package range; one-visa and all-in totals require current written quote | Flexi desk and inclusions vary; confirm the written offer | Conflicting public sources | Multiple public consultant sources; current written quote required | Conflicting public sources - confirm current package | July 2026 |
| What is included | Published sources describe zero-visa licence packages with differing inclusions. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Establishment card, visas, ID, insurance, extras and support unless written as included. |
| Hidden-cost risk | Public sources disagree on headline, visa-inclusive and all-in IFZA package totals. UAE Freezone Compare therefore shows only the zero-visa planning range and keeps renewal, one-visa and complete all-in totals quote-based until an itemised current quote is reviewed. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium |
| Best fit | Dubai-based consultants, service companies, e-commerce founders and startups. |
Compare Before Choosing
Shortlist this profile against the other common options before choosing on headline price alone. The three-way guide compares DMCC, IFZA and RAKEZ on cost exposure, visa planning, banking readiness and fit by setup scenario.
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
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. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.