DMCC company setup, costs and visas

Who DMCC fits

DMCC is the free zone in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, built around commodities and general trading. It suits trading companies, businesses that will hire and need visas tied to a real office, crypto and blockchain companies through the DMCC Crypto Centre, and service firms whose clients or banks expect a well-known Dubai address.

It is a poor fit for a solo consultant or a holding company on a tight budget. Every DMCC company needs a physical desk. Basic Biz, the general package with a flexi‑desk, costs AED 35,484, and the sector packages for crypto, gaming and AI companies cost AED 31,000: more than double a no-office Dubai licence such as IFZA. If your clients never ask where you are licensed, compare the cheaper options in the free zone index first.

DMCC company setup cost by package

DMCC publishes its setup packages on dmcc.ae; the figures below were checked on 23 September 2026. The AED 31,000 in the table above is the price of the Crypto Centre, Gaming Centre and AI Centre packages, which include VAT and the knowledge and innovation fees (KDID) and come with a co‑working space. For a general trading or services company the usual package is Basic Biz at AED 35,484, and a few smaller niche packages exist, such as JLT Resident.

DMCC’s own site gives a setup range of AED 10,345 to AED 84,515. The low end is a niche package for health and fitness activities, and the high end covers larger offices. On top of any package, budget for the establishment card and for each residence visa (entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID). Run your own numbers in the setup-cost calculator.

Office, visas and banking at DMCC

The number of visas a DMCC company can sponsor follows the size of its office and the type of licence. A flexi‑desk package such as Basic Biz supports one visa; more visas need more space, so plan the team and the lease together.

The mandatory office has one advantage: it gives a bank something concrete to verify. Banks often find a DMCC company easier to onboard than a no-office licence, although the account still depends on your activity, ownership and cash flows. Our bank account guide explains what banks ask for.

On corporate tax, a DMCC company can be a Qualifying Free Zone Person and pay 0% on qualifying income and 9% on all other taxable income, with no AED 375,000 band. The status needs adequate substance, audited financial statements and transfer-pricing compliance. See corporate tax for the conditions.

Crypto companies in DMCC and where VARA starts

DMCC runs the DMCC Crypto Centre, which DMCC describes as one of the largest crypto and blockchain communities in the region. A “DMCC crypto licence” is a standard DMCC licence with one or more crypto activities, and the Crypto Centre package costs AED 31,000. DMCC says crypto licences are processed within about four weeks.

The DMCC licence covers the company. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) regulates virtual-asset services across the emirate, including in DMCC; only DIFC runs its own regime under the DFSA. If you trade only your own balance sheet or build technology, the DMCC licence is usually enough. If client money or client tokens pass through your business, as with an exchange, custody, brokerage or lending, you also need a VARA licence.

A VARA licence is a separate, longer process measured in months, with capital, a compliance officer and audited systems required before launch. Our IT and crypto company registration guide compares VARA, ADGM and DIFC for common Web3 models.

How long DMCC company setup takes

DMCC puts a standard setup at around 10 working days, which is why the table above shows 7–14 business days. A crypto activity adds a review and can take up to four weeks. The steps are: choose the activities and reserve the trade name; submit shareholder documents and KYC (plus a business plan and AML policy for crypto); sign for the desk or office; receive the licence; then apply for the establishment card and visas.

The bank account usually takes longest, especially for crypto. Start the conversation with banks while the licence is being issued.

DMCC vs other Dubai free zones

Pick DMCC when your business trades, hires or needs the Crypto Centre, or when your counterparties expect the address. For a lean services company, a no-office zone does the same legal job for less. See DMCC vs IFZA and DMCC vs DIFC.