DIFC · Tughra

Packages, as published

Official rows come from the authority's own list. A row marked agent comes from a reseller because the authority does not publish that package, and it can contain a margin.

Package	Licence	Visas	Workspace	Setup	Renewal	Kind	Source
DIFC Innovation License (Official)Official fees: registration amount not yet confirmed, license amount not yet confirmed, coworking desk amount not yet confirmed+VAT (mandatory), plus amount not yet confirmed Knowledge fee. Converted at amount not yet confirmed = amount not yet confirmed. Renewal assumes year 2 with same license and coworking, excluding optional data protection/confirmation statement.	Innovation	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	official	assets.difc.com
Active Enterprise Commercial PackageOfficial fees: incorporation amount not yet confirmed, license amount not yet confirmed/year, plus amount not yet confirmed Knowledge fee. Office space required for visas but not included in package. Converted at amount not yet confirmed = amount not yet confirmed.	Active Enterprise	n/a	none	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	official	assets.difc.com
Private Company (Non-Retail)Official fees: incorporation amount not yet confirmed, license amount not yet confirmed/year, plus amount not yet confirmed Knowledge fee. Office space additional. Converted at amount not yet confirmed = amount not yet confirmed.	Private Company	n/a	none	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	official	assets.difc.com
Private Company (Retail)Official fees: incorporation amount not yet confirmed, license amount not yet confirmed/year, plus amount not yet confirmed Knowledge fee. Office space additional. Converted at amount not yet confirmed = amount not yet confirmed.	Private Company	n/a	none	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	official	assets.difc.com
Innovation License Package (Zero Visa)Agent's all-inclusive package including license, coworking desk, and 0 visas. Source: freezonecompare.com	Innovation	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
Innovation License Package (1 Visa)Agent's all-inclusive package including license, coworking desk, 1 employment visa, establishment card. Source: freezonecompare.com	Innovation	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
Innovation License Package (2 Visas)Agent's all-inclusive package including license, coworking desk, 2 visas. Source: freezonecompare.com	Innovation	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
Innovation License Package (4 Visas)Agent's all-inclusive package including license, coworking desk, 4 visas (max per desk). Source: freezonecompare.com	Innovation	n/a	flexi desk	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	freezonecompare.com
Sahla EssentialAgent package including one investor visa (2 years), medical, Emirates ID, health insurance, and minimum office. Source: sahla.ae	Private Company	n/a	office	not yet confirmed	not yet confirmed	agent	sahla.ae

Promotions the authority advertises

Innovation License: subsidized license fee amount not yet confirmed/year (normally amount not yet confirmed) for first 2 years; discounted PSA deposit amount not yet confirmed (normally amount not yet confirmed); up to 4 visas per flexi desk.
Active Enterprise Commercial Package: incorporation amount not yet confirmed, annual license amount not yet confirmed.
Fund Manager for Venture Capital, Future of Finance or Future Economies: nil incorporation fee, discounted license renewals (first renewal amount not yet confirmed, second amount not yet confirmed, third amount not yet confirmed).

Fees, line by line

The figures our sum is built from. Only a proven fee is shown; the rest read not yet confirmed, and a reseller-only figure says so on its line.

Registrationnot yet confirmeddifc.com

Licencenot yet confirmeddifc.com

Establishment cardnot yet confirmeddifc.com

Immigration cardnot yet confirmeddifc.com

Residence visa, per personnot yet confirmeddifc.com

Medical and Emirates ID, per personnot yet confirmeddifc.com

Minimum share capitalnot yet confirmednot paid updifc.com

Coworking flexi desk (annual, mandatory for Innovation License)not yet confirmedassets.difc.com

Data Protection notification (first year, if processing personal data)not yet confirmedassets.difc.com

Confirmation Statement (from second year)not yet confirmedassets.difc.com

Knowledge and Innovation Fee (one-time)not yet confirmedassets.difc.com

PSA Deposit per visa (refundable, Innovation License)not yet confirmedassets.difc.com

Establishment Card (New, Normal) for Private Companynot yet confirmedassets.difc.com

Personnel Sponsorship Agreement Deposit for Private Companynot yet confirmedassets.difc.com

Workspace

Flexi Desk (Innovation License)not yet confirmedDIFC · counts for the visa quota · source

Reseller prices seen against the official line

freezonecompare.comnot quotedInnovation License Zero Visasource

freezonecompare.comnot quotedInnovation License 1 Visasource

freezonecompare.comnot quotedInnovation License 2 Visassource

freezonecompare.comnot quotedInnovation License 4 Visassource

Sahlanot quotedEssential (1 investor visa, 2 years)source

What a missing number means

The line stays visible and reads not yet confirmed. A figure the research records but the verification pass has not proven is never shown, and never becomes a zero.

Company and licence types

Company types

Private Company
Minimum 1
Branch of a Foreign Company
N/A (parent company)

Licence types

Commercial Licence
Non-financial activities, contracting for municipal and commercial services essential to premises and operations. assets.difc.com
Financial Services Licence
Banking, brokerage, asset management, advisory, market making, custody, money services, and other financial activities. assets.difc.com
Representative Office Licence
Marketing and liaison activities for a parent company. assets.difc.com
Active Enterprise Licence
Flexible setup for qualifying applicants (government-related entities), with co-working or approved business address options. assets.difc.com

How the authority processes it

Each step names who holds it. Days are the authority's published figure or a gap.

step 1 · days gap
Submit 'Register with DIFC' application via portal (no payment)Applicant
step 2 · days gap
Receive Initial Approval EmailDIFC
step 3 · days gap
Secure Registered Address (lease office or co-working space)Applicant
step 4 · days gap
Payment of fees and e-signing of constitutional documentsApplicant
step 5 · days gap
Obtain License and Certificate of IncorporationDIFC

The authority's portal

NameDIFC Portal

Who filespublic

Fully onlineYes

E-signatureDocuSign for Articles of Association and Personnel Sponsorship Agreement assets.difc.com

API or integrationNot mentioned in sources

Partner programmeDIFC Business Development team available for guidance; legal advisers recommended. assets.difc.com

Selling to the UAE mainland

DIFC companies are generally restricted to activities within the free zone or internationally. Direct mainland trading may require a local distributor or a mainland license. However, DIFC law permits Centre Establishments to be located outside the Centre for up to 4 years under certain conditions, with activities deemed as conducted within the Centre. dlp.dubai.gov.ae

Corporate tax

DIFC companies may qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person for 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, subject to conditions. Standard UAE corporate tax rates apply: 0% on taxable income up to amount not yet confirmed, 9% above that. All companies must register for corporate tax. assets.difc.com

Documents the authority asks for

Individual shareholder

not researched

Corporate shareholder

not researched

After the licence

Financial year, audit, corporate tax, VAT, UBO and renewal, as the authority states them.

Financial year

RuleAccounts and financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS difc.com.source

First period, maximum monthsnot yet confirmedsource

Can choose the year endYessource

Audit and financial statements

Audited accounts requiredNosource

Who mustPublic companies, private companies with >20 shareholders or annual turnover > threshold (not fully specified), and certain other structures; small private companies exempt difc.com.source

Submission deadlineWithin 9 months from the end of the financial year difc.com.Within 9 months from the end of the financial year [difc.com](https://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/starting-a-business/starting-a-business---hanbook-fees/financial-checklist/public-company---financial-handbook-v2.pdf).source

Approved auditor listYessource

Fee or penalty (AED)not yet confirmedsource

NotesPenalty for late filing of audited accounts is amount not yet confirmed difc.com. AED equivalent not provided.source

VAT

Mandatory threshold (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Voluntary threshold (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Designated zonenot yet confirmedsource

NotesVAT returns typically filed quarterly, payment due within 28 days after end of tax period difc.com.source

Corporate tax

Registration deadlinenot yet confirmedsource

QFZP conditionsMust meet Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions, including audited accounts, to benefit from 0% tax; otherwise 9% tax on profits; loss of status for that year and following four years if conditions not met m-hq.com.source

Return deadlineWithin 9 months after the end of the financial year difc.com.Within 9 months after the end of the financial year [difc.com](https://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/starting-a-business/starting-a-business---hanbook-fees/financial-checklist/public-company---financial-handbook-v2.pdf).source

Late registration penalty (AED)not yet confirmedsource

UBO, ESR and AML

UBO register requiredYessource

Where the UBO register is filedDIFC Registrar of Companies difc.com.source

ESR statusnot yet confirmedsource

AML / goAML registrationnot yet confirmedsource

Licence renewal

WhenAnnually, can be filed 30 days before expiry and up to 30 days post expiry without fine difc.com.pdf).Annually, can be filed 30 days before expiry and up to 30 days post expiry without fine difc.com.pdf).source

RequirementsLicense Renewal and Confirmation Statement; Data protection notification renewal (if applicable); Renewal of the establishment card (if applicable) difc.com.source

Late penalty (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Banking

Banks commonly usednot yet confirmedsource

Typical account opening daysnot yet confirmedsource

Minimum balance (AED)not yet confirmedsource

Pain pointsnot yet confirmedsource

Accounting records

RequiredYessource

Retention yearsnot yet confirmedsource

StandardIFRSsource

Annual obligations

License Renewal and Confirmation StatementAnnualAnnually, within 30 days before or after license expiry [difc.com](https://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/operating-a-business/operating-business---handbook-fees/corporate_actions_handbook_updated.pdf).source

Annual Audited Accounts and Directors’ Report (if applicable)AnnualWithin 9 months from the end of the financial year [difc.com](https://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/starting-a-business/starting-a-business---hanbook-fees/financial-checklist/public-company---financial-handbook-v2.pdf).source

Closing the company

Processnot yet confirmedsource

Cost (AED)not yet confirmedsource

How we file it

Internal view of the authority's channels and screens. It is what a filing integration has to work against, not a promise that the filing is live. integration source

Application channels

DIFC Portalhttps://portal.difc.ae/signin?stbdtimeout=1who can use: Applicants, corporate service providers, and registration agentslogin: Self-register on DIFC website to create portal access, or log in with existing credentials. Self-registration link available on the portal.The DIFC Portal is the single online platform for all entity‑related requests. No payment is required at the initial submission stage. difc.ae assets.difc.comsource

Agent or partner programme

Existsyes

NameCorporate Service Provider (CSP) registration

Feesnot yet confirmed

Commission or discountnot stated

How to applynot stated

Contactnot stated

RequirementsMust be a registered CSP with DIFC; When acting as a registration agent, the CSP name must be specified in the application

Screens inside the portal

step 1
Submit 'Register with DIFC' applicationApplicant or authorised CSPinputs: Business sector of principal activity, Type of setup (new entity, branch, transfer), Legal structure (Company), Company type (Private Company, etc.), Applicant's capacity (e.g., shareholder, director, CSP)uploads: Notarised Power of Attorney (if applicable), Bank statements / Financial statements, Board resolution (for corporate shareholders)
step 2
Receive Initial Approval EmailSystem (DIFC), typically within 3 to 5 working days
step 3
Respond to requests for further information (if any)Applicant (portal user)inputs: Additional clarifications or documents as requesteduploads: Requested documents
step 4
E‑sign constitutional documents and pay feesAuthorised signatory (applicant or director)inputs: E‑sign Articles of Association and Personnel Sponsorship Agreement (if applicable) via Docusign
step 5
Obtain License & Certificate of IncorporationSystem (DIFC), issued after successful payment and signing

Formats, signatures, payment

Document formatsNot specified in provided sources; likely PDF, JPG, PNG

Signatures and identityConstitutional documents can be e‑signed via Docusign through the portal, or physically signed at the DIFC Services Office (Level B1, GD4). Identity verification is done through DIFC Digital Passport Verification (upload passport, takes up to 3 minutes) or manual entry of passport details. assets.difc.com

PaymentPayment of license, certificate, data protection, and establishment card fees is required before license issuance. Payments are made through the portal using: credit card, portal wallet (topped up via bank transfer, credit card, cheque, or cash at kiosks). Cash limit amount not yet confirmed. Bank transfer details: DIFC Investments LTD Collection Account, Emirates NBD, Account No 101-1434147-605- AED, Swift: EBILAEAD, IBAN: AE280260001011434147605. assets.difc.com assets.difc.com

Status trackingPortal dashboard shows 'Pending Actions' for outstanding items. Email notifications are sent when further information is required or when initial approval is granted. assets.difc.com

API or bulk filingNo API or bulk submission facility mentioned in the provided sources.

After the licence, onlineApply for certificates and letters; License renewal; Entity amendments (implied)

Automation risks

E‑signing via Docusign requires manual action by the authorised signatory; cannot be fully automated without signatory involvement.
Digital passport verification may require live capture or manual upload, potentially blocking fully automated flows.
Credit card payments may require 3D Secure authentication, which is interactive.
Portal may employ CAPTCHA or session timeouts not documented in sources.

Open integration gaps

No details on CSP registration process, fees, or how to apply.
Document format requirements (e.g., PDF, JPG) not specified.
No API or bulk submission capabilities found.
Terms of use for the DIFC Portal not provided; cannot confirm if automation is explicitly forbidden.
Step 3 (additional information requests) is implied but not explicitly numbered in the official five‑step process; details are inferred.

What we still do not know about DIFC

The research names its own holes. They stay on the page until a source fills them.

Prices

Exact medical and Emirates ID costs not separately listed in official DIFC sources; assumed included in employment package.
Share capital paid-up requirement not explicitly stated; assumed not required as no minimum capital for Innovation License and only 'greater than 0' for Private Company.
Office requirement for Active Enterprise package not specified; likely required for visas.
Coworking desk discounted rate (amount not yet confirmed) observed in agent package but not confirmed in official sources.
Visa costs for Private Company from mirdxbpro.com (citing GSO handbook) used as reference, but official GSO handbook not directly provided.

Structure and process

No official fee schedule for standard company setup found; only Active Enterprise fees (amount not yet confirmed application, amount not yet confirmed annual license) are mentioned.
Detailed document checklist for individual and corporate shareholders not provided.
Activity catalogue with count and mixing rules not available.
Total typical setup duration not specified beyond initial approval (3-5 days).
Portal URL not explicitly given; assumed to be accessible via DIFC website.
Bank account opening process and requirements not covered.
Specific license categories and permitted activities per license not detailed.

Compliance

Financial year first period maximum months not specified in sources.
Audit threshold for private company turnover not fully legible in source; exact figure missing.
License renewal fee given in USD (e.g., amount not yet confirmed for private/public company) without AED conversion; penalty for late renewal not specified.
Corporate tax registration deadline not provided.
VAT designated zone status for DIFC not confirmed in sources.
ESR (Economic Substance Regulations) status not mentioned.
AML/goAML registration requirement not mentioned.
Visa and labour information not available.
Banking details (commonly used banks, account opening timelines, minimum balance, pain points) not available.
Deregistration process and cost not available.
Penalty for late filing of audited accounts is amount not yet confirmed; AED equivalent not provided.

Sources

Everything above was read from these pages. The read date is on each line.

Fintech & Innovation in the DIFChttps://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/documents-for-spaces-and-offices/difc-innovation-licence-setup-guide.pdfread 2026-10-20

Corporate Actions Client Handbookhttps://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/operating-a-business/operating-business---handbook-fees/corporate_actions_handbook_updated.pdfread 2026-10-20

Active Enterprise Commercial Packagehttps://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/starting-a-business/starting-a-business---hanbook-fees/non-financial-and-retail-checklist/active-enterprise-commercial-package-non-financial-handbook.pdfread 2026-10-20

DIFC handbookhttps://assets.difc.com/v1/media/edge/images/dubaiintern0078-difcexperie96c5-production-3253/media/project/difcexperiences/difc/difcwebsite/documents/business-section-documents/starting-a-business/starting-a-business---hanbook-fees/non-financial-and-retail-checklist/private-company-non-financial-and-retail-handbook.pdfread 2026-10-20

DIFC Review 2026, Is It Worth amount not yet confirmed?https://freezonecompare.com/blog/difc-review-2026/read 2026-10-20

DIFC - Dubai International Financial Centrehttps://portal.difc.ae/signin?stbdtimeout=1read 2026-10-20

Set up your company in DIFC, Dubai | Sahlahttps://sahla.ae/freezone/difc-company-setupread 2026-10-20

Establish a Business & Company formation in Dubai | DIFChttps://www.difc.com/business/establish-a-businessread 2026-10-20

Handbooks & Fees, Setup Guides & Regulatory Resourceshttps://www.difc.com/business/handbook-feesread 2026-10-20