DMCC: the world's #1 free zone for commodities, trading & finance
DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is the UAE's flagship free zone for commodity trading, energy, precious metals, finance and crypto. Based at Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), it hosts over 25,000 companies, has been voted Global Free Zone of the Year by the FT's fDi Magazine for 10 consecutive years, and issues licenses from AED 20,285 with full 100% foreign ownership in 2 to 4 weeks.
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Why DMCC sits at the top of Dubai's free-zone league
DMCC was established by the Government of Dubai in 2002 to anchor the Emirate's commodity-trading ambitions. Two decades later, its Jumeirah Lakes Towers cluster has become a city within the city: 68 towers, a dedicated metro line, and a critical mass of trading houses, banks and family offices that turns JLT into one of the densest business addresses on Earth.
Today DMCC hosts more than 25,000 member companies across commodities, energy, precious metals, diamonds, tea, coffee, finance, professional services and digital assets. It runs the world's largest regulated Crypto Centre, the DMCC Coffee Centre, the Dubai Diamond Exchange and the DMCC Tea Centre, and operates the only free-zone court system outside DIFC.
For founders, the DMCC address signals seriousness. It is the free zone international banks, auditors and counterparties recognise on sight, and it is the one most often used by groups that intend to trade physical commodities, raise institutional capital or list a regional headquarters.
What you can run under a DMCC license
DMCC's activity list covers more than 1,000 approved business activities across 20 sectors. Most members fall into one of five clusters, each mapped to a specific licence type.
Trading & re-export
Physical and documentary trade in commodities, FMCG, electronics, machinery and general goods. Routed through Jebel Ali or Dubai South for fulfilment.
Precious metals & diamonds
Gold, silver, platinum and rough/polished diamonds handled through the Dubai Diamond Exchange and DMCC Tradeflow vaulting system.
Energy & soft commodities
Crude, refined products, LNG, agri-commodities, coffee and tea. Home to most of the world's top energy traders.
Crypto, fintech & digital assets
DMCC Crypto Centre hosts over 600 licensed crypto, blockchain and Web3 firms, supervised under VARA rules.
Professional services & holding
Management consulting, audit, law firms, family offices, holding structures and corporate treasuries co-located with their counterparties.
What you actually get with DMCC
Beyond the brochure: the operational entitlements that come with every DMCC licence.
100% foreign ownership, no Emirati partner required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, no currency controls.
0% personal income tax on salary, dividends and capital gains.
Access to DMCC Tradeflow for collateralised commodity finance.
Direct access to the DIFC-modelled DMCC Court for commercial disputes.
A dedicated relationship manager from year one onward.
Bank-account introductions to UAE and international banks active in JLT.
600+ Crypto Centre members and a VARA-aligned digital-asset framework.
Annual flagship events: Dubai Diamond Conference, Dubai Precious Metals Conference.
Direct metro link (Sobha Realty / DMCC station) and walkable JLT cluster.
Pick the DMCC licence that matches your model
DMCC issues three licence families. Pricing scales with the number of activities, the office tier and visa quota.
Most picked
Trading
The flagship licence: physical and documentary trade across DMCC's sector clusters.
- Import, export and re-export
- General trading available (multi-product)
- Commodities, metals, diamonds, coffee, tea
- Access to DMCC Tradeflow & vaulting
- Up to 6 related activities per licence
Service
For consulting, professional services, fintech and crypto activities.
- Management, financial and IT consulting
- Fintech, blockchain and Web3 firms (Crypto Centre)
- Legal, audit and corporate services
- Single-activity or grouped service combinations
Industrial
For light manufacturing, processing and assembly within JLT-adjacent facilities.
- Light manufacturing and assembly
- Refining and processing of metals
- Packaging and labelling
- Subject to substance and facility approval
Notable names established at DMCC
DMCC hosts more than 25,000 companies. A handful of household names anchor the JLT cluster across energy, commodities, finance and luxury.
Energy
Sinopec
Chinese petrochemical major runs its regional trading and refining operations out of DMCC.
Energy
TotalEnergies
French energy major bases part of its Middle East trading and services activity at DMCC.
Commodities
Glencore
World-leading commodity-trading and mining group with a regional desk at DMCC.
Energy
Trafigura
Swiss oil and metals trading giant operates a Middle East trading hub from DMCC.
Energy
ENI
Italian oil and gas major coordinates parts of its regional activity from DMCC.
Energy
Petronas
Malaysian state oil major runs its regional representative office from DMCC.
Finance
American Express
MENA hub of the global payments and financial-services group is registered at DMCC.
Luxury
LVMH
Regional presence of the world's largest luxury group, anchored in the JLT cluster.
Inside Jumeirah Lakes Towers: DMCC's home in Dubai
DMCC's registered address sits inside Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare cluster of 68 towers between Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Marina, with its own metro station.
- 20 min to DXB International Airport
- 15 min to Downtown Dubai & DIFC
- 5 min to Dubai Marina & JBR
- Direct metro access via Sobha Realty (formerly DMCC) station
- Neighbours: Almas Tower, Jumeirah Bay, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Emirates NBD
Almas Tower HQ
DMCC head office & member services
Coworking & offices
Flexi-desk to executive floors
Retail & F&B
700+ outlets across JLT towers
Residences
Walk-to-work apartments inside JLT
How we incorporate your DMCC company in 2 to 4 weeks
Six steps from first call to issued license. We handle four of them; you only act on two.
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Scope activities with us
A 30-minute call to confirm your business model and select from DMCC's 1,000+ approved activities: trading, service, industrial or crypto.
Pick the legal form
FZCO (one or several shareholders) or FZ Branch (extension of an existing company without separate legal personality). Since 2025 every DMCC entity uses the FZCO or FZ Branch suffix.
Reserve trade name & package
We submit name approval to DMCC and lock the package: office tier, visa quota, licence term and any DMCC Trade Connect add-ons.
KYC & provisional approval
You send passports, CVs, address proof, and a business plan if required. We compile and file the application to obtain provisional approval.
Lease an office at DMCC
A physical presence at DMCC is mandatory. We secure the right tier for you: flexi-desk, serviced office (Almas Tower or partner) or executive floor.
Pay, receive licence & open visas
Final invoice settled, DMCC issues the trade licence and establishment card. Investor and employee residence visas are then processed.
Four realities first-time founders miss at DMCC
Setup timeline
Provisional approval in 5–7 working days, full licence in 2–4 weeks. Residence visa adds 2–3 weeks (medical, Emirates ID, stamping). Budget 4–6 weeks end-to-end if visa is in scope.
Physical office is mandatory
Unlike generalist free zones, DMCC requires a leased presence inside JLT from day one. Flexi-desks start around AED 12,000/year in Almas Tower; serviced and executive offices scale with visa quota.
Corporate tax 9% trigger
UAE corporate tax is 9% on net profit above AED 375,000, 0% below. DMCC entities can keep 0% on Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) income with proper substance and audited financials.
Annual audit is mandatory
DMCC requires audited financial statements every year, filed within 180 days of year-end. Plan AED 5,000–12,000/year for a DMCC-approved auditor.
What's inside our DMCC all-in-one package
One transparent fee covers company formation, residence visa and UAE banking. From AED 34,500: 1 year, 1 visa, flexi-desk at JLT, audit-ready setup included.
Company formation
- Trade name reservation with DMCC
- Provisional approval & licence issuance (Trading, Service or Industrial)
- Memorandum of Association drafting + e-signature
- Flexi-desk lease at Almas Tower or JLT partner
- Establishment card & immigration file
- Corporate Tax registration & QFZP positioning
- DMCC Trade Connect onboarding (optional)
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
- 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 DMCC
"Thank you for quick service! It was a pleasure to work with Malic, Ga Nui and Frank :) Definitely I will recommend you to anyone who wants to start a business in Dubai!"
"When I decided to start my business in Dubai, my primary concern was finding trustworthy people capable of handling all the necessary steps professionally. Thanks to Ga Nui and Malik's support, I was able to move forward with confidence and dedicate all my energy to developing my business, without worrying about the administrative aspects. I wholeheartedly recommend Ga Nui and Malik for their professionalism, availability, and the quality of their support."
"We were completely satisfied with Créer Société Dubaï. From the outset, we benefited from direct, clear, and highly professional support. We particularly appreciated the speed and efficiency of the process — we obtained our Emirates IDs and opened our bank accounts in just 13 days, which is remarkable. A special mention goes to Joïca, who was extremely kind, very attentive, and always available, even when we were still in France. She answered all our questions patiently and professionally, which made our experience very reassuring."
DMCC: frequently asked questions
Standalone DMCC trade licences start at AED 20,285 per year for a single-activity company without office or visas. Total realistic year-one budgets are higher once you include the mandatory office and visa quota.
- Licence only (no visa, flexi-desk): from AED 20,285
- Licence + flexi-desk + 1 visa: typically AED 34,500–45,000 in year one
- Executive office package: AED 60,000–90,000+ depending on visa quota
Renewal from year two is usually 20–30% cheaper than year one.
DMCC is a commercial free zone for trading, commodities, professional services and crypto, governed by UAE federal law and DMCC regulations. It is geared toward operating businesses.
DIFC is a financial free zone with its own English common-law legal system and independent regulator (DFSA). It is geared toward regulated financial firms, banks, asset managers and fintech, and is significantly more expensive.
If you trade commodities, run a holding company, or operate a service business, DMCC is the right home. If you are a regulated bank, fund or insurer, DIFC is the right choice.
Yes. DMCC was originally built around precious metals and diamonds, and runs the Dubai Diamond Exchange, the DMCC Tradeflow vaulting platform and the Dubai Good Delivery standard for gold. A DMCC Trading licence with the right activity code unlocks gold, silver, platinum and rough or polished diamonds.
Members benefit from sector-specific events: the Dubai Diamond Conference and the Dubai Precious Metals Conference.
Yes. Unlike generalist free zones, DMCC requires a physical presence inside JLT or DMCC-approved buildings from day one. Options range from a flexi-desk in Almas Tower (cheapest) to serviced offices and executive floors. Visa quota scales with the size of the lease, typically 1 visa per 9 sqm of dedicated space.
Both are top-tier trading free zones, with different profiles:
- DMCC: best for trading houses that need a prestigious Dubai address, commodity-specific infrastructure (Tradeflow, DDE), banking proximity and proximity to clients.
- JAFZA: best for heavy logistics, manufacturing and re-export at scale, co-located with Jebel Ali Port, Etihad Rail and Dubai South.
Many groups use both: DMCC for the headquarters and trading desk, JAFZA for the warehousing and logistics arm.
Provisional approval is typically delivered in 5 to 7 working days. The full licence is issued in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on activity (trading is fastest, crypto and industrial require additional approvals). Residence visa processing adds 2 to 3 weeks once the establishment card is live.
Other free zones worth considering
Each free zone serves a different model. If DMCC isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.
Talk to a DMCC specialist
We'll tell you within 30 minutes whether DMCC is the right fit for your trading, commodities or service business, and we'll size the realistic year-one budget before you commit.
