International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) Review 2026 — Is It Right for Your Business?
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is one of the UAE’s fastest-growing free zones, based in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Here is the complete independent review for 2026.
IFZA at a Glance
- Location: Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai
- Established: 2018
- Type: Multi-activity; strong in professional services
- Popularity: One of the most popular UAE free zones for international entrepreneurs
IFZA Pricing (2026)
- 1-activity licence (no visa): From AED 11,500/year
- 1-activity licence + 1 visa: AED 14,900/year
- 3-activity licence + 1 visa: AED 16,900/year
- Multi-activity (5+): AED 19,900+/year
IFZA Strengths
- Flexible activities: IFZA allows combining almost any professional service activities
- Multi-activity included: Up to 3 activities at competitive price
- Online process: 100% digital incorporation; can complete without visiting UAE
- Dubai address: Dubai Silicon Oasis address; recognized UAE free zone address
IFZA Weaknesses
- Physical office: Limited real physical office options; mainly flexi-desk and virtual
- DSO location: 30 min from Dubai city centre; not a prime location
IFZA vs SHAMS
- IFZA: Dubai location; more recognized internationally; slightly higher cost
- SHAMS: Sharjah; cheaper; freelancer permit option; some prefer Dubai jurisdiction
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.