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The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre in JLT: named Global Free Zone of the Year by the Financial Times’ fDi Magazine nine years running, and home to 25,000+ companies.
Reviewed by the Pro24 DMCC Advisory Team · Last updated 30 October 2026
DMCC, headquartered in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, is the flagship Dubai free zone for commodities, trading, crypto and professional services. Its brand strength materially helps with corporate banking, international counterparties and premium clients, and its ecosystem includes dedicated centres for diamonds, tea, coffee, gold and crypto.
Pro24 is based in JLT ourselves, minutes from DMCC, so applications, document collection and authority follow-ups happen the same day.
Prestige, ecosystem and banking strength in one address.
The DMCC name carries weight with banks, suppliers and enterprise clients worldwide.
Dedicated exchanges and centres for gold, diamonds, tea, coffee and crypto assets.
UAE banks rate DMCC entities among the strongest free zone profiles for account opening.
Metro-connected Grade A towers between Dubai Marina and Jebel Ali logistics corridors.
Constant networking events, trade programs and member services inside the district.
From flexi desk to full floors, with visa quotas that grow with your space.
A DMCC business setup gives you a 100% foreign-owned company inside the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, the emirate’s largest and most decorated free zone, named Global Free Zone of the Year by the Financial Times’ fDi Magazine nine years in a row (2015–2023). Whether you trade physical commodities, run a consultancy, or operate a fintech or Web3 venture, DMCC business setup lets you licence the activity, sponsor UAE residence visas and open a corporate bank account from a single prestigious JLT address.
DMCC approves 1,000+ business activities across roughly 20 sectors, from gold, diamonds, tea and coffee to crypto, AI and logistics, and you can combine compatible activities under one licence. Most companies are structured as a DMCC Free Zone LLC with a declared share capital (commonly AED 50,000), full 100% foreign ownership and complete repatriation of capital and profits.
Budget from AED 35,484 for year one with DMCC’s Basic Biz package (licence, registration and a flexi desk, eligible for one visa), and typically AED 35,000 to 50,000 depending on your desk and visas. Your final cost depends on the licence type, the number of visas, and whether you take a flexi-desk (up to 3 visas) or a physical JLT office for larger visa quotas. DMCC runs frequent package promotions, so we always quote the live offer rather than a list price.
With documents in order, DMCC usually issues the licence in about 7–10 working days. Residence visas and your corporate bank account then run in parallel, so most companies are fully operational in four to six weeks.
Comparing your options? See our full Dubai business setup cost breakdown, or explore other UAE free zones. Once your company is live, our DMCC PRO services team keeps your licence, visas and member-portal filings compliant.
Most founders do not buy a DMCC licence, registration and desk separately. DMCC sells them as bundled packages, and the right package is usually the single biggest saving in a DMCC company formation. These are DMCC's own October 2026 packages:
| DMCC package | Price (AED) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Biz | 35,484 | Individual shareholders who need a licence, a flexi desk and one visa |
| Jump Start | 43,780 (flexi desk) / 49,941 (co-working) | Founders planning up to 3 visas; one 2-year visa included |
| Prime Plus | 40,145 (1 year) / 62,480 (3 years) | Fast-track setup with a renewal price freeze and bank account support |
| JLT Resident | 29,205 | Founders who already live in JLT |
| Ecosystem packages (Crypto, Gaming, AI Centre) | 31,000 | Companies joining a DMCC sector centre; 50% off second-year renewal |
If you priced every item at DMCC's list rates instead, the one-time fees plus a standard licence alone come to AED 32,340 before any workspace or visas:
| Official DMCC fee | Frequency | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | One-time | 1,015 |
| Company registration (standard activities) | One-time | 9,020 |
| Articles of Association | One-time | 2,020 |
| Standard trading or service licence | Annual | 20,285 |
| General trading licence | Annual | 50,265 |
| Establishment card | Annual | 1,825 |
In practice, year one usually lands here once visas are added:
| Your plan | Typical setup | Year-one total (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo consultant | Service licence, flexi desk, 1 visa | ~ 39,000 – 55,000 |
| Trading start-up | Trading licence, flexi desk, 2 visas | ~ 47,000 – 60,000 |
| Growing team | Serviced office, 4–6 visas | ~ 55,000 – 90,000+ |
Answer four questions. You will see the official DMCC package that fits, then get a written quote from us on WhatsApp.
Prices are DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges (checked October 2026). Your final quote confirms the live fee. Pro24 is based in Platinum Tower, JLT.
Your workspace does two jobs in a DMCC business setup: it satisfies the licence and it caps how many people you can sponsor. Most companies start on a flexi desk and upgrade later without changing the licence.
| Option | Visa allocation | Indicative cost (AED/year) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexi desk | Up to 3 | from about 15,000, or bundled in Basic Biz (35,484) | Start-ups, consultants, holding companies |
| Serviced office | Scales with space (about 1 visa per 9 sqm) | ~ 25,000 – 60,000+ | Small teams that need a private, furnished office |
| Physical office | Highest, by floor area | Market lease plus fit-out | Established firms and larger headcounts |
Moving from a flexi desk to an office later is filed as an address change (DMCC fee AED 1,515). Compare the options in detail on DMCC flexi desk and office options.
DMCC company formation runs almost entirely online through the DMCC member portal. With documents ready, the licence is usually issued in about 7–10 working days.
| Milestone | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Name reservation | 1–2 days |
| Initial approval | 3–5 days |
| Licence issuance | 5–7 days |
| Licence live | ~ 7–10 working days |
| Visas and banking | + 2–4 weeks |
| Fully operational | ~ 4–6 weeks |
Most delays come from incomplete or inconsistent documents. The full sequence is in our DMCC company formation timeline.
See the stage-by-stage DMCC company setup documents checklist.
| Factor | DMCC | Dubai mainland | IFZA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative year-one cost | ~ AED 35,000 – 50,000 | Depends on activity; physical office (Ejari) required | ~ AED 12,000 – 20,000 |
| Office requirement | Flexi desk accepted | Physical office | Flexible packages |
| Selling to UAE customers | Through a distributor or mainland branch | Direct, unrestricted | Through a distributor or mainland branch |
| Corporate tax | 0% on qualifying income, otherwise 9% | 9% above AED 375,000 | 0% on qualifying income, otherwise 9% |
| Banking | Among the strongest free zone profiles | Strong | Good, less premium |
| Best for | Trading, commodities, crypto, firms that need credibility | Businesses selling directly to UAE consumers | Cost-sensitive start-ups and consultants |
Read the full comparisons: DMCC vs mainland Dubai, DMCC vs IFZA, DMCC vs JAFZA and DMCC vs Meydan.
From year two the one-off registration fees drop away, so renewal is mainly your licence and workspace:
Our DMCC licence renewal and DMCC PRO services teams handle renewals and portal filings so deadlines are never missed.
DMCC is usually the better choice if you trade internationally or business-to-business, work in commodities, gold, diamonds, crypto or AI, or want a JLT address that banks and overseas counterparties recognise.
Look at other options if your lowest possible setup cost matters most (IFZA and other budget zones start lower) or most of your revenue will come from selling directly to UAE consumers (a mainland licence, or a DMCC company with a mainland branch).
DMCC business setup and DMCC PRO services are all we do. Use this directory to go straight to the licence, cost, visa or compliance topic you need. Each page is written and maintained by our team in JLT.
Plan from AED 35,484 for year one with DMCC’s Basic Biz package (licence, registration and a flexi desk), and typically AED 35,000 to 50,000 once visas are added. DMCC runs frequent promotions; we always quote the current one.
Yes. The DMCC Crypto Centre licenses proprietary trading and several distributed-ledger activities, one of the few established routes in Dubai alongside VARA regulation.
A flexi desk satisfies the licence for up to 3 visas; serviced and physical offices in JLT towers unlock larger quotas.
Yes. Most DMCC incorporations complete without you visiting the UAE; biometrics for your residence visa are the main in-person step, scheduled at your convenience.
DMCC business setup is the process of registering a company in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free zone. You get 100% foreign ownership, a choice of trading, commercial, service or industrial licence, UAE residence visas and a JLT business address, all administered by DMCC’s own free-zone authority.
Expect from AED 35,484 for year one with DMCC’s Basic Biz package (licence, registration and flexi desk), and typically AED 35,000 to 50,000 with visas. Adding residence visas, a physical office or regulated activities raises the figure. We quote the current DMCC promotion so you see an exact, all-in price up front.
Yes. Like all UAE free zones, DMCC allows 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor or service agent, plus full repatriation of capital and profits.
There is 0% personal income tax. UAE corporate tax of 9% applies to taxable profits above AED 375,000, but qualifying DMCC free-zone income can still benefit from a 0% rate. We help you register for corporate tax and VAT and stay compliant.
A flexi-desk package supports up to 3 residence visas. Larger serviced or physical offices in JLT towers unlock higher visa quotas that scale with your office size.
Get the current DMCC package prices and a fixed all-in quote within 24 hours.
