Company Setup with DIFC in Dubai

A DIFC licence, done properly (from AED 40,000/year)

If you run an asset manager, an advisory firm or a fintech, DIFC is usually where you end up, and for good reason. It runs on its own common-law legal system and independent courts, which is exactly why international investors, banks and counterparties take a DIFC entity seriously. You are not paying for a Dubai address. You are paying for regulatory standing.

Setup starts from AED 40,000/year (indicative). The exact figure depends on your activity, your regulatory category, your office space and your visa count. DIFC prices each application on what you are actually doing, so the only honest number is the one a consultant confirms for your specific case.

DIFC is a regulated financial centre. The exact licence, the capital requirements and the approval pathway all depend on your activity and the regulator's own assessment. We scope this with you before anything is submitted, so there are no surprises mid-process.

Get your exact DIFC price and the fastest route: one free call, no obligation. [Get my quote]

What DIFC licenses

DIFC is built for regulated finance and the businesses around it:

• Financial services (asset management, investment advisory, brokerage)
• Fintech and payments
• Wealth management and family offices

Because much of this sits under DFSA regulation, the file has to be right the first time. Documentation, compliance profile and structure all have to meet the standard before an application moves, which is precisely the work we do for you.

What you will need

Requirements vary by activity and regulatory category, but broadly expect:

• Passport copies for shareholders and directors
• A business plan and company profile
• Proof of address and an ownership structure chart
• Regulatory and compliance documentation where your activity requires it

We confirm the exact list for your application up front, prepare every document to specification, and manage the submission end to end. That is the difference between a file that moves and one that sits in a queue.

How we handle it

In our 19+ years in business we have started 1,400+ companies and opened 1,000+ UAE bank accounts, with named account-opening officers at 10+ banks. That track record matters most at exactly this point. A regulated entity attracts heavier due diligence, and we know what each bank's compliance team will ask because we have done it a thousand times. See how we handle bank account opening.

If a leaner Dubai structure would serve you better, say for a holding company or an advisory arm that does not need full DFSA regulation, we also register directly with Meydan and IFZA. We will walk you through the trade-off against what you actually plan to do. Start with free zone company formation or talk it through with us first.

Timelines depend on your regulatory category and the authority's own schedule. We give you a realistic estimate for your specific case at the outset and keep you updated at every stage, not a headline number we do not control.

Tell us what you are building and we will give you the exact DIFC cost, the right structure and a realistic timeline: one free call. [Book my call]