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Abdel E.Founder of a web development agency · FranceMoving to Dubai was completely stress-free. The team handled everything from A to Z and was always available to answer my questions.
Set up your company in Dubai South
Dubai's logistics and e-commerce hub, licence and flexi desk from AED 12,540, excluding residency
Detailed quoteDedicated advisorNo commitment
About the free zone← All jurisdictions
Dubai South: bring your company closer to the flow of goods.
Launched in 2006 by the Dubai government under the name Dubai World Central (DWC), Dubai South is organised into specialised districts: the Logistics District and its EZDubai e-commerce zone (where Amazon, Noon and DHL operate), the Aviation District and its aerospace hub, the Business Park and its 4,000+ companies, all neighbouring Expo City Dubai.
Its unique asset: logistics integration. Warehouses are rented at the foot of Al Maktoum airport's cargo terminals, and a dedicated customs corridor links the port of Jebel Ali in under an hour, without re-clearance. For a company that imports, stores and ships goods, this infrastructure can simplify the organisation of flows, depending on the formalities and providers chosen.
For a Dubai South company setup, separate the administrative budget from the logistics budget. A services activity with a flexi desk is not costed like an e-commerce business that stores and ships its products. The licence rates are a first benchmark; the premises, the equipment and the residency needs complete your estimate.
Pricing and detailed fees
These amounts are budget benchmarks to confirm with the Dubai South Business Hub. Separate the licence, the flexi desk, the visa allocation and the residency fees; a warehouse or a private office is quoted separately.
Swipe the table to see what is included →
| Item | Indicative price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Licence + flexi desk, 0 visas | AED 12,540/year | AED 12,500 + AED 40 Knowledge & Innovation fee. |
| Licence + 1 investor visa | AED 20,390 | Licence 12,500 + establishment card 2,000 + visa 4,000 + allocation 1,850 + fee 40. |
| Licence + 2 visas | AED 26,240 | Visas 8,000 + allocation 3,700, establishment card included. |
| Licence + 3 visas | AED 32,090 | Visas 12,000 + allocation 5,550, establishment card included. |
| Employee visa (per person) | AED 3,500 to 5,000 | 3,500 outside the UAE, 5,000 in-country; protection insurance AED 220 to 395/year depending on salary (not applicable to shareholders). |
| Warehouse / logistics unit | on quotation depending on surface | Standard, bonded or cold rooms, Logistics District. |
Indicative Dubai South Business Hub benchmarks, to be confirmed on an up-to-date quote. Visa fees assume an applicant located outside the UAE; additional fees may apply depending on the file. Your Square Zone quote confirms each line before commitment.
Before you dive in.
The taxation of a Dubai South company
The free zone does not automatically exempt you from Corporate Tax. Under the general regime, the rate is 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income then 9% beyond, with accounting and filing obligations.
The QFZP regime can apply 0% to qualifying income if all conditions are met. A foreign client base or an export activity is not enough to make income qualifying. VAT follows a separate analysis of transactions, supplies and taxable imports.
For goods, distinguish the customs regime from the VAT treatment. The designated zone status, the place of the transaction and the use of the goods must be examined; renting a bonded warehouse is not enough to determine the applicable rate.
Dubai South, Dubai's logistics and e-commerce hub
It is the zone's raison d'etre: EZDubai, the e-commerce zone of the Logistics District, hosts the logistics centres of Amazon, Noon and DHL. Warehouses are rented at the foot of Al Maktoum airport's cargo terminals, in standard, bonded or refrigerated versions.
The dedicated logistics corridor to the port of Jebel Ali moves your containers from the ship to your warehouse in under an hour, under a single customs status, without re-clearance. For an importer or an e-commerce seller, this sea-air combination is a useful comparison criterion.
Al Maktoum airport is moreover at the start of an announced AED 128 billion expansion intended to make it the largest airport in the world. Setting up in Dubai South today means taking a position on the infrastructure that will carry the region's freight for decades to come.
Residence visas with a Dubai South licence
The visa quota depends on the space rented: the official flexi desk packages go up to 3 residence visas, while a physical office or warehouse unlocks more, in proportion to the surface. A quota extension is possible with business justification.
The pathway is the classic federal one: establishment card, entry permit, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID, in 2 to 3 weeks. The visa is valid for 2 years and renewable; each resident can then sponsor their spouse and children (allow AED 4,500 to 6,500 per person).
As everywhere in the UAE, the Dubai South visa is federal: you can live in Dubai itself, in Dubai South's residential districts (whose rents are among the most affordable in Dubai), or elsewhere in the country.
Dubai South versus the other free zones
Against Meydan and IFZA, the entry price is comparable (AED 12,540 for the licence and flexi desk) but the positioning is the opposite: Meydan and IFZA sell an address and a digital process for services companies; Dubai South sells physical infrastructure for goods. Neither of the first two has warehouses.
Against RAKEZ, Dubai South is more expensive at entry (12,540 versus AED 6,000) but offers Dubai's logistics ecosystem: cargo airport, Jebel Ali corridor, EZDubai. For a purely online activity with no stock, RAKEZ remains more economical.
The point to consider: the distance. Dubai South is about 40 minutes from Downtown. If your activity is an in-town services business, this is not the zone for you; if it lives off the flow of goods, it is exactly where you should be.
The steps to set up your company in Dubai South
- 1
Define the activity and the package
Day 1Licence type (trading, service, e-commerce, logistics), number of visas and space required (flexi desk, office, warehouse). We calibrate the most economical package for your needs.
- 2
Reserve the name and submit the file
Days 1-2A passport copy, a photo and a form are enough for a standard setup. The file is submitted online, with no travel.
- 3
Receive your Dubai South licence
Days 2-7The licence is approved in 1 to 5 working days depending on the activity. Logistics activities with a warehouse take a few extra days (choice of unit).
- 4
Obtain the establishment card
Week 2Your company's immigration card, the essential prerequisite for residence visas.
- 5
Process your residence visas
Weeks 2-4Entry permit, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID: allow 2 to 3 weeks for a complete file.
- 6
Open your bank account
Weeks 3-6We prepare your KYC file and point you to the banks suited to your profile. It is the longest step: start it as soon as the licence is issued.
Required documents
- ✓Passport copy for each shareholder (valid for at least 6 months)
- ✓Recent identity photo on a white background
- ✓Three company name choices in order of preference
- ✓Precise description of the activity (determines the licence type)
- ✓Short business plan for logistics activities with a warehouse
- ✓Proof of address and simple CV depending on the chosen package
Our verdict on Dubai South
Dubai South: strengths, limits and alternatives
Dubai South makes the most sense when your activity depends on storage and goods flows. Its value lies in logistics infrastructure rather than a central address.
Dubai South is a good fit if
- You import, store or ship goods
- You run an e-commerce business with inventory
- You need a warehouse or a logistics unit
- Proximity to Al Maktoum airport matters to your operations
- Your activity sits in aviation or logistics
Compare other options if
- You only do remote consulting work
- You meet clients in central Dubai every day
- You mostly want the cheapest licence
- You use no storage or physical infrastructure
- Your shop requires mainland premises
Why choose Square Zone ?
One contact to coordinate the incorporation and everything that follows.
- /01
A clear plan, no surprises
A structure recommended for your activity and budget, with no hidden fees.
- /02
Execution from A to Z
Licence, visas, PRO services and renewals: we handle everything for you.
- /03
Compliance built in
We prepare the KYC file and define the accounting services you need with you.
- /04
Speed and dedicated follow-up
One dedicated contact to track your file and answer your questions.
- /05
Direct ties with local authorities
We coordinate the filing and any requests for additional documents.
What our clients say
Abdel E.Founder of a web development agency · France
Thomas V.Founder of a marketing agency · FranceI knew nothing about UAE procedures. Thanks to Square Zone my company was set up quickly and I felt supported at every step.
Fateh C.Founder of a concierge company · FranceVery professional and transparent support. They saved me precious time and spared me many mistakes in my move to Dubai.
Explore the other jurisdictions
Set up a company in Meydan Free Zone →Premium Dubai address, licence from AED 12,500, 100% digital.
Set up a company in IFZA Dubai →Licence from AED 12,900, multiple activities, remote setup.
Set up a company in RAKEZ →Among the cheapest reputable free zones, from AED 6,000.
Set up a company in DIFC →The financial centre: common law, Innovation licence from USD 1,500.
Set up a Mainland company in Dubai →Local market and government contracts, full DET process.
Set up a company in Ajman Free Zone →Virtual Office from AED 5,565 and packages with 1 to 10 visas.
Set up a company in DAFZA →Dubai Airport Freezone: offices and logistics next to DXB.
Set up a company in JAFZA →Jebel Ali Free Zone: trading, warehouses and industry.
Set up a company in DMCC →Trading and services in JLT and Uptown Dubai.
Ready to start your company in Dubai?
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions
about company setup in Dubai South
As a guide, under the Dubai South Business Hub formula, the licence + flexi desk package without a visa comes to AED 12,540 per year, excluding residency fees and options (around EUR 3,000). With 1 investor visa, the budget benchmark is AED 20,390 (licence 12,500, establishment card 2,000, visa 4,000, allocation 1,850, Knowledge & Innovation fee 40), or around EUR 4,900. Allow AED 26,240 with 2 visas and AED 32,090 with 3 visas. Employee visas cost AED 3,500 (applicant outside the UAE) or AED 5,000 (in-country), plus protection insurance of AED 220 to 395 per year depending on salary. Warehouses remain on quotation depending on the surface.
Dubai South is a 145 km² planned city in the south-west of Dubai, built around Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and neighbouring Expo City Dubai. The Dubai South Business Centre, where your company is registered, sits in the Business Park, about 40 minutes by car from Downtown Dubai, near the Expo metro station (Route 2020 line) and the E311 motorway.
The Dubai South licence can be approved in 1 to 5 working days once the file is complete, with a largely digitalised process. If you apply for a residence visa, allow an additional 2 to 3 weeks for the full pathway: establishment card, entry permit, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID. A Dubai South company setup with a visa therefore wraps up in 3 to 4 weeks in practice.
Dubai South is an option to consider for e-commerce and logistics: the EZDubai zone hosts Amazon, Noon and DHL, the warehouses (including bonded) sit at the foot of Al Maktoum airport's cargo terminals, and a dedicated customs corridor links the port of Jebel Ali in under an hour. A services or consulting business can also register its licence there, but it is the logistics infrastructure that makes the real difference against the other free zones.
The quota depends on the space rented: the official flexi desk packages go up to 3 residence visas, and a physical office or warehouse increases the quota in proportion to the surface. Each resident can then sponsor a spouse and children. If you need more visas than your space allows, an extension is possible with business justification.
No: the file is submitted online and the Dubai South licence is obtained remotely with a passport copy. Your presence is only required for the residence visa, which involves the medical test and the Emirates ID biometrics on site. Without a visa, you can set up and run your Dubai South company entirely from abroad.
A Dubai South company falls under the UAE federal tax framework: 0% personal income tax, Corporate Tax at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income (around EUR 88,000) then 9%, and possible QFZP status at 0% on qualifying income, subject to substance and filing conditions. VAT at 5% applies from AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports, with specific rules for goods in bonded zones that we check against your logistics flow.
The entry prices are close (AED 12,540 at Dubai South, 12,500 at Meydan), but the profiles are opposites. Meydan offers the prestige address in the heart of Dubai, ideal for consulting and services. Dubai South offers the infrastructure: warehouses, air cargo, corridor to Jebel Ali, the EZDubai e-commerce ecosystem. If you handle goods, Dubai South; if you sell services, Meydan. Our free consultation settles it based on your activity.
Yes: Dubai South is a Dubai government project, launched in 2006 under the name Dubai World Central, with over 4,000 companies established in its Business Park and tenants such as Amazon, Noon and DHL in its e-commerce zone. Its licences are fully recognised by UAE banks, administrations and immigration.
Yes, it is the zone's speciality: standard or bonded warehouses, cold rooms and logistics units are rented directly in the Logistics District, at the foot of Al Maktoum airport's cargo terminals. Goods can transit from the port of Jebel Ali to your Dubai South warehouse via a dedicated customs corridor, without re-clearance, in under an hour.
The distance: the site is about 40 minutes by car from Downtown Dubai and the central business districts. For a services business that receives its clients in town, a Meydan or IFZA licence is often more practical. For a logistics or e-commerce activity, this out-of-centre location is on the contrary an advantage: that is where the cargo airport and the warehouses are.