Overview
Free Zone company formation
Dubai South is a fast-growing free zone built around Al Maktoum International Airport and the logistics corridor of southern Dubai, designed for aviation, logistics, and e-commerce fulfilment at scale.
Foreign ownership
100%
Market access
Global + free zone
Office
Flexi-desk options
Visas
Quota-based
Why Choose It
Why choose Dubai South
Adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport.
Purpose-built logistics and e-commerce infrastructure.
100% foreign ownership and competitive costs.
Room to grow with warehousing and land options.
The Process
How the setup works
A clear, advisor-led path from first call to a live company.
Choose licence & zone
We match your activity to the right licence type in your chosen free zone.
Name & incorporation
We reserve your company name and submit your incorporation documents.
Facility selection
We select your flexi-desk, office, or warehouse to match your visa quota.
Licence issuance
You receive your free zone licence and certificate of incorporation.
Visas & banking
We process your establishment card and visas and support your bank account opening.
What it costs
Free zone packages typically bundle the licence, registration, and a set visa quota, so the total depends on the zone you choose and the facility you take. We break the figures down line by line — no hidden mark-ups on government fees.
Is Dubai South right for you?
Dubai South is ideal for logistics, aviation-linked, and e-commerce fulfilment businesses. A Marhaban Group advisor will confirm the right fit for your activity, ownership, and visa needs on a free call before you commit to anything.
Business Legal Structures in the UAE
Like any other country, the UAE offers various legal corporate structures for businesses. Selecting the appropriate structure is crucial as it affects ownership rights, liability protection, and operational capabilities in the Emirates market.
Sole Proprietorship
This type of company is 100 percent owned by one person - meaning they control the company and the profits. All nationalities are allowed to set up sole proprietorship company, but only UAE and GCC nationals are allowed to set up a commercial or industrial company.
Civil Company
Civil company businesses in UAE can perform work in certain profession such as doctors, accountants, lawyers, etc. A civil company has to have at least 51 percent of the business owned by an Emirati national.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A limited liability company can have between 2 and 50 shareholders, which means each shareholder is liable up to their share percentage. Profits and losses are also divided among the shareholders based on their holdings. Once again, 51 percent must be owned by a UAE national. There must be a company board of directors if there are more than seven partners with atleast three shareholders in the board.
Branch of a Foreign Company
A foreign company may establish a branch office in the UAE. In this instance, the company is 100% owned by the parent company. However, the raw materials must be imported through a domestic trading company.
Free Zone Company
Companies established in a Free Zone can have anywhere from two to five stakeholders. Although the incentives for establishing companies in the UAE Free Zones are plentiful, you will want to be aware that these companies cannot sell products to the UAE market directly. This might cause you to have different requirements to establish a business in a Free Zone.
Freelancers
It is surprising easy to establish a freelance company in the UAE. You will need to set up in a Free Zone, provide an application, CV, a bank reference and completed Registry Identification Code Form (which must be notarized). You will also be able to apply for a visa at this time.