DMCC Costs & Review 2026

DMCC's Basic Biz package starts at AED 35,484 (excluding office). The Jump Start flexi desk package is AED 43,780 all-in. Total Year 1 with 1 visa: approximately AED 47,000–50,000. Freelance permits start at AED 4,020 but still require a flexi desk (AED 16,000+).

DMCC charges a premium for unmatched global reputation, best banking relationships, JLT location, dual licensing for mainland trading, and specialized ecosystems (crypto, gaming, AI). The AED 50,000 share capital and mandatory physical office also increase costs.

A DMCC flexi desk in JLT costs AED 16,000–19,000/year depending on the provider and package. A flexi desk is mandatory — DMCC does not offer virtual office options. The flexi desk supports 3–4 visa allocations. Private offices start from AED 50,000+/year.

A DMCC Crypto Centre license follows standard DMCC pricing — the freelance permit starts at AED 27,049 and the FZCO at AED 40,708 in Year 1. The crypto-specific activity code is added to your license at no extra cost. DMCC's Crypto Centre hosts 700+ companies with dedicated co-working, events, and networking.

Yes. Minimum flexi desk required, starting at AED 16,000–19,000/year in JLT. No virtual office option. Visa quota is tied to office size — flexi desk supports ~3–4 visas.

AED 50,000 minimum (AED 10,000 per shareholder). Must be deposited in the company bank account within 30 days of license issuance. It can be withdrawn afterward but must be shown during setup.

The best in the UAE. DMCC operates a dedicated Crypto Centre with 700+ companies (38% growth YoY), specialized licenses, and a planned 17-storey Crypto Tower. Also has Gaming Centre (140+) and AI Centre (110+).

Easiest of any UAE free zone. Mashreq, CBD, Wio, and Emirates NBD are formal partners. CBD has a kiosk at Almas Tower in JLT. Account opening: 2–4 weeks. The DMCC brand carries significant weight in bank due diligence.

From January 2, 2025, all new companies are registered with the suffix 'FZCO' instead of 'DMCC'. Existing companies must update by June 30, 2026. The change is free through the DMCC portal.

Service license renewal: AED 20,265/year. General trading: AED 50,265/year. Add flexi desk (AED 16,000–19,000), establishment card (AED 1,805), insurance, and any visa renewals. Total: ~AED 42,000–45,000/year for a 1-visa service license setup.

Yes. DMCC is a Qualifying Free Zone under the UAE Corporate Tax Law. Companies that meet Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) criteria pay 0% tax on qualifying income — revenue from international clients and transactions with other free zone entities. Non-qualifying income (mainland UAE revenue exceeding the de minimis threshold of 5% or AED 5 million) is taxed at 9%. All DMCC companies must register for corporate tax and file annual returns regardless of QFZP status.

DMCC's five key advantages: (1) Easiest banking of any UAE free zone — 7 formal bank partners with 2-4 week account opening, (2) Global credibility — 26,000 companies from 180 countries, named world's #1 free zone 9 years running, (3) Specialised ecosystems for crypto (700+ firms), gaming (140+), and AI (110+), (4) JLT Dubai address with dedicated Almas Tower infrastructure, (5) Dual licensing for mainland UAE trading. The premium pricing (from AED 27,049) reflects these institutional advantages.

DMCC requires: passport copies of all shareholders, proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement), a completed application form through the DMCC portal, business plan for certain activity types, and AED 50,000 share capital deposited within 30 days of license issuance. Non-UAE residents can apply remotely but must visit Dubai for visa stamping. Setup takes 5-7 business days after document submission.

A DMCC freelance permit costs AED 27,049 in Year 1. That breaks down to: license fee AED 4,020, mandatory flexi desk AED 16,000, establishment card AED 1,805, visa processing AED 2,973, Smart Salem medical AED 800, Emirates ID AED 451, and health insurance AED 1,000. Renewal from Year 2 drops to AED 23,825 because the establishment card is already active. Multi-year discounts of 5–20% apply to the license portion if you commit to 2–5 year terms.

DMCC license renewal costs depend on your license type. A service license (FZE) renews at AED 20,265/year. A general trading license renews at AED 50,265/year. Add establishment card renewal (AED 1,805), flexi desk (AED 16,000–19,000), insurance, and any visa renewals due. Total annual renewal: AED 23,825 for a freelance permit, AED 42,070 for the Jump Start Flexi package, and AED 72,070 for a general trading setup. Multi-year commitments reduce the license portion by 5% (2-year) to 20% (5-year).

A DMCC employment visa costs AED 4,224 per person. The breakdown: entry permit AED 2,973 (outside UAE) or AED 3,408 (inside UAE), Smart Salem medical test AED 800, and 2-year Emirates ID typing AED 451. Add mandatory health insurance from AED 1,000 per person and employee protection insurance of AED 115–414 depending on salary band. Visa renewal every 2 years costs AED 2,790. Bulk discounts apply: AED 2,276 per visa for 50+ employees, AED 2,095 for 100+, and AED 1,898 for 200+.

DMCC business setup costs range from AED 27,049 to AED 85,742 in Year 1 depending on the package. Freelance permit: AED 27,049 (1 visa, flexi desk). Basic Biz service license: AED 40,708 plus AED 16,000–19,000 for the mandatory flexi desk. Jump Start Flexi: AED 49,004 (most popular, includes flexi desk and 1 visa). Jump Start Co-Working: AED 60,389 (dedicated desk, 2 visas). General Trading: AED 85,742 (3 visas). All FZE packages require a separate AED 50,000 share capital deposit within 30 days — refundable after confirmation.

DMCC company registration costs include: license fee (AED 4,020 for freelance, AED 35,484 for service, AED 43,780 for Jump Start Flexi, AED 50,265 for general trading), establishment card AED 1,805, flexi desk from AED 16,000/year, visa processing AED 4,224 per person, and health insurance from AED 1,000 per person. The AED 50,000 share capital deposit is required within 30 days for all FZE structures. Total initial outlay for a standard 1-visa FZE company: AED 49,004 setup fees plus AED 50,000 share capital = approximately AED 99,004 in cash needed at launch.