Free Zones for General Trading in Dubai (2026)
The 12 Dubai free zones that license general trading activity, ranked by published year-1 cost, with visa quotas and setup times. Data as of July 2026.
Take the matching quiz12 free zones in Dubai license general trading activity. Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 12,900–65,000 as of July 2026. International Free Zone Authority has the lowest firm published entry cost at AED 12,900–30,000. Dubai Design District, Dubai Wholesale City, DUQE Free Zone, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai CommerCity, Dubai Industrial City, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Auto Zone, Gold and Diamond Park price on request or publish only indicative figures, so their costs are not directly comparable. Meydan Free Zone reports the shortest setup at 1–5 days. Which one fits depends on your visa count, office type and banking needs.
Dubai free zones licensing general trading
Ranked by published year-1 example cost, lowest first. Figures are typical packages as of July 2026, not quotes.
| Free zone | Year 1 cost | Typical visa ceiling | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Design District | AED 7,500–90,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai Wholesale City | AED 7,500–90,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| DUQE Free Zone | AED 12,500–20,740 * | 6 | 3–10 days |
| International Free Zone Authority | AED 12,900–30,000 | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai Logistics City | AED 15,000–50,000 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Dubai CommerCity | AED 21,995–62,000 * | 50 | 7–14 days |
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 22,600–24,300 | 50 | 1–5 days |
| Dubai Industrial City | AED 28,000–80,000 * | 50 | 5–14 days |
| Jebel Ali Free Zone | AED 28,600–110,000 * | 15 | 7–14 days |
| Dubai Multi Commodities Centre | AED 35,484–65,000 | 50 | 3–5 days |
| Dubai Auto Zone | AED 0–0 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
| Gold and Diamond Park | AED 0–0 * | 15 | 5–14 days |
* Indicative or quote-based — that zone does not publish firm package pricing, so the figure is not directly comparable with the rest.
Looking UAE-wide rather than Dubai only? See every UAE free zone for general trading .
Questions
Which free zone in Dubai is best for general trading?
12 free zones in Dubai license general trading activity. Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 12,900–65,000 as of July 2026. International Free Zone Authority has the lowest firm published entry cost at AED 12,900–30,000. Dubai Design District, Dubai Wholesale City, DUQE Free Zone, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai CommerCity, Dubai Industrial City, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Auto Zone, Gold and Diamond Park price on request or publish only indicative figures, so their costs are not directly comparable. Meydan Free Zone reports the shortest setup at 1–5 days. Which one fits depends on your visa count, office type and banking needs.
How many free zones in Dubai allow general trading activity?
12 of the 52 free zones FreezoneMatch scores list general trading among their licensed activities in Dubai: Dubai Design District, Dubai Wholesale City, DUQE Free Zone, International Free Zone Authority, Dubai Logistics City, Dubai CommerCity, Meydan Free Zone, Dubai Industrial City, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Dubai Auto Zone, Gold and Diamond Park. As of July 2026.
What does a general trading licence cost in Dubai?
Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 12,900–65,000 as of July 2026, based on each zone's published example package. The lowest is International Free Zone Authority at AED 12,900–30,000. These are typical package figures, not quotes — final cost depends on visa count and office type, and 9 of these zones price on request.
How many visas can a general trading company get in Dubai?
Visa quotas in Dubai are driven mainly by office type rather than by zone choice — a flexi-desk caps you low almost everywhere. Among these zones, Dubai CommerCity models the highest typical ceiling at 50. Confirm the quota for the specific office package you intend to take.