Dubai South Free Zone Company Setup 2026: Districts, DWC-LLC, Costs, Visas and Who It Suits

Dubai South free zone company setup is the process of registering and licensing a company in the free zone of Dubai South (formerly Dubai World Central), the 2015-renamed master development around Al Maktoum International Airport in the south of Dubai. The free zone sits within Dubai Aviation City, reorganised by Dubai Law No. 10 of 2015, and licences are issued under Law No. 11 of 2015, which created the Dubai World Central Corporation and gave it power to “issue licences to Operating Entities within the Free Zone”. Dubai South is known for aviation, air cargo and logistics, e-commerce fulfilment through ezDubai, and a lower-cost Business Park for small companies.

This guide explains what the Dubai South free zone offers, the legal forms and licence routes, what Dubai South and its Business Hub publish on cost, how visas and workspace connect, and how tax, banking and mainland trade work. If you are still comparing free zone and mainland routes for business setup in Dubai, start with our free zone vs mainland guide; our Dubai free zones list compares every zone.

A note on sources. Dubai South’s website renders most of its detail in scripts that cannot be read reliably, and it publishes no fee schedule. We used the Dubai Legislation Portal, Dubai South’s newsroom and business-setup pages, the Dubai South Business Hub site and the federal tax rules, read on 26 September 2026. Where a figure comes only from a secondary source, we label it and tell you to confirm it on your quotation.

Dubai South free zone at a glance

What the Dubai South free zone is known for: the districts

Dubai South describes itself as “a master-planned city bringing together aviation, logistics, free zone business, commercial property, and modern living around Al Maktoum International Airport”. For company setup, four areas matter.

Logistics District

Dubai South’s March 2026 announcement of a new Hellmann Calipar Healthcare Logistics facility describes the Logistics District as “a key platform for global supply chains”, with direct access to Jebel Ali Port through a bonded logistics corridor and to the cargo terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport. It contains a contract logistics zone, hazardous goods handling and ezDubai. This is the sea-air link that sets the Dubai South free zone apart: goods can move between Jebel Ali and the airport under customs control.

ezDubai, the e-commerce zone

Dubai South calls ezDubai a “fully dedicated e-commerce free zone” inside the Logistics District. It suits online retailers and marketplaces that need fulfilment space close to air cargo. Dubai South has not published a separate fee schedule or legal framework for ezDubai on the pages we could read, so treat it as a Dubai South free zone location with an e-commerce focus, licensed through Dubai South. For a purely digital store with no stock, compare our Dubai CommerCity guide.

Aviation District and Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) is Dubai South’s “aerospace platform”, a free zone destination for maintenance, repair and overhaul, business aviation, airlines, aerologistics, training and engineering. In May 2026 it launched a 24,900 sq m Light Industrial and Maintenance Complex with 33 units, due for completion by Q3 2027. In 2026 Dubai South also announced facilities for Lufthansa Technik Middle East, RH Aero and UUDS Aero. Aviation activities usually also need approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority or the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, depending on the activity.

Business Park

The Business Park is the office cluster for small and medium companies. In April 2026 Dubai South announced a support package for SME tenants there, including rent-free incentives tied to renewals, payment deferral, administrative penalty waivers and a rate freeze for eligible renewals, alongside “exemption from late renewal fines” for free zone companies. These are time-limited measures; ask whether they still apply when you sign.

Dubai South Business Hub (DSBH)

Dubai South launched DSBH as “a digital-first free zone platform” for entrepreneurs and SMEs, with online setup, same-day licensing for eligible activities and a “Beyond Hub” layer of banking, VAT, accounting and relocation support. The DSBH site describes more than 3,500 approved activities and five activities on one licence. We treat DSBH figures as Dubai South’s own because Dubai South’s newsroom announced the platform, but the DSBH site does not name its legal entity in full, so check the issuing authority printed on your licence.

Dubai South free zone company setup: DWC-LLC and other legal forms

Law No. 10 of 2015 allows limited liability entities with single ownership, by UAE nationals or foreigners, in the free zone (Art. 15), and makes any assignment of a licence without the Corporation’s written approval void (Art. 17). Dubai South’s business-setup page lists “DWC LLC company registration” and a “Freelancer license”.

Liability in a DWC-LLC is limited to the capital, and a DWC-LLC can have one shareholder or several. Corporate shareholders need the same parent documents as in any free zone: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, board resolution and power of attorney, attested for UAE use.

Dubai South licence types and activities

Secondary sources consistently report five licence categories: commercial (trading and logistics), service, industrial (light manufacturing), educational and general trading. The DSBH site says it offers more than 3,500 activities and includes five activities on one licence, and Dubai South’s April 2026 SME announcement lists e-commerce, trading, professional services, technology, consultancy and logistics as permitted sectors. Law No. 10 of 2015 (Art. 18) excludes a short list of goods, including those that violate intellectual property, are religiously or morally offensive, or are military items without a permit.

Activities that need another authority

• Aviation services and training: General Civil Aviation Authority or Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
• Food, cosmetics and consumer products: Dubai Municipality registrations.
• Medicines and medical devices: the Emirates Drug Establishment.
• Education and training: Knowledge and Human Development Authority where the activity requires it.
• Dangerous goods: Dubai Civil Defence and the relevant federal ministry.

Dubai South free zone company setup: step by step

Documents for Dubai South free zone company setup

Individual shareholders

• Passport copy (with at least six months’ validity) and a photograph.
• Current UAE visa and Emirates ID, if resident; a no objection letter may be asked for where the current sponsor must consent.
• Proof of address and a short CV or business profile.
• Application form, business plan for regulated or larger activities, and the UBO declaration.

Corporate shareholders

• Certificate of incorporation and good standing.
• Memorandum and articles of association.
• Board resolution to form the Dubai South company or branch, naming the manager and signatory, and a power of attorney.
• Register of shareholders and directors, and UBO details.

Documents issued outside the UAE usually need notarisation and legalisation (UAE embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the apostille route where accepted). Our document attestation service handles the UAE end, and our UBO register guide explains the beneficial owner rules.

Dubai South licence cost: what is published and what is not

Dubai South does not publish a fee schedule on the pages we could read. The table shows what exists, where it comes from and how much weight to give it.

What a package usually includes and excludes

The DSBH cost article says packages include the trade licence, company registration, name reservation and e-licence, and that “visa fees, health insurance, PRO service charges, and bank account opening are all separate line items”. Two points in DSBH’s own material conflict: the home page says the base package includes flexi-desk access, while the cost article lists the AED 12,500 Starter package with “no desk”. Ask for the package terms in writing, including the workspace, the number of visas it allows, the establishment card and the renewal price. The same article says renewal runs at 80 to 90% of the original fee; that is not a published rule.

Government charges that sit outside every package include the entry permit and residence fees, the medical fitness test, Emirates ID and health insurance. Our employment visa cost guide sets these out.

Dubai South free zone offices, warehouses and the Dubai South visa count they bring

DSBH packages carry their own visa numbers, up to six per licence according to DSBH’s cost article. If you expect to hire beyond six people in the first two years, plan for an office or warehouse lease rather than a package.

Dubai South visa: residency for owners, staff and families

Residence visas for Dubai South free zone companies are Dubai residence permits issued by GDRFA, processed through Dubai South’s government services. The sequence is the same as in other Dubai free zones: establishment card, entry permit, change of status if the person is already in the UAE, medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics and residence issuance. Dubai South does not publish its Dubai South visa fees or service times on its current pages; the GDRFA charges are the standard Dubai ones.

• Dubai South visa for investors and partners: shareholders of a DWC-LLC can be sponsored by the company within its quota.
• Dubai South visa for employees: within the quota of the workspace or package.
• Family: once resident, the normal GDRFA family sponsorship rules apply; see our family visa salary guide.
• Golden Visa: shareholders may qualify through the federal investor or entrepreneur routes; see our Golden Visa service.

Medical tests and Emirates ID can be arranged through our medical fitness test service and Emirates ID services, and our free zone visa service covers the whole file.

Banking for a Dubai South free zone company

Dubai South has signed banking arrangements for its companies: a memorandum of understanding with Emirates NBD to streamline corporate account opening, and, in April 2026, a programme with Mashreq and Ruya Bank offering “guided support and faster processing times”. These do not change the Central Bank’s KYC rules. Banks still want the licence, memorandum, UBO declaration, shareholder passports and visas, a business plan with expected turnover, proof of source of funds and evidence of activity, such as supplier contracts or a lease. Our corporate bank account guide covers what to prepare.

Tax for Dubai South free zone companies

Corporate tax

A Dubai South free zone company must register for corporate tax within three months of licensing (FTA Decision 3/2024; AED 10,000 late registration penalty). Taxable income above AED 375,000 is taxed at 9%, but a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income under Cabinet Decision 100/2023. Ministerial Decision 265/2023 lists qualifying activities that match Dubai South’s districts: logistics services, financing and leasing of aircraft (including engines and rotable components), distribution of goods in or from a designated zone to resellers, manufacturing and processing, and headquarter services to related parties. The de minimis limit for non-qualifying revenue is 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower, and Qualifying Free Zone Persons cannot use Small Business Relief. Law No. 10 of 2015 (Art. 21) also gives free zone entities a local tax exemption of “fifty (50) years renewable”, which does not override federal corporate tax. See our corporate tax registration guide.

VAT and designated zone status

The FTA’s list of designated zones under Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (as amended) includes “Dubai Aviation City”, the legal area in which Dubai South’s free zone sits. Designated zone treatment applies only to the fenced, customs-controlled parts that meet the FTA’s conditions, so a Business Park office and a bonded logistics warehouse may be treated differently for goods. Services are taxed as normal. Ask your tax adviser to confirm the status of your specific plot before relying on it.

Customs

Goods moving through the bonded corridor between Jebel Ali Port and the Logistics District stay under customs control. Duty is paid when goods enter the UAE mainland. A trading company needs a Dubai Customs business code before its first shipment.

Trading with the mainland from Dubai South

A Dubai South free zone company can sell goods to mainland buyers through customs, and can serve clients outside the UAE freely. To operate on the Dubai mainland it needs a DET branch licence or a permit under Executive Council Resolution 11/2025; the Dubai Media Office announced the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit on 8 October 2025 at AED 5,000. The Dubai Unified Licence (announced 12 November 2025) gives every Dubai business a single identifier but does not by itself grant mainland rights. For a mainland-first business, see our mainland company formation guide.

Renewal and ongoing compliance

• Dubai South licence renewal: yearly, with a valid lease or workspace agreement. Dubai South announced an exemption from late renewal fines in April 2026; do not rely on it without written confirmation.
• Establishment card and visas: renew before expiry; an expired card blocks every visa transaction.
• Audited accounts: needed to keep Qualifying Free Zone Person status; ask Dubai South whether it also requires annual filing of audited accounts for your form.
• UBO register: file within 60 days of licensing and update within 15 days of a change (Cabinet Decision 109/2023).
• Corporate tax return: within nine months of each year end.
• Licence transfer: any assignment of a licence without the Corporation’s written approval is void (Law No. 10 of 2015, Art. 17).

Dubai South free zone vs Jafza vs DAFZA

Most founders who look at the Dubai South free zone are also looking at Jafza or DAFZA. The table compares what each is built for, using what each authority publishes.

The practical rule: if your cargo flies, start with the Dubai South free zone; if it sails, start with Jafza; if it is small, valuable and moves through Dubai International, look at DAFZA. Groups often hold licences in two zones for this reason.

Dubai South free zone: pros and cons

Who the Dubai South free zone suits

• Air freight forwarders, integrators and contract logistics providers.
• Aviation service companies: MRO, business aviation, aviation training and parts.
• E-commerce sellers needing fulfilment near air cargo, through ezDubai.
• Traders who want sea-air transfers between Jebel Ali and Al Maktoum airport.
• Small service companies that want a lower-cost digital setup through DSBH.

Who should look elsewhere

• Sea-freight distributors and heavy industry: Jafza is built beside the port with land and warehouses at scale.
• High-value goods traded through Dubai International Airport: DAFZA.
• Digital-only e-commerce with no stock: Dubai CommerCity.
• Office-based trading and services in the city: DMCC or IFZA.

Dubai South free zone company setup in practice: four cases

These cases are built from the situations we see most often. Names and identifying details are left out, and the figures are the published ones.

1. An air freight forwarder choosing between Dubai South and Jafza

A forwarder moving mostly air cargo, with some sea-air transfers, chose the Logistics District for its access to Al Maktoum airport’s cargo terminals and the bonded corridor to Jebel Ali. Because Dubai South quotes warehouse space individually, the decision turned on the written quotation for a unit, the visa count it carried and the customs arrangements, not on a published fee.

2. An online retailer testing ezDubai

A seller of consumer electronics wanted stock close to air cargo for regional delivery. The licence route was a Dubai South free zone company located in ezDubai. The products also needed TDRA type approval, and the seller registered for a Dubai Customs code before the first import. The e-commerce focus of the zone did not replace those product approvals.

3. A consultant taking a DSBH package

A solo consultant with no stock took an online DSBH package. Before paying, she asked for the package terms in writing because one DSBH page listed a flexi desk and another did not. She needed one visa, so the base package with no visa would not have worked; a package including one visa did.

4. An aviation training company

A company planning pilot and cabin crew training looked at the Aviation District. Dubai South could license the company, but the training activity also needed civil aviation approval. The timeline was driven by that approval, not by the one-day licence.

Dubai South free zone myths: what circulates online that is not true

How to verify every Dubai South figure in this guide

Dubai South free zone company setup: how MIRDXB PRO helps

MIRDXB PRO is an independent PRO and business-setup consultancy in Al Barsha 1, Dubai. We are not Dubai South or an official Dubai South partner, and Dubai South does not list us.

What we do

• Compare DSBH packages, Business Park offices and logistics units against your activity and hiring plan.
• Check the package terms in writing: workspace, visa count, establishment card, renewal price.
• Prepare the application, KYC and UBO file, and coordinate attestation of corporate documents.
• Handle the establishment card, entry permits, medicals, Emirates ID and family visas through our free zone company setup support.
• Prepare corporate tax registration and, where needed, VAT and the Dubai Customs code.

How it works

1. Message us on WhatsApp with your activity, workspace needs and visa count.
2. We reply with a written plan: route, package or lease, what the quotation must show, timeline and our fee.
3. We prepare and check the file, then follow it through Dubai South.
4. After the licence, we run the visas and hand over a renewal calendar.

What it costs

Dubai South’s charges and all government fees are passed on at cost. Our fee is quoted in writing before we start; see our fees page.

Why founders use us

• We separate published figures from marketing numbers, as this guide does.
• We tell you when another zone fits better, including Jafza, DAFZA or a mainland licence.
• Our Al Barsha 1 office is open Monday to Thursday and Saturday 09:00 to 18:00 and Friday 09:00 to 12:00; owners abroad can instruct us under a power of attorney.

For the whole project, from zone choice to first visa, see our business setup service.

What we will and will not do

• We will show you which figures are published by Dubai South and which are not; we will not present a secondary figure as official.
• We will prepare and submit your files; we do not guarantee approvals or timelines set by Dubai South, GDRFA or civil aviation authorities.
• We will explain the tax framework; your qualifying income test needs a registered tax agent or adviser.

Related guides

• Free zones in the UAE
• Dubai free zones list
• JAFZA company setup
• DAFZA company setup
• Dubai CommerCity company setup
• International Humanitarian City Dubai
• Free zone vs mainland
• Corporate tax registration in the UAE
• Corporate bank account in the UAE

Keeping Dubai South immigration files, renewals and attestation in order alongside your other government work is what our PRO services in Dubai team handles every day.