Dubai World Trade Centre
(DWTC)

The Dubai World Trade Centre Free Zone holds a good reputation among foreign investors and big corporations as it offers them the best solution to set up and expand their businesses in Dubai’s Central Business District. The Free Zone regulated by the DWTC Authority (DWTCA) offers a well-regulated ecosystem that enables the companies to grow and compete globally. The DWTC Free Zone is home to more than 350 companies from more than 40 industries. The Free Zone is located in the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre and therefore the companies can get access to world-class trade events. A variety of free zone licenses, flexible workspaces, and the benefits of 100% ownership and repatriation of capital make the DWTC Free Zone a preferred choice among investors.

The Dubai World Trade Centre was established in 1979 and serves as a pivot of the businesses in the Middle East. The DWTC had an undeniable role in the development of the trade and tourism sector of Dubai since its inception. The DWTC was formed to make Dubai the global center of exhibitions, events, and conferences. The DWTC has been declared as a free zone in 2015 as per Law No (9) 0f 2015 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and the Ruler of Dubai. The Free Zone was formed to attract local and international investments and also boost exhibitions and conferences in Dubai. The DWTC Free Zone is not categorized as a Designated Zone by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) for VAT purposes. The Designated Zones are considered to be outside the UAE for VAT purposes and specific rules apply to the transaction of goods and services to and from the Designated Zones.

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

TYPES OF LICENSES IN Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

General Trading License: For all commercial activities across an unobstructed range of activities. Businesses are allowed to export, import, and distribute all such categories under the general trading license.

Commercial License: The license allows carrying out commercial activities which are specified in the license to export, import, distribute, sale and store all items that are permissible under the license.

Professional License: Under this license, you can perform the services listed in the license within the Free Zone and in other places in the UAE (subject to permits that are required in other jurisdictions). Typical services include general or advisory consulting, onsite repair, training, and HR and software implementation services.

Event management License: You can organize business or leisure events, conferences, incentives, meetings, exhibitions and conferences under this license.

Types of companies formed under DWTC Authority

The Free Zone offers a highly competitive, single-point of contact operation for corporations, affording them a unique and flexible offering to operate seamlessly, including as an onshore registered business, under an independent free-zone license, or as a dual-licensed entity from within the same zone.

Our attractive packages for startups and SMEs allow entrepreneurs to convert their business ideas into reality.

Free Zone Company (FZCO)

Certain required documents must be attested
A non-individual Shareholder requires additional paperwork.
All types of businesses requiring only a commercial office for operation can be established as a FZCO.

Free Zone Establishment (FZE)

Certain required documents must be attested.
A non-individual Shareholder requires additional paperwork.
All types of businesses requiring only a commercial office for operation can be established as a FZE.

Foreign Branch

The branch must be 100% owned by the Parent company.
Certain required documents must be attested.
All types of businesses requiring only a commercial office for operation can be established as a Foreign Branch.

UAE Branch

A valid registration from a UAE license authority is required to open a branch.

Certain required documents must be attested.

All types of businesses requiring only a commercial office for operation can be established as a UAE Branch.

OFFICES AND FLEXI-DESKS in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) free zone offers its clients executive offices and Flexi-desks in an iconic Sheikh Rashid Tower. The tower is the very first skyscraper in Dubai, built-in 1979. The building hosts Dubai Financial Market.

Flexi-desks are available any time, but offices may be subject to availability due to very high demand.

Free zone allows its clients to rent a desk or an office not only at its own premises but also at one of the business centers in One Central Development.

It is located within the World Trade Center as well and considered one of the most dynamic and fashionable business destinations of Dubai.

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ADVANTAGES OF BUSINESS SETUP IN DWTC

Perfect location in the heart of Dubai
No restriction on hiring foreign employees
0% income tax and 0% corporate tax
100% foreign ownership
100% repatriation of capital
0% export tax
No restriction on repatriation of funds and currency
Convenient combination of onshore and offshore operations
Stable and clear regulations

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

DWTC Free Zone has the following categories of business activities:

Trading
Services
Consultancy

A license can have multiple activities – you can go up to 10 or even more as long as the activities are from the same group.

It does not have any industrial categories. If you are looking for those, you may check RAKEZ free zone instead.

COMPANY REGISTRATION COSTS in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) can be proud of being the most affordable Dubai Free Zone. It has 3 packages:

Flexi-desk package for 31,300 AED (including 2,000 AED refundable deposit)
Office package with trading or service activity for 57,300 AED (including 4,000 AED refundable deposit)
Office package with general trading activity for 58,500 AED (including 4,000 AED refundable deposit)

If you rent an office from a business center in One Central district, the DWTC zone will provide you the license for 19,800 AED.

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) COMPANY REGISTRATION

Company setup in this free zone usually takes about 2 weeks. It can be done by business consultants in Dubai. Your presence will be required only once for signature verification.

You will need to provide the following documents:

Passport copy
CV with your professional background
A short business plan describing your activity

Upon company registration, you will receive:

Certificate of registration
License
Memorandum of Association

In case you require any extra documents, such as a certificate of incumbency or certificate of good standing, an additional fee of 3,000 AED per document will be charged.

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COMPANY RENEWAL in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

Renewal of the company takes place after 1 year from the date of registration. Renewal cost is slightly less than the setup fee – 27,300 AED for the cheapest package.

An audit is not required.

In case your company has registered for VAT, you need to provide your tax registration certificate to the free zone when you renew the company.

AMENDMENTS in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

Corporate amendments can be done any time after the license is issued:

Change of activity
Change of trade name
Shares transfer
Change of manager

Each amendment would have a different price. After it is done, the authority will have to issue a new license for you with the amended information. The new license release will cost 1,500 AED.

LIQUIDATION in Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

If you decide to close your DWTC company, you will have to obtain the following clearance letters:

Bank account clearance and closure letter
Clearance from DWTC finance department
Clearance from DU and Etisalat

You will also have to do a newspaper publication about your company closure in any UAE national newspaper.

Once everything is submitted, deregistration will take a few days.