Dubai
Dubai South Free Zone: real costs, licences and review
Logistics economics without JAFZA pricing, next to Al Maktoum International and Expo City.
Our view
Dubai South is the master-planned district around Al Maktoum International, the airport Dubai intends to make its primary hub. For a logistics or e-commerce operator, it offers warehousing and aviation adjacency at a meaningful discount to JAFZA and DAFZA, with licence packages that start close to the cheap zones.
The bet you are making is on timing. The district is still filling in, and day-to-day it is a long drive from where most of Dubai's business actually happens. If your staff need to be in Downtown or Business Bay regularly, that commute is a real cost.
It is a strong pick for e-commerce fulfilment and for founders who want a logistics-capable licence without committing JAFZA money.
Key facts
| Emirate | Dubai |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 15,500 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 29,000 |
| Issuance time | 5–12 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | Yes |
| Remote setup | Yes |
| Licence types | Commercial, Professional / service, Industrial, E-commerce |
| Established | 2006 |
Official source: www.dubaisouth.ae
Honestly
What works
- Far cheaper than JAFZA for similar capability
- Adjacent to Al Maktoum International
- Warehousing available at entry scale
- Remote incorporation possible
What doesn't
- Remote from central Dubai
- District still maturing
- Thinner on-site business community
- Less brand recognition with banks
Who this suits
- E-commerce fulfilment
- Logistics and freight forwarding
- Aviation services
- Light industrial at moderate cost
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.