Company Formation in UAE

Stew & Jones - #1 Free Zones at Dubai



What is Voluntary Disclosure

Being the most populous city in the UAE, with its business friendly atmosphere and safe and luxurious life culture, the Government & Rulers have been implementing a lot of facilities as well as infrastructural developments to attract foreign investors from all across the world for the last 40 years. The Dubai city is a pride for entire United Arab Emirates, because of its growth in all the sectors. With a hundreds of skyscrapers, this city is not only just beautiful, but also a heaven for those who are looking for a leisure trip.

Coming to talk about your business, free zones have been playing a great role to attract foreign entrepreneurs to Dubai’s soil. There are more than 22 free trade zones operating inside Dubai. Each of the free zones in Dubai with its own advantages. Even though the most famous and biggest free zone in Dubai is the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), what makes the free trade zone unique from other business locations, is its custom rules and policies that are designed to support businesses with a great level.

Advantages of Free Zones at Dubai

As said above, free zones are actually an economy-business zone, which is built to attract foreign entrepreneurs, so that it offers a lot of facilities also a great level of relaxation in all the rules and regulations to ensure it is a home like place for foreign businessmen.

  • 100 percent foreign ownership

  • Tax exceptions for long years

  • 25 years of property ownership by lease

  • Exceptions for import and export duties

  • 100 percent repatriation of capital and profits

  • Legal formalities and processes are very smooth and quicker

  • Getting resources for business is easier


    • Whether Director Services are subject to VAT?

    The general rule is that directors provide a service for VAT purposes to their company. As such, if the fees for services (in addition to any other supplies that might be made by the person) exceed the VAT mandatory registration threshold, namely AED 375,000, then directors are liable to register for VAT and charge VAT on the director fees.

    Specifically, services provided by a director should be taxable if the director undertakes services on a regular, ongoing and independent basis (such as an individual who acts as an executive or non-executive director on a board or a number of different boards) and the total value of taxable supplies and imports made by the director, including supplies of director services, exceed the mandatory registration threshold.


    List of popular free zones in Dubai


    Dubai Airport Free Zone(DAFZA)

    DAFZA is a League that deals with import and export services. It was established in 1996 by the Dubai Government.


    Dubai Multi Commodities Centre(DMCC)

    The most popular free zone authority, DMCC is located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers(JLT) which was established in 2002. As of June 2013, it had over 6,800 registered members.


    Dubai Silicon Oasis(DSOA)

    DSOA free zone is a Dubai government initiative founded in 2004. DSOA is entirely owned by the Government of Dubai providing both a Commercial & Residential integrated community.


    Jebel Ali Free Zone(JAFZA)

    JAFZA is also a free zone setup located in the western end of Dubai named Jabal Ali. JAFZA was established in 1985 with standard size office units and warehouses to provide ready built facilities to Entrepreneurs.


    Dubai Worla CentralL(DWC) also Dubai South Zone

    DWC being a baby free zone in Dubai it is dreamed of to be an economic zone to support a number of activities including logistics, aviation, commercial, exhibition, humanitarian, residential and other related businesses around Al Maktoum International Airport.


    Dubai Gold And Diamond Park

    Dubai Gold and Diamond Park with its specialty mall has the unrivalled selection of 90 leading retailers and recently opened another expansion that now offers 118 manufacturing blocks and commercial space for over 350 offices. It was established in May 2001. Spreading 511,343 Sq.feet (Phase 1), it is located 20 km from Dubai International Airport


    Dubai Internet City(DIC)

    DIC is an information technology related business free trade zone, which was founded in 1999 by the government of Dubai.


    Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

    DIFC is a free zone established in 2002 and its operations started by 2004. The DIFC has been founded for empowering the growth of financial institutions in Dubai.


    Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone

    Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone, also known as Dubai Auto Zone is a free zone, which is mainly focusing industries that serving automotive products and services. This Auto zone has been founded on April 2000.


    Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)

    As its name indicates, DHCC is a healthcare related free zone located in Dubai. DHCC was launched in 2002 by His Highness Shk. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.


    Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)

    DIAC is also a free zone established in May 2006 for supporting the growth of International schools, colleges and universities inside the Dubai.


    Dubai Knowledge Village

    Dubai Knowledge Village is a human resources management, professional learning and educational free trade zone campus located in Dubai.


    Dubai Media City (DMC)

    DMC was founded by the government of Dubai for accelerating the growth of the media business and activities like news agencies, publishing, online media, advertising, production, and broadcast facilities, etc. on 2000.


    International Media Production Zone (IMPZ)

    IMPZ is a free zone and freehold area that caters to media production companies. Spreading over an area of 43,000,000 square feet.