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Expo City Dubai Free Zone Business Setup

Set up your company at the Expo 2020 legacy site with 100% foreign ownership, packages from AED 12,520 and visas built in. Handled end to end by an authorised Expo City Dubai channel partner.

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Expo City Dubai Free Zone business setup starts at AED 12,520 a year for a company licence (Business Hub Package 1), or AED 9,020 for a freelance permit with a residence visa. You get 100% foreign ownership, a Dubai address at the Expo 2020 legacy site, and packages that bundle the licence, workspace and visa allocations. As an authorised Expo City Dubai channel partner, Pro24 handles the whole setup for you.

Authorised channel partnerLicences from AED 12,520Up to 6 visa allocations100% foreign ownership

Expo City Dubai Free Zone at a glance

Authority	Expo City Dubai Authority, which runs the free zone at the former Expo 2020 Dubai site (previously known as District 2020)
Ownership	100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor
Entry price	AED 9,020 (freelance with visa) · AED 12,520 (company licence)
Visas	4 on Business Hub Package 2, 6 free allocations on the Standard 6 Visa Package
Activities	Up to 6 on Business Hub 2 and the Standard package; more at extra cost. See licence types
Workspace	Shared desk in the Standard package, coworking, Grade A offices and short leases. See office options
Corporate tax	0% on qualifying income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person, otherwise 9% (UAE Corporate Tax)

Why set up your business in Expo City Dubai

Lower entry cost

Company packages start at AED 12,520 a year, well below DMCC’s entry package of AED 35,484. See Expo City vs DMCC.

Visas built into packages

Business Hub 2 includes 4 visas and the Standard package includes 6 free visa allocations, so a growing team does not pay allocation fees.

A landmark address

Your company sits in Expo City Dubai, the Expo 2020 legacy district, with metro access and close to Al Maktoum International Airport.

Built for sustainable business

The Expo Green Licence (from AED 10,000) is designed for eligible sustainability and green-economy businesses.

Expo City Dubai Free Zone packages (2026)

Package	Price (AED)	Best for
Expo Freelance 1	9,020 / year	Freelancers; 1-year visa included
Expo Freelance 2	16,020	Freelancers; 2-year visa included
Expo Green Licence	from 10,000	Eligible sustainability businesses
Business Hub Package 1	12,520 / year	Solo founders not yet hiring
Business Hub Package 2	17,570 / year	Teams: 4 visas, 6 activities, company card
Standard 6 Visa Package	22,080 / year	Growing teams: 6 free visa allocations
Expo Multi	from 38,020 / 3 years	Long-term setup with office options

Every fee behind these packages, plus worked year-one totals, is on our Expo City Dubai Free Zone cost page.

How Expo City Dubai Free Zone business setup works

Choose your activities and packageWe match your business activities (up to 6 on most packages) and planned visa count to the cheapest suitable package.
Initial approvalWe reserve your company name and file for initial approval with Expo City Dubai.
Registration and Articles of AssociationShareholder documents are submitted and the company is registered.
Licence and company cardYour trade licence and company (establishment) card are issued, with your workspace confirmed.
Residence visasEntry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa for each shareholder and employee. See Expo City Dubai visas.
Corporate bank accountWe prepare your file and introduce you to banks that fit your profile. See corporate bank account.

We give you a written timeline with your quote. The main variables are how quickly shareholder documents arrive and whether your activity needs an external approval.

Documents you will typically need

Passport copy of every shareholder and manager
Passport-size photo
UAE visa or entry stamp, if you are already in the UAE
Proof of residential address
For a corporate shareholder: certificate of incorporation, Memorandum and Articles, board resolution and good-standing certificate, usually attested

Expo City Dubai may request extra documents for some activities. We confirm the exact list for your case before you apply.

Visas in Expo City Dubai Free Zone

Business Hub Package 2 includes 4 visas and the Standard 6 Visa Package includes 6 visa allocations at no allocation fee. Each residence visa is then charged per person: AED 3,200 if applied from outside the UAE or AED 4,500 from inside, for 2 years, plus AED 20 KDID. Freelancers get a visa inside the Expo Freelance package. Full details: Expo City Dubai visa costs.

Expo City Dubai vs other Dubai free zones

	Expo City Dubai	DMCC
Entry company package	AED 12,520 (Business Hub 1)	AED 35,484 (Basic Biz, 1 visa)
Location	Expo City Dubai, near Al Maktoum International Airport	Jumeirah Lake Towers and Uptown Dubai
Best for	Cost-conscious founders, service and tech businesses, sustainability ventures	Commodities, crypto, gold and trading houses

Expo City Dubai Free Zone is run by Expo City Dubai Authority, separately from the Dubai South free zone next door (see Expo City vs Dubai South). Still deciding? Read Expo City vs DMCC, Expo City vs IFZA, Expo City vs Meydan or compare all zones on our free zone company setup page.

Why set up through Pro24

Authorised channel partner of Expo City Dubai Free Zone, so you get official package pricing.
One fixed, written quote covering licence, workspace and visas, confirmed before you pay.
End-to-end handling: initial approval, registration, licence, visas, Emirates ID and bank introductions.
A Dubai office you can visit, in Platinum Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers.

Start your Expo City Dubai business setup

Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We will recommend the right Expo City package and send one fixed, all-in quote.

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Expo City Dubai Free Zone business setup: FAQs

How much does Expo City Dubai Free Zone business setup cost?

Company packages start at AED 12,520 a year (Business Hub Package 1). Business Hub Package 2 with 4 visas is AED 17,570, and the Standard 6 Visa Package is AED 22,080. Freelancers can start from AED 9,020 including a residence visa.

Can foreigners own 100% of an Expo City Dubai Free Zone company?

Yes. Expo City Dubai Free Zone companies can be 100% foreign-owned, with no local sponsor.

How many visas can I get in Expo City Dubai Free Zone?

Business Hub Package 2 includes 4 visas and the Standard 6 Visa Package includes 6 visa allocations at no allocation fee. Each visa is then charged per person.

Do I need an office in Expo City Dubai Free Zone?

Company packages include workspace: the Standard package comes with a shared desk, and furnished offices are available. The Expo Freelance permit does not require a company or office.

Is Expo City Dubai Free Zone the same as Dubai South?

No. Expo City Dubai Free Zone is run by Expo City Dubai Authority at the former Expo 2020 site. Dubai South is a separate free zone next door.

Is the “Dubai Expo free zone” the same as Expo City Dubai?

Yes. People often call it the Dubai Expo or Expo 2020 free zone. The site was briefly known as District 2020 before becoming Expo City Dubai.

How do I start Expo City Dubai Free Zone business setup?

Send us your business activity and visa needs. We recommend the package, handle initial approval, registration, licence and visas, and confirm every fee in writing first.

Source & review. Package prices from Expo City Dubai’s published packages and package sheets, checked October 2026 by Pro24, an authorised channel partner of Expo City Dubai Free Zone. Fees change, so we confirm the live price before you pay.