Built Around Al Maktoum International Airport
The free zone wraps a mega-airport under phased expansion — direct airside access and air-cargo connectivity that a conventional business-park free zone cannot match.
Dubai South Free Zone
Company Formation
Set up in Dubai South — the emirate's largest master-planned city, an aerotropolis built around Al Maktoum International Airport with dedicated logistics, aviation, e-commerce and business districts.
- 100% Ownership
- Launched 2006
- Around Al Maktoum Airport
- Logistics & Aviation
- EZDubai E-commerce
Dubai South — The Aerotropolis Built for Logistics and Trade
Dubai South was launched in 2006 as Dubai World Central (DWC) and is the emirate's largest single urban master development, roughly 145 km² built as an aerotropolis around Al Maktoum International Airport. Governed by the Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), the free zone offers 100% foreign ownership across logistics, aviation, e-commerce, trading and business-services activities.
Dubai South was launched in 2006 as Dubai World Central (DWC) and is the emirate's largest single urban master development — roughly 145 km² built as an 'aerotropolis' around Al Maktoum International Airport, which is under phased expansion toward becoming one of the world's largest airports. The free zone is governed by the Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) and offers 100% foreign ownership across logistics, aviation, e-commerce, trading and business-services activities.
Its structure is built around purpose-designed districts: the Logistics District, with multimodal air-sea-land connectivity and the EZDubai e-commerce hub; the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) for aviation, MRO and flight training; a Business Park home to thousands of companies; and Residential and Exhibition districts. The location between Al Maktoum Airport and the Jebel Ali maritime corridor makes Dubai South a natural base for supply-chain, e-commerce and aviation businesses.
Best known for: Logistics, aviation, e-commerce & trade
Why Dubai South
Dubai South is built around an airport and a supply chain, not a financial district. For logistics, e-commerce, aviation and trading businesses that need air-sea-land connectivity and room to scale, it is one of Dubai's most strategically located free zones.
EZDubai — Dedicated E-Commerce Hub
The Logistics District hosts EZDubai, a purpose-built e-commerce zone used by major global and regional operators — built for fulfilment, last-mile and cross-border trade.
Air-Sea-Land Multimodal Corridor
Positioned between Al Maktoum Airport and the Jebel Ali maritime corridor, Dubai South gives supply-chain businesses genuinely multimodal connectivity in one location.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub
A dedicated aviation free zone (MBRAH) for MRO, business aviation, flight training and aerospace services — a cluster with few regional equivalents.
Room to Scale — 145 Km² Master Plan
As Dubai's largest single master development, Dubai South offers warehousing, plots, offices and staff accommodation at a scale that suits industrial and logistics operators planning for growth.
Flexible Business-Park Licensing
The Business Park supports commercial, service and trading licences with flexi-desk to full-office options — a cost-effective base for SMEs alongside the larger logistics tenants.
Ideal for
- Logistics, freight, 3PL and supply-chain operators
- E-commerce and fulfilment businesses
- Aviation, MRO, aerospace and flight-training firms
- Trading and distribution companies
- Light-industrial and assembly operations
- Business-services SMEs wanting a cost-effective Dubai base
Dubai South Licence Types
Dubai South issues the standard UAE free-zone licence categories, with logistics, aviation and e-commerce activities particularly well supported.
Commercial / Trading Licence
For trading, distribution, import-export and e-commerce activities — the core licence for goods businesses using the logistics and EZDubai infrastructure.
- General and specialised trading
- Import, export and re-export
- E-commerce and fulfilment
- Distribution and wholesale
- Retail trading
Logistics & Industrial Licence
For warehousing, freight, 3PL, light manufacturing and assembly — supported by warehouses, plots and multimodal connectivity.
- Freight forwarding and 3PL
- Warehousing and storage
- Light manufacturing / assembly
- Aviation MRO and aerospace services
- Cold-chain and specialised logistics
Service / Professional Licence
For consultancy, management, IT, marketing and other professional services operating from the Business Park.
- Management and business consultancy
- IT and technology services
- Marketing and media services
- Engineering and technical services
- Corporate and professional services
Legal Structures Under Dubai South
Dubai South recognises the standard UAE free-zone legal forms — the right one depends on the number of shareholders and whether you're incorporating fresh or extending an existing entity.
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
A limited-liability entity with a single shareholder (individual or corporate). The default vehicle for a solo founder or wholly-owned subsidiary.
Free Zone Company (FZCO / FZ-LLC)
A limited-liability entity with two or more shareholders — used for joint ventures and multi-owner businesses.
Branch of a Company
A branch of an existing UAE or foreign company, operating under the parent's name and balance sheet — no separate share capital required.
How a Dubai South Company Is Formed
Five steps from activity selection to a banked, visa-ready entity.
- 01
Confirm Activity & Licence Type
Select the activities and the matching licence — commercial / trading, logistics / industrial or service — and the district that fits the operation.
- 02
Reserve the Name & Apply
Reserve the company name and submit the licence application with shareholder and activity documents to the free zone authority.
- 03
Choose Premises
Select premises to match the licence — flexi-desk or office in the Business Park, or warehouse / plot in the Logistics District.
- 04
Licence Issuance & Establishment Card
On approval, the trade licence and establishment card are issued, enabling visa allocation.
- 05
Bank Account & Visas
Open the corporate bank account and process investor and employee visas with Emirates ID and medicals.
Documents Required for Dubai South Setup
The standard free-zone document set — corporate shareholders add a few group documents.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Proposed company names and selected business activities
- Personal information / KYC form
- For corporate shareholders: parent licence, MoA, board resolution and UBO list
Why Choose Dubai South for Your Free Zone Setup
Dubai South pairs free-zone benefits with logistics and aviation infrastructure that few zones can match.
100% foreign ownership with no UAE-national shareholder requirement
Direct connectivity to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
Multimodal air-sea-land position between the airport and the Jebel Ali corridor
EZDubai e-commerce hub and dedicated logistics infrastructure
Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub for aviation and MRO
0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime
Warehouses, plots, offices and flexi-desk options at scale
Cost-effective business-park licensing for SMEs
Tax & Compliance Position — Dubai South
Dubai South entities are subject to UAE Federal Corporate Tax and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. VAT applies in the standard way; for goods-handling businesses, the specific area's Designated-Zone status should be confirmed.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
Dubai South entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income; logistics, trading and distribution activities frequently qualify.
QFZP eligibilityQFZP eligibility requires Qualifying Income, adequate Free Zone substance, arm's-length transfer pricing and audited financials. Trading and distribution of goods to other free zones / outside the UAE is commonly Qualifying Income — we assess each business individually.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Standard VAT Regime
Dubai South entities follow standard UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold, with input-tax recovery on business costs.
Designated Zone status: verify with FTASome Dubai South / DWC areas may have VAT Designated-Zone status under Cabinet 59/2017 (relevant to goods movement). Designated-Zone status should be confirmed for the specific licensed area before relying on it for a goods business.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment
- Audited financial statements (free zone requirement; mandatory for QFZP)
- Trade-licence renewal with the free zone authority
- ESR notification + report where a Relevant Activity is carried on
- UBO register with the free zone authority
- AML registration for in-scope (DNFBP) activities
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (VAT Designated Zones)
Sectors Active in Dubai South
Dubai South's tenant base reflects its logistics and aviation backbone.
Logistics & Freight
E-Commerce & Fulfilment
Aviation & Aerospace
Trading & Distribution
Light Industrial
Business Services
Exhibitions & Events
Technology & Innovation
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs Dubai South engagements end-to-end — from activity scoping and district selection through to a banked, visa-ready entity registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
Activity & District Advisory
We match the business to the right licence and district — Logistics, MBRAH aviation, EZDubai e-commerce or the Business Park.
Logistics-Aware Setup
Structuring that accounts for warehousing, customs and multimodal flows — not a generic business-park template.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks active with Dubai South tenants, with the compliance file onboarding requires.
Investor & Employee Visas
Investor and employee visas processed alongside Emirates ID and medicals — scaled to a logistics headcount.
Corporate Tax & VAT
FTA registrations and ongoing filings — including QFZP assessment and Designated-Zone confirmation for goods businesses.
Ongoing Compliance
Licence renewals, audited financials, ESR, UBO and AML handled so the entity stays in good standing.
Meet Our Specialists
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of a Dubai South setup — formation, structuring, tax and ongoing compliance.
Why Founders Choose Avyanco for Dubai South
Three things that come up in every Dubai South engagement once the licence is issued.
Logistics & Aviation Fluency
We set up trading, e-commerce, logistics and aviation businesses regularly — we know how the districts, customs and connectivity actually work.
End-to-End Delivery
Licence, premises, bank, visas and tax — handled by one team on one engagement letter.
Scaled to the Operation
Recommendations sized to a real logistics or trading operation — premises, headcount and compliance, not just a licence.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
Dubai South suits logistics, aviation, e-commerce and trading businesses. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE companies through Avyanco.
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
Dubai South Free Zone — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in Dubai South (Dubai World Central).
What is Dubai South?
Dubai South — launched in 2006 as Dubai World Central (DWC) — is the emirate's largest single urban master development, roughly 145 km² built as an 'aerotropolis' around Al Maktoum International Airport. Its free zone, governed by the Dubai Aviation City Corporation, supports logistics, aviation, e-commerce, trading and business-services companies with 100% foreign ownership.
What activities is Dubai South best for?
It is strongest for logistics and freight, e-commerce and fulfilment, aviation and MRO, and trading and distribution — sectors that benefit from direct airport access, the EZDubai e-commerce hub and the air-sea-land corridor. It also hosts business-services SMEs in its Business Park.
Can a foreign founder own 100% of a Dubai South company?
Yes — as a free zone, Dubai South permits full foreign ownership with no UAE-national shareholder requirement.
What licence types does Dubai South offer?
The standard UAE free-zone categories: commercial / trading (including e-commerce), logistics / industrial (warehousing, freight, light manufacturing, aviation MRO) and service / professional licences from the Business Park.
Does Dubai South qualify for the 0% UAE Corporate Tax rate?
Dubai South is a UAE free zone for Corporate Tax purposes. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person under the FTA's regime; non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. Trading and distribution to other free zones or outside the UAE is commonly qualifying — we assess eligibility at the planning stage.
Is Dubai South a VAT Designated Zone?
Some Dubai South / DWC areas may have VAT Designated-Zone status under Cabinet Decision 59/2017, which affects how VAT applies to goods movements. Because it depends on the specific licensed area, we confirm the current Designated-Zone position with the authority before relying on it for a goods business.
What premises options does Dubai South offer?
From flexi-desks and serviced offices in the Business Park to warehouses and land plots in the Logistics District, plus specialised aviation facilities in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub. The right premises depend on the licence and the operation.
Verification & independence
Content verified against the official Dubai South site (dubaisouth.ae) and corroborating public sources as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of Dubai South, the Dubai Aviation City Corporation and all UAE government authorities, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Free zone licence categories, district offerings, Corporate Tax Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility and VAT Designated-Zone status evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity and licensed area directly with the Dubai South free zone authority and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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