Dubai CommerCity (DCC): setup cost, visas and licences

Dubai · DIEZ Authority · Est. 2020

E-commerceOnline RetailLogisticsDigital Services

Dubai CommerCity is a purpose-built e-commerce free zone located near Dubai International Airport, developed as a joint venture between DIEZ and Wasl Properties. Packages start from AED 28,945, supporting up to 25 visa allocations and moderate banking access. Spanning 2.1 million sq ft across Business, Logistics, and Social clusters, DCC provides end-to-end infrastructure, including dedicated fulfillment units, customs support, and last-mile logistics integrations.

Set up in DCC: talk to an adviser Visa and renewal costs

Fees last checked June 2026 · Licensing authority: DIEZ Authority. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with the authority before you pay.

From

AED 28,945

Year 1

Eligibility restricted

Activities are limited to e-commerce-aligned business — not suitable for manufacturing, heavy industry, or unrelated services.

Quick facts

Registered companies200+

Processing time18–18 days

Banking difficultyModerate

Dependent visasAllowed

Pricing packages

Smart Desk (2 Visas)

AED 28,945

E-commerce License · Smart Desk (7.5 sqm) · 2 visas

Renews at AED 28,945

Fitted Office (3 Visas)

AED 72,645

E-commerce License · Fitted Office (25 sqm) · 3 visas

Renews at AED 72,645

Business Cluster Large Office (5+ Visas)

AED 97,145

E-commerce License · Grade A Office (50+ sqm) · 5 visas

Renews at AED 95,145

Estimated

Logistics Cluster Warehouse Package (5 Visas)

AED 119,500

E-commerce License · Warehouse + Office · 5 visas

Renews at AED 98,000

DCC visa, renewal and office costs

Typical setup costAED 15,000 – AED 25,000

Annual renewalAED 10,000 – AED 18,000

Visas per desk5

Most visas in a published package5 (Business Cluster Large Office (5+ Visas))

Dependent (family) visaAED 4,500

Minimum share capitalNone for a standard company

Smallest office18 sq m

Flexi desk (Smart Desk) available for basic e-commerce licenses; warehouse and fulfillment packages require dedicated physical space. Visa quota scales with office/warehouse size, up to 25 visas for large warehouse operations.

Features

Mainland trading

Yes

Dual licence allowed

Yes

Crypto-friendly

Shared ownership

Yes

Coworking available

Yes

Online portal

Yes

Audit required

Yes

Tax and compliance analysis

Substance

High

Audit risk

Moderate

Forensic ease

8/10

The E-commerce Gateway; The 'Customs-to-Click' Forensic Trail.

DCC is a dedicated Designated Zone for e-commerce. For 2026, the primary forensic challenge is 'Last-Mile Transparency.' As a Designated Zone, DCC allows for VAT-suspended storage. However, the moment a parcel leaves the zone for a mainland customer, a 'Tax Event' occurs. DCC entities must sync their Shopify/Magento engines directly with their tax ledgers to ensure every mainland delivery is accounted for in the 5% de-minimis cap.

Statutory basis

Article 18 benefits for the 'Distribution of Goods' from a Designated Zone. Specialized for B2B/B2C cross-border trade with an emphasis on automated customs-to-tax reconciliation.

Compliance roadmap

Tax-Engine Integration: Implementing an automated 'Sentry' that flags mainland sales at the point of checkout for CT classification
Customs-to-Last-Mile Audit: Maintaining a digital link between the 'Customs Gate Pass' and the 'Courier Tracking Number'
Reverse-Charge Monitoring: Ensuring VAT reverse-charge mechanisms are properly triggered for high-value mainland deliveries

Common pitfalls

Mishandling reverse-charge VAT on mainland deliveries, leading to 'Double-Taxation' or fines
Failing to cap mainland B2C sales at the AED 5,000,000 threshold
Inadequate record-keeping for 'Returned Goods' that re-enter the Designated Zone

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2–3 business days

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Response within 2–3 business days

Tax and compliance

DCC tax status and QFZP rules →

Compare

Every free zone ranked by cost →

Activities

Which activities each zone permits →

Want help setting up in DCC?

Leave your details and an adviser will call you back about setting up in Dubai CommerCity. There's no charge to ask.

Common questions

How much does it cost to set up in DCC?

The cheapest published package for Dubai CommerCity is Smart Desk (2 Visas) at AED 28,945 for Year 1, renewing at AED 28,945. Costs scale with visa count, office type, and licensed activities.

How long does DCC setup take?

Typical processing time is 18–18 business days, though bank account opening usually adds further time.

Is banking easy to set up with a DCC licence?

Banking difficulty for DCC is rated "Moderate". Known banking partners include Emirates NBD.

How many visas can I get with a DCC licence, and what do they cost?

DCC allows 5 visas per desk. Published packages include up to 5 visas (Business Cluster Large Office (5+ Visas), AED 97,145 for Year 1). A dependent (family) visa costs about AED 4,500.

How much is the DCC licence renewal each year?

Annual renewal runs from AED 10,000 to AED 18,000, depending on the package, office and visa count.

What is the minimum share capital in DCC?

DCC sets no minimum share capital for a standard company, though some activities and entity types carry their own requirement.

Do I need a physical office in DCC?

Can a DCC company trade on the UAE mainland?

Yes, DCC offers a route to trade on the mainland, including a dual licence. Check the conditions for your activity before you rely on it.

DCC might be right — or your business might need something else entirely

Tell Scout what your business does and how many visas you need. It prices every zone that can license you, this one included, from the fees each publishes. Your shortlist is free.

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Dubai CommerCity (DCC): setup cost, visas and licences

Dubai · DIEZ Authority · Est. 2020

E-commerceOnline RetailLogisticsDigital Services

Set up in DCC: talk to an adviser Visa and renewal costs

Fees last checked June 2026 · Licensing authority: DIEZ Authority. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with the authority before you pay.

From

AED 28,945

Year 1

Eligibility restricted

Activities are limited to e-commerce-aligned business — not suitable for manufacturing, heavy industry, or unrelated services.

Quick facts

Registered companies200+

Processing time18–18 days

Banking difficultyModerate

Dependent visasAllowed

Pricing packages

Smart Desk (2 Visas)

AED 28,945

E-commerce License · Smart Desk (7.5 sqm) · 2 visas

Renews at AED 28,945

Fitted Office (3 Visas)

AED 72,645

E-commerce License · Fitted Office (25 sqm) · 3 visas

Renews at AED 72,645

Business Cluster Large Office (5+ Visas)

AED 97,145

E-commerce License · Grade A Office (50+ sqm) · 5 visas

Renews at AED 95,145

Estimated

Logistics Cluster Warehouse Package (5 Visas)

AED 119,500

E-commerce License · Warehouse + Office · 5 visas

Renews at AED 98,000

DCC visa, renewal and office costs

Typical setup costAED 15,000 – AED 25,000

Annual renewalAED 10,000 – AED 18,000

Visas per desk5

Most visas in a published package5 (Business Cluster Large Office (5+ Visas))

Dependent (family) visaAED 4,500

Minimum share capitalNone for a standard company

Smallest office18 sq m

Features

Mainland trading

Yes

Dual licence allowed

Yes

Crypto-friendly

Shared ownership

Yes

Coworking available

Yes

Online portal

Yes

Audit required

Yes

Tax and compliance analysis

Substance

High

Audit risk

Moderate

Forensic ease

8/10

The E-commerce Gateway; The 'Customs-to-Click' Forensic Trail.

Statutory basis

Article 18 benefits for the 'Distribution of Goods' from a Designated Zone. Specialized for B2B/B2C cross-border trade with an emphasis on automated customs-to-tax reconciliation.

Compliance roadmap

Tax-Engine Integration: Implementing an automated 'Sentry' that flags mainland sales at the point of checkout for CT classification
Customs-to-Last-Mile Audit: Maintaining a digital link between the 'Customs Gate Pass' and the 'Courier Tracking Number'
Reverse-Charge Monitoring: Ensuring VAT reverse-charge mechanisms are properly triggered for high-value mainland deliveries

Common pitfalls

Mishandling reverse-charge VAT on mainland deliveries, leading to 'Double-Taxation' or fines
Failing to cap mainland B2C sales at the AED 5,000,000 threshold
Inadequate record-keeping for 'Returned Goods' that re-enter the Designated Zone

Want to explore DCC in more depth?

Go deeper — instantly with AI, or with a setup consultant.

Instant · AI

Ask Scout's AI agent

Get an instant, personalized answer on DCC — cost, eligibility, banking, and compliance — scored against your specific business. No waiting.

Chat with AI now

Free account · instant access

2–3 business days

Speak to a setup consultant

Prefer a human? A licensed setup consultant from our network will review your case and reach out directly — no charge to inquire.

Request a callback

Response within 2–3 business days

Tax and compliance

DCC tax status and QFZP rules →

Compare

Every free zone ranked by cost →

Activities

Which activities each zone permits →

Want help setting up in DCC?

Leave your details and an adviser will call you back about setting up in Dubai CommerCity. There's no charge to ask.

Common questions

How much does it cost to set up in DCC?

The cheapest published package for Dubai CommerCity is Smart Desk (2 Visas) at AED 28,945 for Year 1, renewing at AED 28,945. Costs scale with visa count, office type, and licensed activities.

How long does DCC setup take?

Typical processing time is 18–18 business days, though bank account opening usually adds further time.

Is banking easy to set up with a DCC licence?

Banking difficulty for DCC is rated "Moderate". Known banking partners include Emirates NBD.

How many visas can I get with a DCC licence, and what do they cost?

DCC allows 5 visas per desk. Published packages include up to 5 visas (Business Cluster Large Office (5+ Visas), AED 97,145 for Year 1). A dependent (family) visa costs about AED 4,500.

How much is the DCC licence renewal each year?

Annual renewal runs from AED 10,000 to AED 18,000, depending on the package, office and visa count.

What is the minimum share capital in DCC?

DCC sets no minimum share capital for a standard company, though some activities and entity types carry their own requirement.

Do I need a physical office in DCC?

Can a DCC company trade on the UAE mainland?

Yes, DCC offers a route to trade on the mainland, including a dual licence. Check the conditions for your activity before you rely on it.

DCC might be right — or your business might need something else entirely

Tell Scout what your business does and how many visas you need. It prices every zone that can license you, this one included, from the fees each publishes. Your shortlist is free.

Get my free priced shortlist