Expo City Dubai Free Zone Setup Advisory
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Professional Guidance for Setup
Setting up a business in a Free Zone involves several decisions, including the licence type, permitted activities, team requirements, premises, and related compliance considerations.
Elevate Accounting & Auditing provides Expo City Dubai Free Zone setup advisory, helping businesses understand the available setup options, package inclusions, activity requirements, visa-related considerations, and associated costs.
Our role is to provide clear professional guidance and support so you can assess the available options before proceeding with the relevant authorities.
Why Expo City Dubai?
Considering an Expo City Dubai business setup? A few factors can shape the right setup for your business:
Business Activity
Check which activities are available and the licence type they fall under.
Licence Options
Compare the available packages based on your business requirements.
Office Requirements
Some activities may have specific space or premises requirements.
Team & Visa Needs
Consider your current team size and the number of visas you may require.
Future Plans
Look at your expected activities, team requirements, and potential changes as the business develops.
Additional Requirements
Certain activities may have specific restrictions, ECDA requirements, or third-party approvals.
Elevate Accounting & Auditing can provide professional guidance on these considerations, helping you better understand the requirements relevant to your proposed setup.
Expo City Dubai Licence Packages
All five packages share the same core setup framework: Initial approval • Registration & MoA/AoA • Trade licence • Shared desk • Company card
For packages that include a visa quota, the visa allocation itself is listed at AED 0. Individual visa-related costs are separate.
| Package | Cost & Duration | Visa Quota | Activities | Fee Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Hub Package - 0 Visa | AED 12,520 / 1 year | 0 | Up to 4 activities within the same licence type and group. Additional activities cannot be added. | All-inclusive bundle with no separate lease or hidden setup fees. |
| Accelerate Package - 2 Visa | AED 15,070 / 1 year | 2 Visas (Free allocation) | Up to 6 activities within the same licence type and group. Additional activities cannot be added to this package. | All-inclusive bundle (initial approval, registration & MoA, 1-year trade licence, shared desk, and company card included; no separate lease). Renewal: AED 15,070/year. |
| Business Hub Package - 4 Visa | AED 17,570 / 1 year | 4 | Up to 6 activities within the same licence type and group. Additional activities cannot be added. | All-inclusive bundle with no separate lease. Visa allocation: AED 0. |
| Standard 6 Visa Package | AED 22,080 / 1 year | 6 | One licence type with up to 6 activities. Additional activities from the same or different group can be added at an additional cost. | Initial approval: AED 500; Registration & AoA: AED 5,000; Licence: AED 10,000; Company card: AED 2,500; Shared desk: AED 4,000; KDID: AED 80. |
| General Trading 6 Visa Package | AED 37,080 / 1 year | 6 | One licence type with up to 6 activities. Additional activities from the same or different group can be added at an additional cost. | Initial approval: AED 500; Registration & AoA: AED 5,000; General Trading Licence: AED 25,000; Company card: AED 2,500; Shared desk: AED 4,000; KDID: AED 80. |
| Multi 3 Years - 6 Visa Package | AED 50,080 / 3 years | 6 | Up to 6 activities within the same licence type and group. Additional activities from different licence types and groups can be added at an additional cost. | Licence + setup: AED 38,020; Shared desk: AED 12,000; KDID: AED 60. |
*Package Note: The above package information is based on the supplied Expo City Dubai package details. Fees, inclusions, activity conditions, and authority requirements may change.
Your Activity Comes First
The package you choose should correspond with the business activity you intend to register. The Expo City Dubai activity directory contains 1,047 distinct business activities across 21 business sectors, including:
Each activity is classified with information such as:
- ✓ISIC4 Code
- ✓Activity Code
- ✓Activity Name in English and Arabic
- ✓Operational Activity Description
- ✓Applicable licence type
- ✓Space requirements
- ✓Restrictions
- ✓Additional ECDA requirements
- ✓Third-party approval requirements for regulated activities
The directory covers three licence categories:
Some activities may also have specific conditions, such as physical office requirements, branch-company restrictions, operations outside the UAE, or activities limited to Expo City.
Know Your Requirements
An Expo City Dubai Free Zone setup can involve several considerations beyond the headline package price. Before proceeding, businesses should review:
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Business Activity
Check that the intended activity is available under the relevant licence category.
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Licence Type
Understand whether the activity falls under a Service, Light Industrial, or Trading licence.
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Team Requirements
Consider the number of visas required and the applicable costs for individual visa applications.
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Space Requirements
Certain activities may have specific premises or physical-space requirements.
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Additional Approvals
Some regulated activities may require additional ECDA or third-party approvals.
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Future Plans
Consider your expected activities, team size, and potential changes to the business when reviewing the available packages.
Elevate Accounting & Auditing can provide professional guidance across these considerations so you have a clearer picture before selecting an option.
Allocation and Application Costs
Packages with a visa quota include the visa allocation at AED 0. This does not mean that individual visa applications have no associated costs. The supplied package information lists the following per-visa costs:
| Applicant Location | 2-Year Visa Cost | KDID Fee | Listed Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside the UAE | AED 4,500 per visa | AED 20 per visa | Medical, Emirates ID, and status change |
| Outside the UAE | AED 3,200 per visa | AED 20 per visa | Medical and Emirates ID; no status change |
These costs apply to the processing of allocated visas and to visa additions or upgrades applicable to the relevant package. Elevate can provide guidance on the requirements and costs applicable to the applicant's circumstances.
WHY CHOOSE ELEVATE FOR DUBAI EXPO CITY?
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Setup Options
Review the available packages and compare their listed inclusions.
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Activity Requirements
Understand the licence type, activity conditions, restrictions, and related requirements.
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Visa Considerations
Review visa quota information and understand that individual application costs may apply separately.
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Documentation
Get guidance on the documentation and information relevant to your proposed setup.
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Compliance Considerations
Keep related accounting, tax, AML/CFT, and other ongoing professional requirements in view.
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Clearer Decisions
Use professional guidance to better understand your options before proceeding with the relevant authorities.
*Elevate Accounting & Auditing provides professional advisory, guidance, and support. Final approvals, registrations, licences, visas, activity permissions, and other official decisions remain subject to the relevant authorities and applicable requirements.
Support Beyond Setup
Establishing a company is only one part of running a business in the UAE. Businesses may also have ongoing requirements around accounting, auditing, VAT, Corporate Tax, AML/CFT compliance, risk management, and other areas of professional support. Elevate Accounting & Auditing provides professional services and advisory support across:
This allows businesses to seek relevant professional guidance as their requirements develop after setup.
Expo City Dubai Free Zone FAQs
An Expo City Dubai Free Zone setup allows a business to establish a company within the Free Zone framework, subject to the applicable licence, activity, registration, and authority requirements. Elevate Accounting & Auditing provides guidance on the relevant setup considerations.
The supplied packages range from AED 12,520 for 1 year to AED 50,080 for 3 years, depending on the package selected. Visa-related application costs and certain additional activity costs may apply separately.
The choice depends on your intended business activities, licence type, team size, visa requirements, and future plans. Elevate Accounting & Auditing can provide professional guidance to help you compare the available options.
The permitted number depends on the package and applicable licence structure. For example:
- Business Hub 0 Visa: up to 4 activities
- Business Hub 4 Visa: up to 6 activities
- Standard 6 Visa: up to 6 activities
- General Trading 6 Visa: up to 6 activities
- Multi 3 Years: up to 6 activities
Packages with a visa quota include the visa allocation at AED 0, but individual visa application costs are separate. The listed cost is AED 4,500 per 2-year visa for applicants inside the UAE and AED 3,200 for applicants outside the UAE, plus the applicable KDID fee.
Yes. Elevate Accounting & Auditing provides professional advisory, guidance, and support around Expo City Dubai business setup, including package comparisons, activity considerations, documentation requirements, and related compliance considerations. Final approvals, registrations, licences, visas, and other official decisions remain subject to the relevant authorities.
Get Clarity Before Proceeding
The right Free Zone package depends on your business activity, licence requirements, team plans, visa needs, premises, and future considerations. If you are exploring Expo City Dubai company formation or looking for guidance on the available Expo City Dubai Free Zone setup options, Elevate Accounting & Auditing can help you understand the relevant requirements and compare the available packages.
Discuss Your Setup Requirements*Service Scope: Elevate Accounting & Auditing provides professional advisory, guidance, and support. It is not a government authority or regulatory body. Final approvals, registrations, licences, visas, activity permissions, and other official decisions remain subject to the relevant authorities and applicable requirements. Package prices, government fees, inclusions, activity conditions, and other requirements may change and should be confirmed with the relevant authority before proceeding.