DMCC
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
Dubai's largest free zone and the most recognised internationally. The right answer when the counterparty, the bank or the investor cares about the address — commodities, precious metals, crypto-adjacent and serious trading houses.
At a glance
- Emirate
- Dubai
- Authority
- Independent and specialised
- Sector
- Global commodities and trade, based in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
- Facilities
- Physical office required at most tiers
- Visa quota
- Based on office size
- Licence cost
- Quoted on activity
Who it suits
- Commodities and precious metals
- Trading houses
- Financial and professional services
- Crypto and Web3, subject to approvals
What it does well
- Strongest brand recognition of any UAE free zone
- JLT location with real office stock
- Deep ecosystem and networking
- Preferred by many international banks
Worth knowing before you commit
Costs more than IFZA or Meydan and requires a physical office at most tiers. Worth it when reputation is doing commercial work for you.
How we set it up
- Confirm the activity. We check your exact activity is on DMCC's schedule before anything is paid. This is where most setups go wrong.
- Name reservation and initial approval. Three trade name options, submitted in order of preference.
- Documentation. Passport copies, photographs, the application set and shareholder resolutions where there is a corporate shareholder.
- Licence issuance. Licence, certificate of incorporation, share certificate and memorandum.
- Establishment card and visas. Immigration file opened, then entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping for each person.
- Bank account. We prepare the file and introduce you. Approval is the bank's decision, not ours, and we will tell you honestly how your case looks.
Enquire about DMCC
Leave your details and we will send a written quote for DMCC, including visa costs for the headcount you need.
Free Zone Questions We Get Asked
Can a free zone company sell inside the UAE?
Not directly to the onshore market. It imports and re-exports freely, but selling to UAE customers needs a mainland distributor, a mainland branch, or customs duty paid through an agent.
Does the office have to be inside the zone?
Yes. The registered office must sit within the zone that issued the licence.
How many visas will I get?
It depends on the package and the facility you take. A flexi-desk typically carries one to three. A real office scales from there, so decide headcount before the package is issued.
Can I move to a different free zone later?
You can, but it is a new incorporation rather than a transfer in most cases — new licence, new immigration file, visas reissued. Worth getting right the first time.
Which free zone is cheapest?
SHAMS, SPC, Ajman and UAQ sit at the low end. Cheapest is not always right: a Sharjah or Ajman address is treated differently by some Dubai banks and landlords, so tell us if banking matters.
Do I pay customs duty?
Not on goods that stay within the free zone or are re-exported. Duty applies when goods enter the UAE mainland market, currently at 5%.
Not Covered Above? Ask Us.
Send the question as you would ask it on the phone. One of the team answers it properly — not a template, and not a sales call dressed up as an answer.