Dubai Humanitarian (IHC) company setup, costs and visas
Dubai Humanitarian, formerly IHC, describes itself as the world’s largest humanitarian hub: UN agencies and NGOs stage global relief from here. Licensing depends on the mission. The published commercial business-centre desk package is AED 20,800 a year including registration and licence fees, with visas paid separately; non-profit tiers cost less.
Dubai Humanitarian (IHC) in numbers
Last verified: 28 Sep 2026. Checked against the zone’s own published tariff.
Who Dubai Humanitarian fits and who it turns away
Dubai Humanitarian (formerly International Humanitarian City, IHC) is not a general-purpose free zone, and it should not be treated as one. Membership is mission-gated: applications are screened for alignment with humanitarian relief, development work, or a directly supporting commercial function. UN agencies, international NGOs, relief-focused foundations and the vendors that supply them (medical goods, shelter, water and sanitation, logistics) fit here.
A consultancy, a crypto venture, a general trading company or a passive holding vehicle does not. A mainstream zone will approve those faster and without the vetting; if your work does not touch aid, this zone is a detour. Compare the broader options on the free zones index before you commit.
What the AED 20,800 desk package includes and what sits beyond it
The published commercial desk package runs AED 20,800/yr all-in. That figure already bundles the licence, registration and a desk, so the headline is closer to a true cost than most free-zone “from” prices. Registered non-profit organisations sit on cheaper NPO tiers.
What the headline does not cover is the thing most members come for: warehousing and open-yard staging space for relief cargo, priced separately by area. Add per-visa costs, the establishment card, and medical and Emirates ID processing for each person you sponsor. For a pure desk presence the all-in number holds; for a logistics operation the warehouse line dominates the budget. Model both on the setup-cost calculator.
Office, visas and customs in Dubai Humanitarian (IHC)
An office is required: the commercial package already includes a desk, so there is no zero-office route here. Visa allocation is not fixed by a rigid table; it flexes with your facility footprint and role profile, which suits agencies scaling staff up for a specific emergency and back down afterwards.
The real operational draw is geography and customs. The hub sits in Dubai South beside Al Maktoum International Airport and within reach of Jebel Ali port, and members move qualifying humanitarian cargo with streamlined, duty-exempt import handling. That customs treatment is why major aid agencies stage stock here. Plan headcount on the visas overview.
How it compares to the obvious alternatives
If you serve the aid sector commercially but cannot pass the mission test, the same airport-and-port geography is available without the humanitarian gate. If you want a philanthropic structure rather than an operating relief licence, a foundation is the more natural home.
| If you need | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Same location, no mission gate | Dubai South / JAFZA |
| Foundation or endowment structure | DIFC |
| Genuine humanitarian relief + customs | Dubai Humanitarian |
Choose Dubai Humanitarian only when the humanitarian mission is the point. Its value is the aid ecosystem and the customs treatment, which no general zone replicates, but that same gate makes it the wrong address for ordinary commerce.
How to set up a company in Dubai Humanitarian (IHC)
Activities and trade name
Choose the licensed activities and reserve a trade name. The activities decide which approvals you need, how banks read your file and whether your income can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate.
Documents and KYC
Passports, application forms and a clear account of where the money comes from. Free zone companies can be 100% foreign-owned, so no local sponsor is needed.
Licence and establishment card
The zone issues the licence (typically 14–30 business days). The immigration establishment card comes next and opens visa processing.
Visas and bank account
Each visa holder needs an entry permit, a medical test and an Emirates ID. The corporate bank account is opened in parallel and is usually the slowest step.
Dubai Humanitarian (IHC): questions founders ask
Can any company register in Dubai Humanitarian free zone?
How much does a Dubai Humanitarian licence cost?
Is Dubai Humanitarian the same as International Humanitarian City (IHC)?
Do I need a physical office, and how many visas can I get?
Is the “from AED 20,800” price the official tariff?
Can this company do business on the UAE mainland?
Does 0% corporate tax apply here?
This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.