Expo City Dubai Free Zone is a business zone built on the former Expo 2020 Dubai site. It is run by the Expo City Dubai Authority (ECDA) and aims to attract companies, start-ups, freelancers and institutions that want a modern, sustainability-focused base in the middle of Dubai's growth corridor. Entrepreneurs can set up a new company or open a branch, work from leased offices or shared desks, or obtain a stand-alone freelance permit without renting any space.
This page explains how the free zone is governed, which licences and legal structures it offers, how the setup process works, what documents are needed, and what to expect if your business involves food, shisha or alcohol.
The free zone was created by Law No. 14 of 2022, issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, on 7 July 2022. The law set up Expo City Dubai and the Authority that governs it, and gave ECDA the power to register, license and supervise every company and establishment operating inside the zone. A dedicated legal framework and set of regulations followed, endorsed in November 2023 by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Authority is officially listed among the free zone authorities of the Government of Dubai. Its role is to keep businesses compliant with the zone's rules while giving them a fast, digital route to licensing. More than 180 services are available through the ECDA Portal and the on-site Client Relations Centre, including:
The zone positions itself as a flexible alternative to older free zones. The main advantages stated by the Authority are:
Office space is part of the offer. Options include multi-building campuses, shell-and-core buildings with branding rights, whole floors, private offices, shared desks and co-working areas, plus a business centre with flexible workspace. Buildings are Grade A, hold LEED Platinum or Gold certification, and are connected to the metro and major roads.
Every company must choose the licence that matches its planned activities. ECDA's account managers help clients choose, and the full activity list is published by the Authority. The seven licence categories are:
| Licence | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Commercial Licence | Import, export, buying, selling and distribution of goods within the industry groups chosen on the licence. |
| General Trading Licence | The same trading activities, but across all industry categories, subject to applicable regulations. |
| Service Licence | Service-based work such as consultancy, hospitality, event management and training. |
| E-Commerce Licence | Selling products and services online. |
| Logistics Licence | Storage, transport, distribution, sorting, forwarding, clearing, order handling and inventory management. |
| Holding Licence | Owning assets and subsidiaries without running day-to-day operations. |
| Industrial Licence | Light manufacturing, packaging and assembly. |
Some activities need approval from an outside authority before they can start. Examples in the Authority's activity list include defence-related trading, space-related trading, virtual assets and mobile selling units, each linked to the relevant regulator. These requirements can change, so confirm them with ECDA before applying.
Two entity types can be formed under ECDA:
A leased space in Expo City Dubai is needed before a licence is issued. Once the space is confirmed, the process follows six stages, and each client is assigned an account manager.
| Step | What happens | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The client signs the offer letter, then submits the ECDA business setup form and supporting documents through the ECDA Portal and pays the non-refundable AED 500 application fee. | Client-driven |
| 2 | ECDA reviews the file, confirms the trade name is available, validates the planned activities and issues Initial Approval. | 3 working days (subject to third-party approvals) |
| 3 | The client submits the legal documents and any required government approvals and pays the registration and licensing fees. Sharing drafts with the account manager first is recommended, and an invoice follows once they are validated (or straight away if final documents are submitted directly). | Invoice payable within 7 days |
| 4 | ECDA completes the final review and registers the entity. | 1 working day after full submission and payment |
| 5 | ECD and the client sign the final lease agreement. | Physical or virtual signing |
| 6 | After a final compliance check, ECDA issues the licence, registration certificate and company card. | 1 working day (subject to signed lease) |
Initial Approval stays valid for 30 days, and the legal documents must be submitted within that window. The registration invoice covers entity registration, the licence, the company card and a lease security deposit. Legal documents are signed in person or by video call, and an attested Power of Attorney is needed with the application if someone applies on behalf of the shareholders, plus an original Power of Attorney at the signing.
| Document | FZ-LLC (individual shareholders) | FZ-LLC (corporate shareholders) | Free Zone Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECDA business setup application form | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Signed ECD lease offer letter (optional) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Passport copies of all licensed parties (shareholders, directors, managers, secretary) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| UAE visa and Emirates ID copies, if applicable | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Extra documents for controlled activities, if applicable | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Brand ownership document or franchise agreement, if applicable | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Parent company licence | – | – | ✔ |
| Specimen signatures of shareholders (ECDA template) | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Specimen signature of the company manager (ECDA template) | – | – | ✔ |
| Document | FZ-LLC (individual shareholders) | FZ-LLC (corporate shareholders) | Free Zone Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Association (ECDA template) | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Shareholder resolution to set up the new company (ECDA template) | ✔ | ✔ | – |
| Government approvals for controlled activities, if applicable | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ultimate Beneficial Owner declaration (ECDA template) | – | ✔ | – |
| Parent company licence valid for at least six more months | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Certificate of Good Legal Standing, issued within the last three months (optional) | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Incorporation certificate | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Shareholder resolution to open the branch and appoint a company manager, with delegated authority clearly stated | – | – | ✔ |
| Parent company approvals for controlled activities, if applicable | – | – | ✔ |
| Articles of Association of the parent company | – | – | ✔ |
The number of staff a company can register depends on the space it leases. ECDA issues this allocation together with the company card. The ratios below are guidelines and can vary with the activity, the layout and health and safety needs.
| Space type | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Office space | 1 employee per 9 sqm (about 96 sqft) |
| Showroom | 1 employee per 15 sqm (about 162 sqft) |
| Food, beverage and retail | 1 employee per 15 sqm (about 162 sqft) |
| Warehouse | 1 employee per 12 sqm (about 129 sqft) |
| Shared desk | 2 employees per desk |
Every employee of a licensed entity must also hold an ECD ID, in digital or physical form, and show it when ECDA inspectors ask for it.
Individuals who work independently, such as designers, writers, consultants, developers and other creative or digital professionals, can apply for a freelance permit instead of forming a company. The Authority lists more than 100 eligible professions and allows applicants to propose one that is not listed. No office lease is required, and the permit can support a UAE residence visa and a corporate bank account where eligibility rules are met.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Total fee | AED 7,000, which includes a non-refundable AED 500 fee |
| Processing time | Up to 3 working days |
| Validity | 1 year, renewable yearly for up to 5 years |
| Office space | Not required |
| Application channel | ECDA Portal |
| Compliance | ECDA may carry out compliance and financial checks during the permit period |
The permit must be issued in the freelancer's personal name exactly as it appears on the passport. A company name cannot be used instead.
Businesses that serve food, shisha or alcohol need extra approvals on top of an ECDA licence. They are handled by the relevant Dubai authorities, and ECDA issues NOCs to support those applications. The approvals differ for permanent outlets and temporary pop-ups or events.
Shisha layout rules are strict. The smoking section must be at least 100 metres from children's play areas, prayer rooms and public walkways, can cover no more than half of the outlet, needs a partition at least 1.2 metres high, and must include a charcoal and shisha preparation area of at least five square metres. Restrooms and service areas must sit in the non-smoking part.
Licensing questions an freelance questions at info@uaefreezones.com. The Client Relations Centre is on level 2 of the Women's Pavilion in the Sustainability District. Fees, document lists and approval conditions are updated from time to time, so check the latest ECDA guidance before you submit an application.
Expo City Dubai Free Zone gives investors and independent professionals a well-defined path to doing business in Dubai. Its mix of full foreign ownership, a large activity list, quick approval stages, flexible licence options and a stand-alone freelance permit makes it practical for many business sizes. The main points to plan for are the lease requirement for companies, the extra approvals for food, shisha and alcohol, and the documents needed at each approval stage. Prepare these early, confirm current fees with ECDA, and the setup can move quickly.
Yes. Law No. 14 of 2022 created a free zone inside Expo City Dubai, and the Expo City Dubai Authority (ECDA) manages it. ECDA has the power to register, license and regulate the companies operating there.
Yes, for company licences and permits a lease in Expo City Dubai is required. The only exception is the freelance permit, where leasing space is optional.
Initial Approval takes about 3 working days, final registration about 1 working day after full documents and payment, and the licence is issued about 1 working day after the lease is signed. Third-party approvals and document readiness can change the overall time.
An FZ-LLC is a brand-new company owned by individual or corporate shareholders. A Free Zone Branch is an extension of a company that is already registered outside Expo City Dubai, either overseas or elsewhere in the UAE.
The published fee is AED 7,000, including a non-refundable AED 500 fee. The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed annually for up to five years.
No. The permit must carry the individual's name exactly as shown on the passport.
It is the transfer of an established company from another free zone to Expo City Dubai, keeping its business history and original establishment date.
It is a mandatory identifier for every employee of an ECD-licensed company. Staff must be able to show it, digitally or physically, during inspections by ECDA officers.
Yes, but only after obtaining the required approvals. ECDA issues a NOC, and then Dubai Police handle alcohol licences while Dubai Municipality handles shisha and food approvals. Temporary shisha permits are limited to October through April.
No. ECDA and the government authorities can change fees, documents and conditions at any time, so confirm the latest requirements before applying.