DIFC or Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone
Compare DIFC and Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone on the same rows: starting packages at each visa count, licence and residency-visa timelines, renewal, facilities and remote paperwork. Every figure is read from the two guide pages.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
No like-for-like starting price is published for DIFC, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | DIFCFree zone | Dubai World Trade Centre Free ZoneFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | DIFC Not published: Not published | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone AED 19,825 12 months · calculator output |
| Lowest package price | DIFC Not published: Not published | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone AED 12,525 12 months · calculator output |
| Licence issued in | DIFC 3–5 business days | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | DIFC Not published: Not published | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | DIFC Not published: Not published | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | DIFC Non-regulated commercial, DFSA-regulated financial | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Commercial, Professional, Events-related |
| Facility options | DIFC Office, Coworking within DIFC | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Office, Coworking |
| Visa options | DIFC Not published: Not published | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | DIFC No | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Yes |
| Activity guides catalogued | DIFC Not published: Not published | Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore DIFC | Explore Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone |
Check before choosing
Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone
Confirm activity restrictions, premises and visa requirements for your case.
Read the Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone guideAsk an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
How are the prices compared?
Only package prices at the same visa count and term are ranked against each other. A calculator output, a licence-only estimate or a product flagged as not like for like is shown in the table but never used to name a cheaper side.
Which costs less on published figures, DIFC or Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone?
No like-for-like starting price is published for DIFC, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.