DMCC or DIFC
Compare DMCC's trading and commodities free zone with DIFC's financial centre, which runs its own common-law courts and has the DFSA regulating financial activity. They serve different kinds of business.
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 | DMCCFree zone | DIFCFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | DMCC AED 43,780 12 months · published package | DIFC Not published: Not published |
| Lowest package price | DMCC AED 35,484 12 months · published package | DIFC Not published: Not published |
| Licence issued in | DMCC 2 weeks Company setup is described as usually taking about two weeks. | DIFC 3–5 business days |
| Residency visa in | DMCC 0–20 business days The employee visa guide allows up to 20 working days. | DIFC Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | DMCC AED 20,265 Trading or service licence renewal for one year is AED 20,265. | DIFC Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | DMCC Trading, Service, Industrial | DIFC Non-regulated commercial, DFSA-regulated financial |
| Facility options | DMCC Flexi desk, Office, Retail | DIFC Office, Coworking within DIFC |
| Visa options | DMCC Not published: Not published | DIFC Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | DMCC No | DIFC No |
| Activity guides catalogued | DMCC Not published: Not published | DIFC Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore DMCC | Explore DIFC |
Check before choosing
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FAQ
Which suits a regulated financial business?
DIFC is built for financial services, with the DFSA supervising regulated activity and DIFC Courts applying common law. DMCC focuses on trading and commodities rather than regulated finance.
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, DMCC or DIFC?
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.