DAFZA: the airport-adjacent free zone for aerospace, high-value trading & logistics
DAFZA (Dubai Airport Free Zone) sits on the DXB International Airport perimeter, with dedicated airside customs access and 24/7 cargo clearance. Licenses start from AED 15,020, with 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation, and a Fortune 500 neighbourhood that includes Airbus, Boeing, DHL and Honeywell. Incorporation runs in 7 to 15 working days.
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Why DAFZA matters in Dubai's free-zone landscape
Founded in 1996, the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority is one of the UAE's pioneer free zones and the only one built directly on an international airport perimeter. Its registered address sits next to DXB Terminal 2, with airside access to the cargo gate and a customs office that operates around the clock.
Today DAFZA hosts more than 2,300 companies employing over 22,000 professionals across aerospace, pharmaceuticals, electronics, IT and high-value trading. Where IFZA or Meydan compete on entry price, DAFZA capitalises on its location rent: airside customs, 24/7 cargo clearance, a bonded warehouse network, and a tenant base that includes Airbus Middle East, Boeing International Logistics, DHL and Honeywell. The free zone contributes roughly 4.7% of Dubai's GDP and continues to expand through DAFZA Square (its newer commercial wing) and the Light Industrial Park near Dubai South.
What you can run under a DAFZA license
DAFZA's licensing scope concentrates on five high-value, logistics-dependent clusters. Each one is reinforced by the airport-adjacent location and the bonded customs corridor.
Aerospace & MRO
Maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO), spare parts distribution, aftermarket support for commercial and rotary fleets. Airbus, Boeing and Honeywell operate their regional hubs on-site, putting critical parts on the MEA tarmac inside 24-48 hours.
High-value trading
General trading, watches, jewellery, precious stones and luxury goods. Bonded warehousing and airside clearance make DAFZA the default address for high-ticket re-export across the GCC and Africa.
Pharma & medical devices
Temperature-controlled storage, GDP-compliant distribution and medical-device importation. 24/7 cold-chain customs handling cuts time-to-pharmacy across the MENA region.
Electronics distribution & IT
Hardware, telecoms equipment, displays and ICT integration for B2B accounts. BenQ, NETZSCH and Mitsubishi run their regional channels from DAFZA, leveraging round-the-clock clearance.
Logistics, freight & cargo
Freight forwarding, air transit, customs brokerage and fulfilment. DHL and 200+ logistics operators sit inside DAFZA with dedicated cargo-gate access at DXB Terminal 2. The sister Dubai CommerCity zone extends the offer into e-commerce fulfilment.
What you actually get with DAFZA
The practical entitlements that come with every DAFZA license. The location rent shows up in cargo speed, customs hours and tenant adjacency.
Airside customs access at DXB Terminal 2 cargo gate, with dedicated DAFZA-only lanes.
24/7 cargo clearance: paperwork and physical movement run around the clock.
Bonded warehouse network on-site, no re-export duty on goods staying inside the zone.
Fortune 500 neighbourhood: Airbus, Boeing, DHL, Honeywell, Mitsubishi and 200+ logistics operators.
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor or service agent required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, no currency restrictions.
Visa quota from 2 visas on a Smart Desk, scaling to 30+ on an executive office.
Light Industrial Park access for warehousing, light assembly and packaging (350 sqm units).
Dubai CommerCity sister-zone bridge for e-commerce fulfilment models.
Audited financials accepted in English; license renewal handled by your DAFZA agent.
Pick the license that matches your model
Three core license families cover almost every DAFZA setup. Pricing scales with the office footprint (Smart Desk, executive office, light industrial unit) and the visa quota attached.
Most picked
Trading
The default DAFZA license for import/export, distribution and high-value re-export.
- Import / export with airside customs access
- General trading, watches & jewellery, electronics
- Up to 7 commercial activities per license
- Bonded warehouse integration
- Smart Desk or executive office address
Service
For consulting, advisory and B2B service firms with an aerospace, logistics or trading lens.
- Aviation consulting, MRO advisory, supply-chain consulting
- IT services, ICT integration, cybersecurity
- Management & engineering consulting
- Smart Desk address eligible
Industrial
For light assembly, packaging and value-added warehousing at the Light Industrial Park.
- Light assembly, kitting and packaging
- Pharma cold-chain operations
- Aerospace parts staging
- Light Industrial Unit (~350 sqm) required
Notable names established at DAFZA
DAFZA hosts Fortune 500 regional headquarters and 200+ logistics operators. These eight tenants are representative of the airport-adjacent ecosystem.
Aerospace
Airbus Middle East
MENA regional hub for commercial-aircraft customer support and aftermarket services.
Aerospace
Boeing International Logistics
Spare-parts distribution and logistics hub for Boeing fleets across the MEA region.
Logistics
DHL
EEMEA regional headquarters and air-freight gateway for the group.
Industrial
Honeywell
Regional hub covering aerospace, building technologies and process solutions.
Trading
Mitsubishi Corporation
Commercial and machinery arm of the Japanese conglomerate operating from DAFZA.
Electronics
BenQ Middle East
Regional distribution of displays, projectors and monitors across MEA.
Engineering
NETZSCH Pumps & Systems
Regional hub for high-throughput industrial pumps and process equipment.
Trading
Toyota Tsusho
Auto parts and machinery arm of the Toyota Group conglomerate.
On the DXB perimeter: airside, customs-adjacent, walkable to the terminal
DAFZA's registered address sits on the DXB International Airport perimeter, immediately next to Terminal 2. The location rent is the product.
- 5 min walk to DXB Terminal 2 passenger terminal
- 10 min drive to DXB Terminals 1 & 3 cargo gates
- 20 min to Downtown Dubai & DIFC
- Walkable to Emirates Aviation University & the dnata cargo village
- Fortune 500 neighbours: Airbus, Boeing, DHL, Honeywell, Mitsubishi
Smart Desk
Shared workspace from the entry package, 2 visa quota
Executive offices
Furnished units at DAFZA Square, 5 to 30+ visas
Light Industrial Park
350 sqm units with mezzanine offices
Retail & F&B
On-site cafés, food court and 24/7 access
How we incorporate your DAFZA company in 7–15 working days
Six steps from first call to issued license. DAFZA's due diligence is heavier than a generalist free zone, especially on trading and pharma activities.
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Scope activities with us
30-minute call to confirm your model and map it to DAFZA's trading, service or industrial license families.
Pick the legal form & office tier
FZCO, FZE or branch of a foreign entity. Office tier is decided up-front (Smart Desk, executive office at DAFZA Square, or Light Industrial Unit).
Reserve trade name & submit application
We file name approval and lodge the initial application file, including business plan and shareholder KYC.
KYC, due diligence & bonded eligibility
DAFZA's compliance review covers source of funds, group structure and (for trading/pharma) bonded-warehouse eligibility.
Sign the MoA & lease
Memorandum of Association and the office lease are signed once initial approval is granted. Lease term aligns with the license term.
Pay & receive license
Final invoice is settled, DAFZA issues the trade license, establishment card and access pass within 7 to 15 working days.
Four realities first-time DAFZA founders miss
Setup timeline
License in 7-15 working days, but the residence visa adds 2-3 weeks (medical, Emirates ID, stamping). Heavier-due-diligence activities (general trading, pharma) can stretch initial approval to 3-4 weeks. Budget 5-8 weeks end-to-end if visa is in scope.
Office requirement
DAFZA does not offer flexi-desk in the IFZA sense. You commit up-front to a Smart Desk at DAFZA Square, an executive office, or a Light Industrial Unit. There is no purely virtual address option.
Corporate tax 9% trigger
UAE corporate tax kicks in at 9% on net profit above AED 375,000. Below that the effective rate is 0%. Free-zone "qualifying income" can stay at 0% with proper substance, which DAFZA tenants generally meet given the physical-office requirement.
Audit & annual return
DAFZA requires audited financial statements with every license renewal, plus an annual return filed with the authority. Plan AED 6,000-12,000/year for a licensed UAE auditor depending on activity complexity.
What's inside our DAFZA all-in-one package
One transparent fee covers company formation, residence visa and UAE banking. From AED 41,790: 1 year license, Smart Desk address, 1 visa, establishment card and bank introductions included.
Company formation
- Trade name reservation
- License issuance (Trading, Service or Industrial)
- Memorandum of Association drafting + e-signature
- Smart Desk address at DAFZA Square
- Establishment card (AED 2,020 first year)
- Corporate Tax registration & initial compliance filing
- Activity selection (up to 3 included)
Residence visa
- Entry permit issuance
- Medical fitness test coordination
- Emirates ID application & biometrics
- Visa stamping inside passport
- Status change inside the UAE
- Valid 2 years, renewable
Banking
- Business and personal account introductions
- Document pack prepared to bank-ready standard
- Trading-history narrative for high-value activities
- Follow-up support until account is opened
- Backup option with a UAE digital bank
DIY vs working with us
On your own
Compare 45+ providers
Rules, prices and procedures all over the place
Check trade-name availability
Submit the request and wait for approval
Fill admin forms & files
Errors = delays or fines
Gather supporting documents
Missing or incorrect = rejection or fines
Chase extra approvals
Miss one and you trigger penalties or delays
Shop prices and locations
Hidden costs likely
Handle the payments
Procedural errors = fines or delays
Run the visa process
Strict steps and timelines, fine risk
Shop UAE banks cold
High rejection risk
Track compliance yourself
VAT & renewals → penalties if missed
Time sink
Stress, errors, financial risk
Recommended
With us
An optimal structure
Tailored to your goals
Trade name reserved
Fast and approved
Dedicated personal support
By your side at every step
Compliant, validated file
Optimised to pass first time
Easier networking
Targeted introductions
Optimised investment
No unnecessary costs
End-to-end support
Fast and stress-free
Single point of contact
Clear, personalised follow-up
Bank account opening
Fast and simplified
Zero stress, total peace of mind
We look after everything
100% business focus
We handle the rest
Teams we've set up at DAFZA
"Very professional team, attentive and reactive. Thank you to Franck and Benjamin for their efficiency, and to the boss Mr Malik — thank you for your seriousness and your availability."
"The service was incredible. No hidden fees like with many agencies I'd heard about. The service was truly top-notch. I didn't have to manage a single thing. I highly recommend them!"
"Thank you to the whole team for their professionalism, responsiveness and support. A huge thanks to Benjamin for being there throughout the visa process. Everything got done quickly and stress-free. And a big thank you to Franck for helping with all the bank account procedures. Without him nothing would have been possible, always with a smile. Trust them if you want to set up your company in Dubai."
DAFZA: frequently asked questions
License pricing starts at AED 15,020 per year for a Trading, Service or Industrial license with up to three activities. The total depends on office tier, visa quota and license term.
- Smart Desk package (license + 1 visa): from AED 41,790
- Executive office at DAFZA Square: from AED 80,000+ depending on size
- Light Industrial Unit (~350 sqm): from AED 250,000+/year
- General Trading license: AED 50,000/year (vs AED 15,020 for a 3-activity standard license)
Establishment card adds AED 2,020 the first year and AED 1,870 on renewal.
Yes, in practice. Unlike IFZA or Meydan, DAFZA does not offer a purely virtual flexi-desk. The entry-level option is a Smart Desk at DAFZA Square (the newer commercial wing), which gives you a shared workstation, mail handling and a 2-visa quota. Above that you move to an executive office or a Light Industrial Unit.
This office requirement is also why DAFZA tenants generally pass the corporate-tax "qualifying income" substance test without extra effort.
Both are airport free zones, but they solve different problems:
- DAFZA is on DXB International, the busiest airport for passengers and high-value cargo. Best for aerospace MRO, high-value re-export, pharma and electronics.
- DWC (Dubai South) is on Al Maktoum International, designed around mega-cargo, e-commerce fulfilment and aviation logistics at scale. Cheaper land, more warehouse space.
If you trade time-critical, high-margin goods you want DAFZA. If you operate volume cargo or large fulfilment, DWC usually wins on per-square-metre cost.
Yes. DAFZA tenants get airside customs access at DXB Terminal 2's cargo gate, with dedicated lanes and 24/7 clearance. Goods can be moved into a bonded warehouse inside the zone without paying import duty as long as they remain inside the free zone or are re-exported.
The 5% UAE import duty only applies when goods are released onto the mainland. This is what makes DAFZA the default address for high-value re-export to the GCC, Africa and the wider MEA region.
Plan 7 to 15 working days for the license once the application file is complete. Activities with heavier due diligence (general trading, pharma, regulated electronics) can extend initial approval by 1-2 weeks.
Adding the residence visa (medical, Emirates ID, stamping) adds 2-3 weeks. End-to-end, budget 5 to 8 weeks if visa is in scope.
A Service license under the aviation/engineering consulting activity. It covers MRO advisory, supply-chain consulting for fleet operators, technical training and ground-handling advisory. A Smart Desk address at DAFZA Square is enough to start, with a 2-visa quota.
If the consultancy also resells parts or equipment, you would add a Trading activity (or take a separate Trading license) to stay compliant.
Other free zones worth considering
Each free zone serves a different model. If DAFZA isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.
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We'll tell you within 30 minutes whether DAFZA is the right free zone for your model, and if it isn't, which one is.
