A one-week licence is realistic in Dubai's digital-first free zones such as IFZA and Meydan — if your documents are ready and your activities are clear. Here's the plan we follow.
Day 0 — Decide and pay
- Pick your free zone and package. Compare IFZA vs Meydan vs SPC if you're undecided.
- Confirm your activities — this is the step most likely to slow you down.
- Pay online and verify your email.
Day 0–1 — Upload documents
- Passport copy for every shareholder (valid for at least six months)
- A clear passport photo with a white background
- UAE visa or entry stamp if you are in the country
Day 1–2 — Name reservation and application
We check your company name against the zone's rules (no offensive words, no government names, no well-known brands) and submit the application.
Day 2–5 — Approval and documents
The free zone reviews your application and issues the licence, certificate of formation and memorandum of association. Some activities need extra approval, which can add time.
Day 5–7 — Licence in hand
You receive your digital licence. From here we apply for the establishment card and visas, and start your bank account preparation.
What slows things down
- Vague activities ("business" or "trading") that need clarifying
- Blurry passport scans or photos with coloured backgrounds
- Passports close to expiry
- Shareholders who are companies (needs extra corporate documents)
Want to start today? Choose a Dubai package and you can pay and upload in ten minutes.
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About the author
Freezone King Advisory Team is the business-setup advisory team at Freezone King, a Sky Palace Tourism company. We help founders compare UAE free zones and handle licences, visas, banking and tax end to end.