Dubai
JAFZA Offshore: real costs, licences and review
A holding vehicle for Dubai property — no visas, no office, no trading.
FromAED 14,000
Typical, 1 visaAED 22,000
Timeline5–15 days
Our rating7.4/10
Our view
JAFZA Offshore companies are not free zone companies and the distinction matters. They carry no visa entitlement, cannot lease UAE premises and cannot trade within the UAE. What they can do — uniquely among UAE offshore vehicles — is hold freehold property in Dubai, which is why they are used for real-estate holding and succession planning.
If your goal is UAE residency or a tax-residency certificate, this is the wrong product. An offshore company gives you neither.
Key facts
| Emirate | Dubai |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 14,000 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 22,000 |
| Issuance time | 5–15 working days |
| Visa quota | 0 |
| Flexi-desk | No |
| Remote setup | No |
| Licence types | Holding |
| Established | 2003 |
Official source: www.jafza.ae
Honestly
What works
- Can hold Dubai freehold property
- Low cost to maintain
- No office requirement
- Strong confidentiality
What doesn't
- No visas — none at all
- Cannot trade inside the UAE
- No tax residency certificate
- Banking is markedly harder
Who this suits
- Holding Dubai freehold property
- Succession and estate planning
- International holding structures
- Asset segregation
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.