DIFC cost in 2026
Dubai · prices checked
DIFC prices each package on its own: the tables below give every figure the zone publishes or confirms in writing.
In short
DIFC prices each package on its own: the tables below give every figure the zone publishes or confirms in writing.
- The financial centre of the country, with its own courts and its own company law.
- It publishes the promotional innovation licence prices, the registration fees, the capital and the audit rules.
About DIFC
DIFC licence cost in 2026
| Package | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
Innovation Licence
| 1 year licence | USD 1,500 |
Dubai AI Licence
| 1 year licence | USD 1,500 |
Innovation Holding Structure Licence
| 1 year licence | USD 1,000 |
DIFC visa cost
| Costs and conditions | |
|---|---|
| Visas included with the first office | up to 4 |
| Visas included with the coworking pack | up to 2 |
| Discount on visa fees, innovation licence | up to 50 percent |
| Absolute cost of an employee visa | |
| Visas per licence type | |
| Visa quota by office area | |
DIFC office and flexi desk cost
| Coworking, Innovation and AI offers | USD 250 per month, billed annually |
|---|---|
| Flexible desk, Innovation Hub licences | USD 500 plus VAT per month |
| Flexible desk, AI licence | USD 3,000 plus VAT per year |
| Office rent per square foot, service charges, lease term |
DIFC renewal and closing fee
First year, licence
Renewal, per year
Closing the company
Details
Renewal, per year. USD 1,500 per year while the innovation subsidy lasts, then USD 12,000 per year above ten employees. The renewal of an ordinary commercial licence is given on application.
Closing the company. Given on application. The Companies Regulations refer to a fee appendix, so ask the free zone for the striking off, liquidation and deregistration amounts before you commit.
DIFC other fees and penalties
Administrative fees
- Registration, one offUSD 100
- Data protection, annual, regulated entitiesUSD 500
- Data protection, annual, non regulated entitiesUSD 250
- Data protection, annual, retailUSD 100
- Minimum paid-up capital, entities not regulated by the DFSAUSD 50,000
Important to know
Rules that apply
- The headline of USD 1,500 a year, about 5,509 AED, covers the licence alone.
- The four visas and the desk assume the co-working space at USD 250 a month, USD 3,000 a year, plus a one-off registration fee of USD 100.
- The innovation subsidy lasts two years. From the third year the rate depends on the number of full time employees, and rises to USD 12,000 a year above ten.
- The five to seven working days figure is the in-principle approval stage, not the licence itself.
- Two official pages describe the same offer and differ on data protection fees and on visas, so confirm both with the team.
Points to confirm before you sign
- The same Innovation Hub flexible desk is 250 dollars per month on the landing pages and 500 dollars plus VAT on innovationhub.difc.ae. Ask which rate is current.
- The innovation subsidy lasts 2 years on the offer page and 2 to 5 years on the main difc.ae page.
- Visa allocation on the first desk is up to 4 on the licence pages and up to 2 on the coworking page.
Frequently asked questions
Does DIFC include a workspace?
Where is DIFC and who runs it?
All prices and terms come from the free zones and may change at any time without prior notice. Free Zone Radar cannot be held responsible for any change, error or omission. Always confirm the final price and terms in writing before you sign or pay.
Get a quotation for DIFC
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What happens next
- 1Our setup expert partner contacts you within one working day, to understand your project.
- 2He sends you a detailed quote with the official price of DIFC, fees included.
- 3You decide. If the quote suits you, he handles everything until your licence is issued.
- 4
No email? Check your spam folder.
Go further
Nearby free zones
Sources
landing.difc.ae/innovation-license-offer · landing.difc.ae/ai-licence-europe-offer · innovationhub.difc.ae/the-hub/licencing-and-setup/innovation-holding-license · difc.ae/business/operating/data-protection/forms-fees/ · difc.ae, Companies Regulations, PDF
