DWC: the airport-adjacent free zone built for logistics, aviation & e-commerce
Dubai World Central (Dubai South) is the strategic free zone wrapped around Al Maktoum International Airport. With licenses from AED 12,500, more than 800 business activities, on-site warehouses, hangars and plot leases, plus direct access to Jebel Ali Port within 15 minutes, it is the logistics, aviation and e-commerce gateway of choice for cross-border operators.
3,200+
clients supported
5.0
200+ verified Google reviews
100% free
Book your free 30-minute call
Free 30-min consultation · Pick a slot in Dubai time
Why Dubai World Central anchors Dubai's logistics future
Dubai World Central (DWC), branded commercially as Dubai South, was launched in 2006 by Dubai Holding as a master-planned aerotropolis built around Al Maktoum International Airport. Operational since 2010, Al Maktoum is the long-term replacement for DXB and is engineered to become the largest passenger and cargo airport in the world once the AED 128 billion expansion programme announced in 2024 is delivered.
DWC is the only Dubai free zone that combines an international airport, a logistics district, light-industrial plots, an aviation/MRO cluster, the Expo City Dubai legacy precinct and residential neighbourhoods on a single integrated 145 km² footprint. The free-zone authority (Dubai South Free Zone) issues more than 800 business activities and lets you co-locate license, warehouse, office and visa quota inside the same perimeter. It is the preferred address for freight forwarders, e-commerce fulfillment operators, aviation services firms and light-industrial businesses that need airport-adjacent operations without the tariff premium of JAFZA or DAFZA.
What you can run under a DWC license
DWC covers more than 800 activities across six districts. Five clusters capture where the free zone has a structural edge over generalist zones.
Logistics & freight
Storage, freight forwarding, 3PL/4PL, customs brokerage, distribution and value-added warehousing. Pre-built warehouses and dedicated plots inside the Logistics District.
Aviation services
MRO, ground handling, air cargo, aviation training and business aviation. Direct apron access at Al Maktoum, neighbours include dnata, Emirates SkyCargo and Lufthansa Technik.
E-commerce fulfillment
Marketplaces, cross-border fulfillment, reverse logistics and last-mile prep. Warehouse footprints sized for B2C flows with same-day customs clearance via the airport.
Light industrial
Assembly, packaging, value-added processing and re-export manufacturing. Industrial plots available with utilities and customs gates built into the lease.
Trading & re-export
Import-export, regional distribution and general trading. The proximity of Al Maktoum Airport and Jebel Ali Port (under 15 minutes) makes DWC the strongest cross-docking location in the UAE.
What you actually get with DWC
The practical entitlements that come with a Dubai South Free Zone license, including the ones that brochures rarely spell out.
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits.
No currency restrictions on inbound or outbound transfers.
Airport-adjacent address with direct apron access at Al Maktoum (DWC).
Customs efficiency: same-perimeter clearance between warehouse, airport and Jebel Ali Port.
Lowest entry pricing vs JAFZA and DAFZA for an airport-adjacent license.
Visa quota scales with the lease footprint, from 1 visa on a flexi-desk up to hundreds on a plot.
Flexi-desk, executive office, pre-built warehouse, plot lease and hangar formats all available.
License renewal handled annually on a fixed-fee schedule with no surprise reassessments.
Activity additions and amendments processed in 3 to 5 working days.
Pick the license that matches your operation
Three license families cover the bulk of DWC tenants. Pricing scales with the activity count, the visa quota and the physical footprint you lease.
Trading & Commercial
For import, export, distribution and physical-goods businesses.
- Import / export and re-export
- Regional and international distribution
- E-commerce, wholesale and retail trade
- Up to 7 commercial activities per license
Most picked
Logistics
The flagship DWC license, built for freight, fulfillment and supply-chain operators.
- Freight forwarding, air & sea cargo
- Warehousing, 3PL/4PL and value-added logistics
- Customs brokerage and bonded storage
- Pre-built warehouse or plot included in scope
- Multi-year lease rebates apply
Industrial & Aviation
For light manufacturing, assembly and aviation services.
- Light assembly, packaging and processing
- MRO, ground handling and aviation training
- Air cargo and business aviation operations
- Plot and hangar lease available on demand
Notable names established at DWC
DWC anchors a dense logistics and aviation ecosystem. Here are representative names operating inside Dubai South today.
Logistics
DHL
MEA innovation centre and new EUR 120M logistics warehouse anchored inside the DWC Logistics District.
Logistics
Aramex
Regional pharma & healthcare temperature-controlled hub for the wider MENA distribution network.
Logistics
Kuehne+Nagel
Supply-chain and freight operations covering the MENA region from the DWC Logistics District.
Logistics
Hellmann Worldwide
MEA arm of the German freight forwarder, running multimodal flows through the airport and Jebel Ali Port.
Logistics
FedEx
International express operations routed via Al Maktoum International Airport.
Aviation
dnata
Ground services, cargo handling and airport operations arm of the Emirates Group.
Aviation
Emirates SkyCargo
Air-cargo hub of Emirates, scaling its long-term capacity around Al Maktoum.
Aerospace
Lufthansa Technik
MRO and aviation engineering services facility serving regional fleets from DWC.
Inside Dubai South: DWC, Al Maktoum & Expo City
Dubai South sits in the south-west of Dubai. DWC is the only free zone built around an international airport, the Jebel Ali Port corridor and the Expo City Dubai legacy precinct.
- ~10 min to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) terminals
- ~45 min to DXB International Airport
- ~45 min to Downtown Dubai via Sheikh Zayed Road (E11)
- < 15 min to Jebel Ali Port, the largest container port between Rotterdam and Singapore
- Co-located with Expo City Dubai, the legacy district of Expo 2020
Business centre
Flexi-desk and executive office formats with included address
Pre-built warehouses
Modular logistics units inside the Logistics District
Hangars & plots
Apron-side hangars and industrial plot leases on request
Residential corridor
Walk-to-work neighbourhoods inside Dubai South
How we incorporate your DWC company in 2 to 4 weeks
Six steps from first call to issued license. We run four of them; you only sign and pay.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Scope activities with us
30-minute call to map your business model to the right DWC license family (Trading, Logistics or Industrial & Aviation) and the right physical footprint.
Pick the legal form
FZCO (one or several shareholders), FZE (single shareholder), or branch of an existing company. We recommend based on shareholder count and substance plans.
Reserve trade name & package
We submit the name approval to Dubai South Free Zone and lock the package (visa quota, license term, lease format).
KYC & document collection
You send passports, address proof, CV and corporate resolutions for any legal-entity shareholders. We compile the application in English.
Lease & MoA signing
We finalise the chosen footprint (flexi-desk, executive office, warehouse, plot or hangar) and share the Memorandum of Association via secure e-signature.
License issuance & visas
Final invoice is settled, Dubai South Free Zone issues the trade license, then we process residence visas for shareholders and employees.
Four realities first-time DWC founders miss
Warehouse leasing lead time
Flexi-desk and executive office formats lease in days. Pre-built warehouses and industrial plots can take 4 to 8 weeks to negotiate, including utility activation and customs gate setup. Budget timing into your go-live plan.
End-to-end lead time
License-only operators are live in 2 to 4 weeks. Once residence visas (medical, Emirates ID, stamping) and a UAE bank account are in scope, plan a realistic 6 to 10 week window before everything is operational.
Corporate tax 9% trigger
UAE corporate tax applies at 9% on net profit above AED 375,000. Below that threshold the effective rate is 0%. Free-zone "qualifying income" can remain at 0% subject to substance and the QFZP regime.
Distance from Downtown
Dubai South is 45 minutes from Downtown Dubai. Brilliant if your operations centre is the warehouse or the airport. Plan commute logistics carefully if shareholders intend to live in Downtown, Dubai Marina or Business Bay.
What's inside our DWC all-in-one package
One transparent fee covers company formation at Dubai South Free Zone, residence visa and UAE banking. From AED 22,500: 1 year, 1 visa, flexi-desk included.
Company formation
- Trade name reservation with Dubai South Free Zone
- License issuance (Trading, Logistics or Industrial & Aviation)
- Memorandum of Association drafting + e-signature
- Flexi-desk address at Dubai South Business Centre
- Establishment card
- 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
- 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 Dubai World Central
"I'd like to thank the entire team for their professionalism, and especially Joïcia and Akhil, who have been taking great care of me since day one. Joïcia clearly explained all the steps throughout the process and was always reactive and available, and Akhil was also very supportive and professional. Their guidance made everything smooth and reassuring."
"Very good company and services! They are efficient, reactive and reassuring. No downside. You can trust them."
"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."
DWC: frequently asked questions
Entry-level Dubai South Free Zone packages start at AED 12,500 per year for a license without visa on a flexi-desk format. The total varies with the license family, the visa quota and the physical footprint you lease.
- 1-year, no visa, flexi-desk: from AED 12,500
- 1-year + 1 visa, executive office: typically AED 22,000–28,000
- Pre-built warehouse or industrial plot: priced separately on AED/sqm
Both are UAE logistics heavyweights, with a clear split:
- DWC wins on airport-adjacent operations (cargo, MRO, e-commerce fulfillment, business aviation) and on entry pricing.
- JAFZA wins on port-adjacent heavy industrial and bulk-container operations, with a denser industrial neighbour base.
Many cross-border operators take a license at DWC and use Jebel Ali Port less than 15 minutes away for sea freight.
The free zone is built around the airport. Most DWC business addresses are 5 to 10 minutes from the passenger and cargo terminals. Logistics District warehouses share the customs perimeter, which removes the truck-to-airport leg for most express flows.
Al Maktoum has been operational since 2010 and is the focus of a multi-decade expansion programme announced in 2024, positioning it to become the world's largest airport.
Yes. Dubai South Free Zone publishes pre-built warehouse units inside the Logistics District in several footprints (typically from ~250 sqm up to multi-thousand-sqm bays). Availability fluctuates: when demand is high, expect a 4 to 8 week lead time before keys, including utility activation. We pre-check availability before we lock your package.
Expo City Dubai is the legacy district of Expo 2020 Dubai, retained as a permanent mixed-use neighbourhood inside the Dubai South master plan. It sits next door to DWC and adds conferencing, retail and residential capacity to the free-zone footprint. For DWC tenants this means business-event infrastructure on the doorstep without travelling to Downtown.
If you only need a license and a flexi-desk, plan 2 to 4 weeks to receive the trade license. Add 2 to 4 weeks for the residence visa (medical, Emirates ID, stamping) and 3 to 6 weeks for UAE banking. If you also lease a pre-built warehouse or a plot, the warehouse leasing track is the long pole and typically adds 4 to 8 weeks.
Other free zones worth considering
Each free zone serves a different model. If Dubai World Central isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.
Book your free 30-minute consultation
We'll tell you within 30 minutes whether DWC is the right free zone for your logistics, aviation or e-commerce model, and if it isn't, which one is.
