Expo City Dubai Free Zone Business Setup
- Expo City Free Zone Company Setup from 20,000 AED (with 1 visa allocation)
- Registration from 1 month
- Bank account Guaranteed
- Residence visas for 2 years
About Expo City Dubai free zone
Expo City Dubai was developed using the cutting-edge idea of a “city within a city” and is a creative place to live and work. It has all the amenities a modern person could want for a comfortable life: completely furnished apartments, state-of-the-art workplaces, a massive shopping center, a number of cafes and restaurants, shops, and fitness facilities—all within a 15-minute walk.
Expo City Dubai offers distinctive venues that can accommodate a range of outstanding events in addition to its business and lifestyle advantages.
After the 2021 Global Expo 2020 show in Dubai, the Expo City Dubai Free Zone was created. High-tech office complexes, a metro station, green spaces, free eco-friendly buggies for moving around the Expo area, jogging and cycling paths, and entertainment venues all year round are all part of its legacy.
Expo City Dubai provides a smooth operating experience by incorporating access to all government services and free zone amenities. 100% foreign ownership, duty-free conditions, and full capital and profit repatriation are all advantageous to businesses.
In addition to competitive visa allocation, companies provide flexible visa options, including employment visas for up to five years and no restrictions on employing foreign workers.
Businesses of all sizes, from freelancers to major group companies, thrive in the free zone, which promotes cooperation, creativity, and new opportunities for expansion.
Is Expo City Dubai suitable for your business?
— Yes
If you’re starting a business in Dubai and need a prime location with the best infrastructure, you’ve come to the right place. The “city of the future” concept was used to build it, and it has lots of green space, car-free roads, smart technology-equipped facilities, lots of cafes and restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, all within a 15-minute walking radius.
Expo City has great networking opportunities if you want to build relationships and raise your profile. After serving as pavilions at EXPO 2020, three clusters have been transformed into offices and are nearly completely occupied. Expo City Dubai is a true business hotspot because of its facilities, which draw businesses from all over the world.
If you value accessibility to good transportation, Expo FZ has a specific metro station called Expo-2020 and is reachable by four major highways: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road, and Al Khail Road.
If you manage deliveries and want logistics facilities, Expo City Dubai provides warehouses and an industrial license. Dubai and Abu Dhabi international airports are within an hour’s drive, while Al Maktoum International Airport is nearby.
Expo FZ provides a short-term setup through an operating permit that lasts anywhere from one day to twelve months (for example, during an event) if you need to launch a business for a short length of time. You must have a current license that was granted in Dubai on the mainland in order to do this.
It is possible to build a restaurant in Expo City with the option to offer alcohol, but you will need to get multiple permits from the government.
— No
It is preferable to think about alternative free zones, including RAKEZ or JAFZA free zones, if you are involved in heavy manufacturing and require a certain license, as well as huge warehouses and industrial locations.
It is required to rent an office in EXPO prior to the license registration process, even if you do not need to rent a physical office.
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Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 27614.
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info@jsbincorporation.com
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Expo City Dubai company formation process
Regardless of whether you are in the UAE or overseas, you can register your company remotely, and it will take around a month.
The application process begins with Expo City identifying and verifying the leased space. The applicant then uses the ECD Portal to submit all of the necessary paperwork. A verified Power of Attorney must be shown if the shareholder’s representative is handling this.
Step 1: Choose the entity type and licensing type that best fits your needs from the EXPO free zone
Selecting the incorrect activity, registration authority, or location might result in mistakes during company registration, which can cause issues when opening a bank account or obtaining a resident visa. Thus, it is essential to examine this topic carefully.
One of the following legal entities may be registered at Expo City Dubai:
- Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC) for new companies
- Free Zone Branch (FZB)—for branches and subsidiaries
You can also get a business operation permit and a freelance permit.
Step 2: Get the required paperwork ready. The entire collection of documents for both the preliminary and final approval phases will look like this:
For companies:
- Application form
- Signed copy of the ECD Heads of Terms Agreement
- Passport copies of all licensed parties
- Visa or the previous entry stamp to the UAE (copies)
- Specimen signature of shareholders of all licensed parties
- Trade name options
- Business activity(ies)
- Articles of Association
- Shareholder resolution
For individuals:
- Application form
- Qualification certificates and/or work portfolios
- Copy of passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- Copy of visa or the previous entry stamp to the UAE
- Colored photo
- NOC (in the case of sponsored individuals)
The registration fees must be paid in order to move forward with the application when all the documents have been assembled and the proper documentation has been prepared.
Step 3: Get the company’s license and registration paperwork, specifically:
- Registration certificate
- License
- Lease agreement
- MoA and Articles of Association
Step 4:
Get an establishment card, which gives your business the ability to sponsor residence visas and contains information about it.
Step 5: Apply for an entry permit
If you apply from within the United Arab Emirates, you will need to convert your visa status from a previous visa to a resident visa after the entry permission is granted.
If you are not in the United Arab Emirates, you must enter the country, get your entrance permit stamped, and then complete the remaining steps of the residency visa application process by providing the required paperwork.
Step 6:
Complete a medical examination and apply for a resident visa.
Step 7:
Apply for an Emirates ID.
Step 8:
Finish the biometrics process at an Emirates ID center.
Step 9:
You can submit all the information for visa approval as soon as you obtain the results of your biometrics and medical test. You will receive an email with your electronic visa. It is also available through the UAE ICP app.
Step 10:
Get your Emirates ID. Following the issuance of the residence visa, the government creates a plastic identity card, which is a crucial document needed to pay bills or fines, rent an apartment, open a bank account, and more. Additionally, it gives you access to a variety of local services and savings.
Step 11:
Get a bank account. To open a corporate bank account, apply to a bank in the UAE. It could take several weeks for approval.
You can begin operating your business in the United Arab Emirates after you get the account details.
Expo City Dubai Free Zone licenses and costs
Depending on whether it is a one-group or two-group license, commercial licenses can have seven to twelve activities, while service licenses can have up to five. 500 AED will be charged for any action that goes over the quota.
| Item | Cost, AED |
|---|---|
|
Initial approval |
500 |
|
Company registration (FZ-LLC, Branch) |
5,000 |
|
Commercial license (one group, up to 7 activities) |
10,000 |
|
Service license (up to 5 activities) |
10,000 |
|
Business license (combining service and commercial activities under 1 license) |
20,000-23,000 |
|
Freelance permit |
7,000 |
|
Establishment card |
2,100 |
The minimum capital required for the aforementioned license types is 10,000 AED.
Expo City provides the following license categories:
- Commercial license: Allows you to carry out commercial activities, such as importing, exporting, buying, selling, and distributing the products listed in the license.
- General Trading: Enables you to carry out commercial activities, such as importing, exporting, purchasing, selling, and distributing any kind of approved product.
- Service license: Allows you to provide professional services, such as training, management, consulting, and hospitality.
- Industrial license: Allows you to carry out light production tasks, such as assembly and packing, among others.
- Freelance permit: Allows you to offer expert services under your own name and benefit from better tax advantages than a traditional business.
Expo City Dubai business activities
Expo City Dubai provides a broad range of commercial activities to meet the various demands of entrepreneurs, ranging from freelancers to big business owners.
Commercial activities: Under the commercial license, you can trade anything from technology, food, and jewelry to building materials and spare components.
Professional activities: The freelancing permit may be advantageous to those who work as writers, web developers, web designers, trainers, social media influencers, producers, photographers, PR specialists, musicians, market analysts, journalists, interior designers, etc.
Industrial activities: In the following industries, you can set up a production line to manufacture a variety of goods: military, oil and gas, telecom, electricity, motor cars, power generation, clothing, cosmetics, and personal care, among many others.
Your business consultant can provide you with a comprehensive list of approved company operations.
Expo City Dubai facilities
Expo City Free Zone offers cutting-edge facilities, from permanent offices and warehouses to flexible working locations, to meet a variety of needs in terms of workspaces.
| Facility Type | Description |
|---|---|
|
Shared desk |
For freelancers or small startups without a permanent office, this adaptable workspace is ideal. You can select a shared desk in technologically advanced areas of buildings made of environmentally friendly materials that satisfy all sustainability standards. There are many chances to network and build relationships, even with a flex desk. You are given two employee allocations per desk in EXPO. |
|
Office space |
Advanced sustainability buildings house offices. Retail establishments and cafes and restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets may be found on the ground floors. There will be unique views of Expo City landmarks and visitor parking for you and your partners. One person for every nine square meters is assigned to offices. |
|
Food and Beverage and Retail |
Entrepreneurs who intend to engage in limited food and beverage business operations, either permanently or temporarily, must adhere to certain regulations and finish the necessary approval processes established by the government. For such establishments, there is one employee for every 15 square meters. |
|
Warehouse |
There is one person for every 12 square meters in warehouses. |
Expo City Dubai visa costs
| Item | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
|
Employment visa: outside UAE (1 year) |
2,500 |
|
Employment visa: outsideUAE (2 years) |
3,000 |
|
Employment visa – inside UAE (1 year) |
3,100 |
|
Employment visa inside UAE (2 years) |
3,500 |
The leased space determines the visa quote in the Expo City Dubai free zone.
Expo City Dubai company license renewal
It’s necessary to renew your business every year, and it’s a simple process that your designated agent may handle remotely. Typically, the initial setup expenses and the renewal cost are the same. To prevent any interruption in banking services, businesses with UAE bank accounts must show the bank their updated license.
Your representative may manage the complete renewal process if you are not in Dubai, including:
- Renewing the office lease,
- Renewing the company license,
- Updating the bank with the new license.
Dubai business consultants are able to help with these tasks.
Additionally, you will need to renew the E-channel if your business is eligible for visas. Please take note that the renewal process normally takes one week and requires an audit report.
Expo City Dubai company amendments
The company’s managers and shareholders do not need to be present in person for any revisions, including the transfer of shares.
Common modifications made to businesses include:
- Transfer of shares
- Change of company name
- Amendment to the business activity
- Change of company manager
Expo City Dubai company liquidation
The process for Expo City FZ’s liquidation is simple. The current cost of closing a business is about AED 2,000. It takes roughly a month to complete. It includes these key steps:
- Visa cancellation (7-10 working days): if there is a visa in the company.
- Establishment card cancellation (7-10 working days): if it was a visa-eligible company.
- License cancellation.
In the event of liquidation, you’re required to provide a final audit report and return all original company documents. Any existing lease agreements should be terminated and visas closed.
If you had a corporate bank account, it should be closed before applying for company liquidation. You should obtain a letter of proof from the bank confirming that.
After the company is dissolved, you will get an official deregistration letter from the free zone as a formal confirmation of the liquidation.
Conclusion
JSB Incorporation stands as a trusted partner for businesses aiming to thrive in the prestigious Expo City Dubai Free Zone. With a commitment to excellence, tailored solutions, and unmatched expertise in navigating the unique requirements of the Free Zone, JSB ensures a seamless incorporation process.
By choosing JSB Incorporation, you unlock access to a strategic business location, tax advantages, and world-class infrastructure that Expo City Dubai offers, all while benefiting from JSB’s personalized support and dedication to your success.
Book your free consultation call today with us to learn more about business setup in UAE-free zones.
FAQs
100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions, and streamlined business setup processes in Expo City Dubai.
You can apply online through the Free Zone’s official portal or consult a business setup expert.
Yes, flexible office spaces, coworking areas, and warehouses are available.
Absolutely, with incentives like low setup costs and networking opportunities.
Yes, businesses can sponsor visas for employees and dependents.
Don't miss out on this limited-time opportunity!
We'd Love To Hear From You
contact us
Find us Here
Office No 20, 4th Floor, Al Moosa Tower 2,
Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 27614.
Get In touch
+971 4 824 4842
info@jsbincorporation.com