Starts from AED 9,555 (Ultra-Premium) — best for Fintech, wealth management, law firms, and corporate headquarters requiring a prestigious address with an English Common Law framework..
Starts from AED 0 (Premium) — best for Maritime, shipping, and industrial companies requiring large-scale workshops, warehouses, or prime office space with direct port and dry-dock access..
A comprehensive side-by-side analysis of key metrics.
Pre-computed year 1 and renewal costs for common business setups
Year 1 Total
AED 9,555
Annual Renewal
AED 8,813
Year 1 Total
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Annual Renewal
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Detailed Breakdown
No breakdown available
Pre-bundled business packages offered by each zone
Prescribed Company (Passive Holding)
Custom TierAnnual Cost
AED 3,675
NoteThis is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for holding assets or investments. It cannot have employees or conduct active operations. One-time registration is USD 100.
Innovation License
Starter TierAnnual Cost
AED 27,563
NoteCost includes USD 1,500 license fee and mandatory co-working flexi desk at USD 500/month. One-time registration fee of USD 100 applies. Designed for technology and innovation startups.
No Pre-Bundled Packages
This jurisdiction offers custom pricing based on specific requirements rather than set packages.
A definitive category-by-category verdict based on real-time data and specific business priorities.
Dubai International Financial Centre offers a lower starting price point at AED 9555
Dubai International Financial Centre typically processes new licenses in ~5 days
Dubai Maritime City allows up to ? visas without requiring a physical office space
Both jurisdictions are eligible for QFZP (0% tax on qualifying income)
Dubai Maritime City carries a premium market perception and positioning
Dubai International Financial Centre wins for being both notably cheaper and consistently faster
Expand each category for an exhaustive side-by-side comparison
Executive summaries and competitive positioning
DIFC targets companies in the financial services sector, including banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, and insurance, as well as FinTech and innovation companies. It also caters to non-financial entities such as law firms, consultancies, corporate headquarters, and family offices. The primary investor profile includes global financial institutions, multinational corporations, professional service firms, and high-net-worth individuals seeking a regulated, tax-efficient, and internationally recognized jurisdiction. [5, 36, 37]
Key Advantages
DIFC is the premier jurisdiction for established financial institutions, ambitious FinTechs, family offices, and elite professional services firms that require the legal certainty of an English Common Law system to access the high-growth MEASA markets.
Businesses focused on general trading, manufacturing, logistics, or industrial activities. DIFC does not offer the licenses or infrastructure for these sectors, maintaining its exclusive focus on financial and professional services.
Dubai Maritime City targets the global maritime industry, focusing on sectors such as ship repair, yacht manufacturing, maritime services, and logistics. Its primary investor profile includes marine service providers, engineering firms, yacht and vessel manufacturers, repair and maintenance companies, and shipping and logistics operators seeking a strategic location with specialized infrastructure.
Key Advantages
Dubai Maritime City is the definitive choice for businesses core to the maritime industry—ship repair, yacht manufacturing, marine engineering, and shipping—that require purpose-built, specialized infrastructure and direct integration with a global port operator like DP World.
Businesses without a direct link to the maritime industry (e.g., general trading, media, IT services) and solo entrepreneurs, as the zone does not offer freelance permits and its costs are aligned with its specialized, capital-intensive facilities.
Common questions answered transparently with real data
Dubai International Financial Centre is currently more affordable for initial setup, with entry packages starting from AED 9,555. In the broader market context, Dubai International Financial Centre is officially positioned as "Ultra-Premium".
Dubai International Financial Centre typically processes new trade licenses faster, averaging around 5 days for issuance from the time of application submission. Furthermore, for Dubai International Financial Centre, fully remote company setup is natively supported, meaning you do not need to be physically present in the UAE.
Dubai International Financial Centre: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements. Dubai Maritime City: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements.
Dubai International Financial Centre: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa. Dubai Maritime City: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa.
DIFC is the premier jurisdiction for established financial institutions, ambitious FinTechs, family offices, and elite professional services firms that require the legal certainty of an English Common Law system to access the high-growth MEASA markets.
Dubai Maritime City is the definitive choice for businesses core to the maritime industry—ship repair, yacht manufacturing, marine engineering, and shipping—that require purpose-built, specialized infrastructure and direct integration with a global port operator like DP World.
