Moving your UAE company’s registered address — whether to a new office within the same free zone, to a different building, or to a different free zone entirely — requires formal notification and in some cases re-licensing. Here is the complete guide.
Changing Address Within the Same Free Zone
If you move from one office to another within the same free zone (e.g., from one flexi desk to a private office, or from one building to another in JLT within DMCC): submit a change of address application via the free zone client portal, provide the new office tenancy contract or agreement, pay the address change fee (typically AED 100–500), and receive an updated trade licence with the new address. Bank update: send the updated trade licence to your UAE bank relationship manager within 30 days of the change.
Moving Between Free Zones: Company Transfer or Re-Registration
You cannot simply “move” a DMCC company to IFZA — each free zone company is incorporated and licensed in its specific free zone. Options if you want to change free zones: Option 1 — Set up new, wind down old: Incorporate a new company in the target free zone, transfer clients and contracts, wind down (cancel) the old free zone company. This is the most common approach for small businesses. Option 2 — Transfer of Licence (rare): Some free zones within the same emirate permit licence transfer (e.g., transferring between TECOM zones in Dubai). This is not universally available — check with your specific free zones.
Impact on Visas, Bank Accounts, and Tax Records
Any company address change requires updating: GDRFA/ICP records for all sponsored visas, MOHRE establishment card, UAE bank (KYC update), EmaraTax (VAT/CT registration address), MOHAP/DHA licences (if applicable). Build in 2–4 weeks for all updates to cascade through each authority.