E-commerce Licence
The core CommerCity product. Lets you trade goods and services online, run digital payments, and sell to regional and global buyers. The natural choice for online retailers and marketplace sellers.
FlagshipOnline trade
Dubai CommerCity Free Zone Company Formation
The MEASA region's first free zone built only for online tradeRegister your company in the first free zone in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia built only for online trade. You get 100% ownership, zero tax inside the zone, and fulfilment warehouses run by DHL, five minutes from Dubai International Airport.
Excellent
MEASA's first e-commerce free zone
5 minutes from Dubai Airport (DXB)
Bonded free zone with on-site customs
DHL and Hellmann fulfilment on site
Dual licence option with Dubai DET
Excellent
Dubai CommerCity
What is Dubai CommerCity Free Zone?
Dubai CommerCity is a free zone built for one thing: online business. It opened in Umm Ramool, minutes from Dubai International Airport, as a joint project of the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority and the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, known as DIEZA. The build cost AED 3.2 billion and covers 2.1 million square feet.
Most free zones accept e-commerce tenants. CommerCity was designed around them. The site is split into three clusters. The Business Cluster holds 12 LEED-certified office buildings. The Logistics Cluster holds 105 warehouse units with fulfilment run by DHL and Hellmann. The Social Cluster holds restaurants, event halls and meeting space for the people who work there.
That focus is the whole point. If you hold stock, ship parcels, or sell across borders, the infrastructure is already on the ground. You are not renting a desk and sorting logistics later. You are setting up next to the warehouse and the runway at the same time.
Business Benefits
Why set up your e-commerce company in Dubai CommerCity?
CommerCity earns its place for one type of founder: the one running an online business that touches physical goods or cross-border trade. Here is what you actually get.
- Bonded free zone status, so imported stock sits under customs control until you sell it
- Fulfilment warehouses run by DHL and Hellmann, with pay-as-you-go pricing that scales with orders
- Last-mile delivery across the UAE handled through on-site logistics partners
- An eBay partnership that helps CommerCity sellers list and ship to global buyers
- 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor needed
- Zero personal income tax and zero corporate tax on qualifying income inside the zone
- A customs office on site, so clearing goods does not mean a trip across the city
- Office space that scales from a 7.52 sqm smart desk to a full fitted floor
An honest fit check
Is Dubai CommerCity right for your business?
CommerCity is narrow by design. That makes it excellent for some businesses and the wrong choice for others. We would rather tell you now than after you have paid.
Choose CommerCity if you
- Hold inventory and need warehousing near the airport
- Sell physical products online and ship parcels
- Trade across borders and import or re-export stock
- Want fulfilment and last-mile delivery built in
- Plan to sell on Amazon, Noon or eBay from a UAE base
- Value a customs office on the same site as your stock
Look at another zone if you
- Run a solo consultancy with no physical goods
- Only need the cheapest possible licence
- Sell services with no logistics at all
- Want direct retail access to the UAE mainland
- Have no plans to hold or ship inventory
If a lighter zone like IFZA or Meydan is the better fit for your budget or model, Riz & Mona will say so. We match you to the right zone, not the one that pays us most.
Licence Benefits
What comes with your CommerCity setup?
Every Dubai CommerCity company formation gives you the documents and access you need to trade, bank, hire and ship from day one.
E-commerce trade licence
Your official DCC licence covering the online trade activities you select. Valid 12 months, renewable each year.
Certificate of formation
Legal proof your company exists inside Dubai CommerCity. Banks, suppliers and immigration all ask for it.
Registered DCC address
A recognised address in the free zone, used for banking, contracts and official filings.
Memorandum of Association
Your founding document covering shareholders, activities and how the company is run.
Share certificates
Formal proof of who owns what. Part of your standard formation kit.
Establishment card
Your company's registration with UAE immigration. Needed before any visa is processed.
Visa eligibility
Sponsor UAE residence visas for owners, staff and family. Your quota follows your office or warehouse type.
Bonded customs access
On-site customs and bonded storage, so imported stock clears without leaving the zone.
Corporate banking access
Introductions to UAE banks that work with e-commerce and free zone companies.
Licence Types
Which Dubai CommerCity licence do you need?
CommerCity issues six licence types through DIEZA. Your choice sets the activities you can run and how you sell. Pick the one that matches how money actually reaches you.
Trade Licence
For import, export, re-export, storage and distribution of specified products. Suited to sellers moving defined product lines through the zone.
GoodsImport/export
General Trading Licence
The widest trading scope. Import, export, re-export, store and distribute across many product categories under one licence.
Multi-categoryFlexible
Service Licence
For consulting, advisory and other professional services delivered from the zone. Fits agencies and service arms that support online trade.
ServicesAdvisory
Industrial Licence
Covers light manufacturing, packaging and assembly inside the free zone, with access to the logistics infrastructure next door.
Light manufacturingAssembly
Dual Licence with DET
Lets a CommerCity company apply for a Dubai DET licence without renting separate mainland office space. The route to selling into the UAE mainland.
Mainland reachNo extra office
Not sure which one you need?
The licence you pick affects your activities, your customs treatment and your mainland access. Riz & Mona confirms the exact activity codes for your model before you apply.
Legal Structures
Company structure options in CommerCity
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
- One shareholder with full control
- A separate legal entity from you
- Limited liability on personal assets
- No minimum share capital to register
- Best for solo founders and single investors
Free Zone Company (FZCO)
- Two or more shareholders
- Flexible split of ownership
- Limited liability for every partner
- Scales as you take on partners or funding
- Best for joint ventures and teams
Branch office
- Runs under your parent company's identity
- No separate legal personality
- Parent carries full liability
- Must run the same activities as the parent
- Best for established firms expanding into Dubai
Pricing
How much does a Dubai CommerCity licence cost?
CommerCity sits above bare-bones free zones on price, because you are paying for warehousing, customs and fulfilment that other zones do not have. Here is a realistic 2026 picture. Treat every figure as indicative.
Licence only
AED 9,000 to 15,000/year
The e-commerce or trade licence and your registered DCC address. No visa, no warehouse. A lean starting point to hold the licence and a Dubai base.
E-commerce package
AED 25,000 to 40,000/year
Your licence, a smart desk or fitted office, and a visa allocation. The common starting point for founders relocating to run the business from Dubai.
Fulfilment setup
AED 40,000 to 70,000+/year
Your licence, office space, visas and warehouse or fulfilment access through the Logistics Cluster. Built for sellers holding stock and shipping at volume.
What moves your total cost?
Warehouse vs office
A smart desk is cheap. A dedicated warehouse unit with fulfilment is not. Your storage and shipping needs are the biggest single driver of cost.
Visa count
Each visa runs roughly AED 3,500 to 5,000, covering the entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID. Your office or warehouse type sets how many you can sponsor.
Licence activities
General trading costs more than a single-category trade licence. Regulated goods may need extra approvals.
Customs registration
If you import stock, budget for customs code registration and clearance. This is standard for a goods business and part of why the bonded zone earns its keep.
Annual renewal
Budget a large share of your first-year cost each year for licence, workspace and any warehouse lease renewals.
A note on these figures
All costs shown are indicative and move with your activities, workspace and visa count. CommerCity does not publish flat public rates the way lighter zones do, so the only accurate number is a quote built around your model. Riz & Mona provides a personalised quote at no charge before you commit to anything.
The Process
How to set up a company in Dubai CommerCity
Most e-commerce licences here issue within 1 to 2 weeks once your documents are complete. Here is the journey.
Day 1
Choose activity and licence
Pick your activities and the matching licence. Decide between an FZE, FZCO or branch based on your ownership.
Day 1–2
Reserve your trade name
Submit your company name for approval. It must be unique and follow UAE naming rules.
Day 2–4
Submit application and documents
Upload shareholder passports, proof of address and any corporate papers through the DCC portal.
Day 4–6
Receive initial approval
DIEZA reviews your file and issues initial approval. You then settle the licence and registration fees.
Day 6–10
Get your licence and company kit
Sign your documents and receive your CommerCity licence, MOA and share certificates.
Week 2
Allocate office or warehouse
Confirm your workspace, from a smart desk to a Logistics Cluster warehouse unit, and register for customs if you import.
Week 2–6
Process visas and open banking
Apply for residence visas and get introduced to suitable banks. A UAE visit is needed for the medical and biometrics only.
Requirements
Documents needed for CommerCity company formation
Having your file ready before you apply is what keeps the setup inside that one-to-two-week window.
The list is light for individual applicants and heavier when a company is a shareholder. Get the individual documents ready first, since they cover most setups. Corporate shareholders need their parent-company papers attested before you start.
Documents issued outside the UAE need notarisation and attestation before submission. Requirements shift by nationality and structure. Riz & Mona confirms your exact checklist before you prepare a single page.
For corporate shareholders
Certificate of incorporation, MOA and articles of the parent, a board resolution approving the setup, power of attorney for the signatory, and passport copies of all directors. Overseas documents need attestation.
Full process
15–25
Working days
From entry permit to Emirates ID card in hand, a standard visa runs about three to five weeks once your establishment card is live.
Visa notice Visa approvals and conditions are set by UAE immigration authorities and can change without notice. Riz & Mona Consultancy handles the full process on your behalf, from establishment card to Emirates ID collection. The only step needing your presence in the UAE is the medical test and biometrics.
Visa & Immigration
Your CommerCity licence lets your company sponsor UAE residence visas. The number you get follows your workspace. A smart desk supports a small allocation. A larger office or warehouse unlocks more.
- Investor or partner visa, renewable term
- Employee work visas for your staff
- Dependent visas for spouse and children
- Emirates ID registration for every holder
- Mandatory health insurance support
- Golden Visa guidance for those who qualify
Corporate Banking
Banking for CommerCity companies
UAE banks run close checks on any e-commerce business before opening an account. They look hard at your suppliers, your markets and your source of funds. A CommerCity licence with real warehousing and customs activity gives your file something solid to stand on.
Banks, timelines and what to expect
Banks that work with e-commerce companies
Wio BankDigital-first
Mashreq NeoBizSME-friendly
RAKBANKNewer businesses
Emirates NBDWidely used
ADCBGrowing SMEs
Dubai Islamic BankUAE residents
Realistic account opening times
UAE resident applicant2 to 4 weeks
Non-resident applicant6 to 12 weeks
Cross-border or high-volume trade8 to 16 weeks
Digital bank3 to 7 days
- Non-residents should open a digital bank account first to keep trading while the main account is reviewed.
- General trading and cross-border sellers face deeper review. Come with a clear business case covering suppliers, markets and volumes.
- Account approval and timelines are decided by each bank and are never guaranteed. Riz & Mona positions your file well but cannot promise a specific bank's decision.
Inside the Zone
Inside the Dubai CommerCity clusters
Affordable licences exist everywhere. What CommerCity has that others do not is a full e-commerce operation on one site, split across three clusters.
Free Zone Comparison
How does CommerCity compare for e-commerce?
The real question is not CommerCity versus every Dubai free zone. It is CommerCity versus the other zones an online seller would actually shortlist. Here is that comparison.
Not sure which e-commerce zone fits?
Every seller weighs cost, speed and fulfilment differently. Riz & Mona compares zones against your product, your volumes and your markets, then recommends one.
Start Today
Start your Dubai CommerCity company setup
From e-commerce licence to warehouse to bank account, Riz & Mona sets up your Dubai CommerCity company end to end, so you can focus on selling.
Free consultation•Indicative pricing upfront•Licence, visa and banking•Fulfilment guidance
All costs are indicative and vary by activity, workspace and visa count. Riz & Mona Consultancy provides a personalised quote before you commit.