DMCC — Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

Four main types: service, trading, commercial and industrial. A service licence covers professional and consultancy work; a trading licence covers importing, exporting, distributing or selling goods; a commercial licence covers buying and selling several product categories under one licence; and an industrial licence covers manufacturing, including gold and precious metals. DMCC publishes more than 1,000 approved activities across 20 sectors, and every company must hold at least one approved activity. As a DMCC registered agent, we map what you actually do to the right licence type and activity codes before the application is filed, because a mismatch is the usual reason banks and regulators raise questions later.

Source: DMCC Authority — DMCC Business Activities and Licences: A Complete Guide (accessed 24 October 2026)

Three. DMCC lets you register a new company, a subsidiary of an existing company, or a branch of a foreign or UAE company. A DMCC Free Zone Company (FZCO) needs a minimum of one shareholder, who may be an individual or a corporate entity. A branch is an extension of its parent, so the parent carries full liability; a subsidiary is a separate legal entity with its own liabilities. We advise on which form suits your group, prepare the constitutional documents and file directly with DMCC.

Sources: DMCC Authority — Business Setup in One of Dubai's Leading Free Zone | 100% Remote | DMCC; DMCC Authority — Open a branch in Dubai's leading hub | DMCC (accessed 24 October 2026)

DMCC says the whole process typically takes around 10 working days, depending on how quickly documents are completed and approvals granted. Once set-up is complete, the trade licence is issued electronically within two to three working days. The process is digital, and DMCC confirms that shareholders do not need to travel to Dubai solely to sign formation documents; a UAE residence visa and bank account opening may still involve in-person steps. We prepare the file so it passes DMCC's compliance review first time, which is where most delays arise.

Sources: DMCC Authority — Business Setup in One of Dubai's Leading Free Zone | 100% Remote | DMCC; DMCC Authority — Documents Required to Set Up a Dubai Company Remotely: A Checklist (accessed 24 October 2026)

DMCC's published standard pricing (February 2026) is AED 20,285 per year for the business licence, AED 9,020 for company registration, AED 1,035 for the application and AED 1,825 per year for the establishment card, plus the cost of your office or flexi desk. DMCC also publishes bundled packages; its Basic Biz Package is AED 35,484 including VAT for the first year and covers registration, licence, establishment card and a special flexi desk. Share capital for a DMCC company is typically AED 50,000, which DMCC describes as refundable. DMCC's fees and packages change with its promotions, so we confirm the current schedule with the authority before you commit.

Sources: DMCC Authority — How Much Does it Cost to Set Up a Company In Dubai?; DMCC Authority — Terms and Conditions for DMCC Company Setup – Basic Biz Package (accessed 24 October 2026)

It depends on your office. DMCC links the number of visas you can apply for to the size of the office space you lease, so a flexi desk supports a small team and a private office supports more. Under DMCC's flexi-desk terms, a standard flexi desk is limited to three visas and may be used four hours a week; the special flexi desk in the Basic Biz Package carries one visa. If you expect to hire, we size the facility to your headcount at the outset so you are not forced into a mid-year upgrade.

Sources: DMCC Authority — How Much Does it Cost to Set Up a Company In Dubai?; DMCC Authority — Terms and Conditions for DMCC Company Setup – Basic Biz Package (accessed 24 October 2026)

Under the DMCC Company Regulations 2020, in force since 2 January 2020, every company must appoint both a company secretary and a manager, and must have its accounts examined by auditors approved and registered with the DMCC Authority, with the audit submitted within six months of the financial year-end. The licence must be renewed before it expires to avoid penalties, and eligible companies can renew for two, three or five years at a time. We act as company secretary, co-ordinate the audit and file the renewal so the company stays in good standing.

Sources: DMCC Authority — New company regulations in DMCC in 2020; DMCC Authority — DMCC Business Activities and Licences: A Complete Guide (accessed 24 October 2026)

For individual shareholders, DMCC asks for a clear passport copy valid for at least six months and proof of residential address, such as a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months, plus a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copy where applicable. DMCC may also request a business plan or other supporting information for the proposed activity. Corporate shareholders provide their constitutional documents and evidence of the relationship with their parent or group, and foreign-issued documents usually need to be notarised and attested before DMCC accepts them. We review the pack before submission and arrange attestation where it is needed.

Source: DMCC Authority — Documents Required to Set Up a Dubai Company Remotely: A Checklist (accessed 24 October 2026)