Set up in International Free Zone Authority — Dubai's most cost-efficient route for service and trading businesses, operating from Dubai Digital Park in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
The International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) was established in August 2018 in Fujairah and relocated to Dubai in 2020 under the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority. Operating from Dubai Digital Park in Dubai Silicon Oasis, it is positioned as Dubai's most cost-efficient free zone for service-led and trading businesses, allowing mixed activities on one licence.
The International Free Zone Authority was established in August 2018 in Fujairah and relocated to Dubai in 2020 under an agreement with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority. IFZA now operates from Dubai Digital Park inside Dubai Silicon Oasis, positioning itself as Dubai's most cost-efficient free zone for service-led and trading businesses.
What sets IFZA apart is its lean operating model. Streamlined onboarding, competitive licence packages and the ability to combine multiple activity categories on a single licence — for example consulting alongside commercial trading — make it the default choice for solo founders, SME teams and lean trading houses entering the UAE for the first time. The zone supports flexi-desks, dedicated workspaces and private offices to match each company's size and visa requirements.
IFZA — International Free Zone Authority — has become the default choice for cost-conscious SME founders entering Dubai. The combination of multi-activity licensing (multiple activities on one licence), no paid-up capital requirement for most activities, and a 24-48 hour licence-issuance pace makes IFZA materially faster and cheaper than DMCC or DIFC for the right business profile.
IFZA permits combining multiple compatible activity codes on one licence at a single fee — most other UAE free zones charge per-activity. For founders running consultancy + trading, or tech + media, the cost saving is material.
Most IFZA activity categories carry no minimum paid-up capital — founders don't tie up working capital in escrow. By contrast, several Dubai majors require AED 10,000 – 300,000+ paid up depending on activity.
End-to-end licence approval typically completes in 24-48 hours from full document submission. Among the fastest UAE free zones for first-time issuance — particularly relevant for founders on visit visas with short turnaround needs.
IFZA offers smart office, flexi-desk, and serviced office options without forcing a physical lease commitment. The flexi-desk option supports up to 3 visa allocations — sufficient for most early-stage businesses.
IFZA operates from Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) — a mid-density commercial zone with metro access (Centrepoint extension) and lower congestion than JLT or DIFC. Practical operational base for SMEs with occasional client visits.
IFZA maintains active relationships with the major UAE banks (Mashreq NEO, Emirates NBD, RAKBANK, Wio Business) and corporate-service providers, smoothing the post-incorporation banking process where other free zones rely on the founder's own network.
IFZA issues four broad licence families. One of IFZA's distinguishing features is that compatible activity codes can be combined on a single licence, reducing cost and administrative overhead.
For trading, distribution and import-export businesses — including general trading. Suits commerce-led founders and B2B trading houses.
For consultancy, advisory and creative services — the largest IFZA category by member count and a default for service-led founders.
For light manufacturing, assembly and processing activities. Used when production sits alongside a trading or distribution arm.
IFZA recognises a single-shareholder Free Zone Establishment (FZE) and a multi-shareholder Free Zone Company (FZCO), plus the branch route. The right choice depends on shareholder count and whether the business is standalone or an extension of an existing parent.
Single-shareholder limited-liability company — the standard IFZA vehicle for a solo founder or a single corporate owner, with liability limited to the capital contribution.
Limited-liability vehicle with two or more shareholders — the standard IFZA structure for partnerships and small corporate groups, where each shareholder is exposed only up to their capital contribution.
Branch of a UAE or overseas parent that operates under the parent's name. Used by established companies extending into the IFZA ecosystem without incorporating a fresh entity.
Branch arrangement for individual professionals or single-owner overseas firms that want a UAE presence under their existing licence.
IFZA runs incorporation through a digital onboarding portal. The sequence below covers a standard FZCO; corporate shareholders add KYC steps.
Pick the activity codes that match your business. IFZA's flexibility lets you combine compatible activities — for example consulting + trading — under one licence.
Submit the business application with shareholder documents, proposed trade name and the activity scope through IFZA's onboarding portal.
Memorandum of Association and shareholder agreements are drafted to IFZA's current template and signed in person or remotely depending on shareholder residency.
Documents undergo IFZA's security and KYC verification — standard checks on shareholder identity, source of funds and activity legitimacy.
Once verification clears, IFZA issues the trade licence and corporate documents — typically within five to ten working days of complete documentation.
Open a corporate bank account and apply for investor and employee visas. Emirates ID and medicals follow the visa application.
The standard document set covers individual shareholders; corporate shareholders need additional KYC documents.
IFZA pairs Dubai's most cost-efficient licence packages with the operational flexibility solo founders and SMEs need.
IFZA entities sit inside the UAE Free Zone Corporate Tax regime. The QFZP 0% rate applies on Qualifying Income provided Cabinet 100/2023 substance and qualifying-income tests are met — relevant scrutiny point for SME flexi-desk setups where substance can be challenged.
Corporate Tax applies at 9% above AED 375,000 with Small Business Relief available below AED 3M turnover. IFZA entities can elect QFZP for 0% on Qualifying Income — but the FTA reviews substance carefully for flexi-desk setups where only a hot-desk is leased.
IFZA entities follow standard UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold (AED 187,500 voluntary). Service businesses crossing the threshold register with the FTA in the standard way.
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Ministerial Decision 82/2023 (Audit threshold) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · FTA tax.gov.ae
IFZA's member base skews heavily toward solo founders, SMEs and lean trading houses across a wide range of activity codes.
Avyanco runs IFZA engagements end-to-end — from activity selection and portal application through to a banked, visa-ready entity registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
We map the business to the right combination of IFZA activity codes — using IFZA's mixed-activity rule to your advantage where it fits.
Holding and ownership structures designed for UAE Corporate Tax efficiency, including QFZP positioning where it applies.
IFZA portal submission, MoA drafting and KYC documentation handled by a team that knows the zone's verification flow.
Introductions to UAE banks that actively onboard IFZA entities, plus the compliance file the bank's KYC will require.
Investor, partner and employee visas processed end-to-end with Emirates ID and medicals coordinated.
FTA registrations and ongoing filings — including QFZP eligibility assessment for the 0% qualifying-income rate.
Three things SME founders consistently mention about working with us on IFZA engagements.
Live IFZA engagements with solo founders, lean trading houses and growth-stage SMEs means we know how to use IFZA's mixed-activity rule and packaging to your advantage.
Activity selection, application, MoA, office, bank, visa and tax — handled by one team on one engagement letter.
Recommendations shaped by how SME founders actually operate — no enterprise-only thinking dressed up for a startup.
IFZA suits cost-efficient SME setup and mixed-activity flexibility. Other zones serve different sector ecosystems — compare here.
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Fujairah Creative City. A flexible media and creative free zone for freelancers and content businesses — often without a physical-office requirement.
Read moreA 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 GoogleI 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 GoogleWe had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleI have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleIn so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleWe 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 GoogleCommon questions about setting up in the International Free Zone Authority.
Content verified against the live Avyanco site and publicly verifiable secondary sources as of June 2026. The official IFZA About page returned unreadable content during compilation, so verification triangulated across multiple independent sources. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of IFZA and the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, not endorsed by either, and not affiliated with any UAE government agency.
IFZA activity catalogues, mixed-activity rules, office packaging and Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with IFZA and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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Speak to an Avyanco partner about an IFZA licence scoped to your business — whether you're standing up a solo consulting practice, a trading arm or a multi-activity SME.
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