Dubai
Dubai Airport Free Zone: real costs, licences and review
Airside logistics for high-value, low-volume goods — pharma, electronics, aviation parts.
Our view
DAFZA sits on the perimeter of Dubai International and exists for cargo that flies rather than sails. Pharmaceuticals, electronics, aviation components, luxury goods — anything where air freight cost is trivial against unit value. Customs clearance into the airport is the entire proposition.
Pricing is premium and office space is effectively mandatory. DAFZA now sits within the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones authority alongside Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity, which has brought some administrative harmonisation but has not made it cheap.
Choose it when proximity to the airport changes your unit economics. Otherwise JAFZA or Dubai South will do the same job for less.
Key facts
| Emirate | Dubai |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 35,000 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 72,000 |
| Issuance time | 7–20 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | Yes |
| Remote setup | No |
| Licence types | Commercial, Professional / service, Industrial |
| Established | 1996 |
Official source: www.dafz.ae
Honestly
What works
- Immediate airside customs access
- Strong fit for regulated goods
- Prestigious operational address
- Unlimited visas with space
What doesn't
- Premium pricing
- Office space effectively mandatory
- No benefit for service businesses
- Limited flexibility on activity changes
Who this suits
- Pharmaceutical distribution
- Electronics and high-value components
- Aviation parts and MRO
- Luxury goods re-export
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.