DMCC offers FZ-LLC and Branch entities. Licence categories: General Trading, Service, Industrial. Annual cost: AED 20,000–40,000 (licence + registration + registered office). Visa quota: 6–50 depending on office size. Annual audit mandatory — DMCC has an approved auditor list. QFZP-eligible for 0% CT on qualifying income.
DMCC entity types
- FZ-LLC (Free Zone Limited Liability Company): The standard DMCC entity. Shareholders have limited liability. Minimum 1 shareholder (individual or corporate). Share capital minimum: AED 50,000 (can be on paper, no paid-up requirement enforced for service companies).
- Branch of a Foreign Company: A foreign company can register a DMCC branch. The parent company retains full liability. Used by international trading houses and professional services firms.
- FZ-Establishment (Sole Proprietorship): For single-owner businesses. Less common — the FZ-LLC offers better protection and is equally easy to form.
DMCC licence categories
- Service licence: For professional and consulting activities — management consulting, marketing, IT services, media, HR, accounting advisory. No physical goods involved.
- General Trading licence: For import, export, re-export, and trading in a broad range of goods. DMCC General Trading allows trading in most commodity categories. Preferred by commodity houses and multi-product trading companies.
- Industrial licence: For manufacturing, processing, or assembly within the DMCC jurisdiction. Requires a physical facility.
- Specific commodity licences: DMCC has dedicated licence categories for precious metals and stones (gold, diamonds), agriculture, and energy — with additional regulatory requirements.
DMCC company registration steps
1. Apply on the DMCC portal
All DMCC registrations start on dmcc.ae. Create a login, submit proposed company name, activity description, and shareholder information. Initial review: 2–3 business days.
2. Upload shareholder documents
Individual shareholders: passport copy, Emirates ID (if UAE resident), proof of address. Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, M&A/AoA, board resolution, authorised signatory passport — all to be certified (notarised) and attested.
3. Select office and space
Choose your DMCC office: flexi-desk (6 visas), business centre office (up to 20 visas), or dedicated office in JLT (50+ visas based on sq ft). Flexi-desk is included in some DMCC packages.
4. Pay fees and receive licence
Pay DMCC registration and licence fees. Trade licence issued: typically 3–5 business days after payment.
5. Open bank account and establishment card
Apply for the GDRFA establishment card to enable visa sponsorship. Then open a UAE corporate bank account — DMCC has partnerships with several UAE banks that can accelerate account opening.
Registering in DMCC and need end-to-end support?
We handle DMCC registration, document preparation, bank account introduction, and annual audit. Fixed fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in DMCC?
DMCC licence + registration: AED 16,000–25,000 depending on licence type and office. Flexi-desk: AED 4,000–8,000 if not included in the package. Total Year 1 (excluding visas): AED 20,000–35,000. Each investor visa: AED 3,000–5,000. Annual renewal from Year 2: typically 80–90% of Year 1 cost.
Which banks are easy for DMCC companies to open accounts with?
DMCC has formal banking partnerships with Emirates NBD, HSBC, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), and Standard Chartered. These banks have streamlined DMCC account opening processes. Account opening still takes 2–4 weeks and requires a detailed KYC package (business plan, source of funds, shareholder details). Challenger banks like Wio and Liv. Business can also be faster for smaller DMCC companies.
How many visas does a DMCC company get?
DMCC visa quota is based on office type: flexi-desk = 6 visas; business centre office = up to 20 visas; physical office = calculated on sq ft (typically 1 visa per 9 sq m). If you need a large team, you will need a physical office in JLT or nearby DMCC-registered premises. Employee visa quota is separate from investor visa.
Does a DMCC company need to audit annually?
Yes — DMCC requires all registered companies to submit audited financial statements within 6 months of the financial year end. Auditors must be on DMCC’s approved auditor list. Non-submission results in trade licence renewal being withheld. Cost of DMCC audit: AED 5,000–20,000 depending on company size.