DAFZA vs SPC: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
DAFZA (licences from about AED 15,020) and SPC (from about AED 5,750) are both UAE free zones — SPC has the lower entry price. DAFZA best suits: Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. SPC best suits: Startups, solo founders and consultants who want one of the cheapest published entry prices in the UAE with fast, fully online licensing; e-commerce and trading businesses choosing from the 2,000+ activity list; and publishers and media businesses, given the zone's publishing heritage and Publishers Hub. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
DAFZA and SPC side by side
Approximate budgeting figures — your final quote is confirmed in writing. Government fees are passed through at cost, never marked up.
| Criteria | DAFZA | SPC |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 15,020 | AED 5,750 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Sharjah |
| Location | Dubai Airport Free Zone, next to Dubai International Airport (DXB), Deira | Sharjah Publishing City, Sharjah |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to the office space you lease, not bought as a flat add-on. | Visa packages are configured in SPC's cost calculator rather than published as a fixed quota per licence — your allocation depends on the package and facility. |
| Activities | DAFZA licences cover Trading, Service, Industrial and General Trading categories, with roughly 15 broad industry groups (aviation, electronics, pharma, logistics, consulting, insurance, chemicals, auto parts and more). | 2,000+ business activities are available, and SPC publishes its activity list online with a name-check tool. |
Lower entry price: SPC.
Which one should you pick?
Choose DAFZA if
Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. Suits funded businesses that value reputation over the lowest possible cost.
Think twice if
Solo founders, freelancers and early-stage startups chasing the cheapest licence. DAFZA's mandatory office and higher fees make it poor value if you do not need airport proximity or the prestige - cheaper Dubai zones like IFZA or Meydan are better-fit there.
Choose SPC if
Startups, solo founders and consultants who want one of the cheapest published entry prices in the UAE with fast, fully online licensing; e-commerce and trading businesses choosing from the 2,000+ activity list; and publishers and media businesses, given the zone's publishing heritage and Publishers Hub.
Think twice if
Regulated financial-services firms (DIFC or ADGM fit better), businesses that specifically need a Dubai-emirate address for clients or staff, and heavy industrial or port-side operations — JAFZA, RAKEZ or UAQ FTZ industrial facilities fit those better.
Cost breakdowns
DAFZA
from AED 15,020
Trade / Service licence (annual)
From; Industrial / General Trading runs higher (approx AED 20,000+).
AED 15,020+
Registration / incorporation fee
One-time, approx.
AED 7,000
Establishment card
Annual; renewal slightly lower (approx AED 1,870).
AED 1,500 - 2,020
Immigration / e-channel registration
One-time, only if hiring / sponsoring visas, approx.
AED 1,000 - 2,000
Smart-desk / office (mandatory)
Annual; the smallest smart-desk (~6.65 sq.m) starts around AED 16,600 and is required to issue any licence. Larger offices / warehouses cost more.
AED 16,000 - 24,000+
Name reservation + initial approval
One-time, approx.
AED 1,000
Knowledge + postal / PO Box fee
Annual, included in most DAFZA packages, approx.
AED 1,010 - 1,125
Medical test + Emirates ID (per visa)
Per person; includes visa stamping, medical and Emirates ID, approx.
AED 1,200 - 3,500
Corporate tax registration (FTA)
Registration is free; 9% applies on taxable income above thresholds. Qualifying free-zone income may be 0%.
AED 0 (govt)
SPC
from AED 5,750
Business setup package
SPC's published starting price; the total is configured in its online cost calculator from activities, visas and facility
From AED 5,750 (published)
Licence with lease agreement
A lease agreement comes with every business licence
Included
Visa packages
Configured per package in the cost calculator; residency processed in as fast as 5 working days
Quote-based
Paid-up share capital
SPC requires zero paid-up share capital
AED 0
UAE corporate tax registration
Registration with the Federal Tax Authority is free of charge
Government fee: AED 0
Strengths and trade-offs
DAFZA
- Unmatched airport proximity - ideal for time-sensitive cargo, perishables and pharma.
- Prestige address that signals scale and credibility to partners and banks.
- 100% ownership, profit repatriation and no personal income tax.
- Dual-licence route to also trade on the Dubai mainland.
- Premium on-site infrastructure: Grade-A offices, warehouses and logistics units.
- Higher cost than most Dubai free zones - you pay a premium for location and prestige.
- A smart-desk or office is mandatory; there is no true zero-rent licence here, and office rent alone starts around AED 16,600.
- Visa quota is fixed by office size, so scaling headcount can mean leasing more space.
- Overkill for solo founders and budget startups who do not need airport access.
SPC
- Published entry price of AED 5,750 — with the lease agreement included, the licence covers your legal address without a separate flexi-desk line.
- Speed: about 45 minutes to complete setup with an advisor, residency in as fast as 5 working days, immigration on site.
- Zero paid-up share capital and 100% foreign ownership across the 2,000+ activity list.
- Government of Sharjah backing with a fully digital portal for setup, amendments and renewals.
- Deep value-added bench: banking assistance, spouse/dependant visas, documentation, customs code and financing support under one roof.
- The AED 5,750 headline is a starting price — visas, extra activities and facilities move the calculator total up, so always compare the itemised quote.
- A Sharjah address, not Dubai: fine for most online and service businesses, but clients who expect a Dubai-emirate licence or address should weigh Dubai zones.
- No fixed published visa quota per licence — your allocation is configured per package and confirmed at quote stage.
- Like any free zone, direct mainland UAE retail requires additional licensing or arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, DAFZA or SPC?+
DAFZA licences start from about AED 15,020 (Licence fee only, approx. A mandatory smart-desk plus registration and establishment fees pushes a realistic complete setup (smallest package, 1 visa) to around AED 40,000.). SPC starts from about AED 5,750 (from / published — SPC states business setup packages start from AED 5,750; the final price is built in its online cost calculator from your activities, visas and facility, and government and visa fees are added on top). SPC has the lower headline price, but your real total depends on visa count and office needs — always compare a written, itemised quote.
Who is DAFZA best for?+
Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. Suits funded businesses that value reputation over the lowest possible cost.
Who is SPC best for?+
Startups, solo founders and consultants who want one of the cheapest published entry prices in the UAE with fast, fully online licensing; e-commerce and trading businesses choosing from the 2,000+ activity list; and publishers and media businesses, given the zone's publishing heritage and Publishers Hub.
How do I decide between DAFZA and SPC?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. DAFZA: Visa allocation is tied to the office space you lease, not bought as a flat add-on. SPC: Visa packages are configured in SPC's cost calculator rather than published as a fixed quota per licence — your allocation depends on the package and facility. If you are still unsure, our free zone selector or a free 30-minute PRO Health Check will confirm the better fit for your case.
Still torn between DAFZA and SPC?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need, and we'll confirm the better-fit zone and its real cost — in writing, line by line.