How do I register a company in DIFC?

You choose a company structure, define licence activities, prepare the KYC/corporate documents, and submit for approval. We manage the process end-to-end.

Can I do financial services in DIFC without DFSA authorisation?

If your activities fall within the DFSA regulatory perimeter, you typically need DFSA authorisation. We help you scope this early so your setup doesn’t create issues later.

What’s the difference between DIFC company registration and DFSA licensing?

DIFC registration forms the company and grants a licence for approved activities. DFSA licensing is a separate authorisation process for regulated financial services permissions.

What structure should I choose: subsidiary or branch?

It depends on ownership, liability, operational presence, and how you want to contract with clients. We recommend the best structure based on your group and activity plan.

Do I need an office in DIFC?

Office/substance requirements depend on your licence type and operational model. We align this with your visa plan and (if relevant) future DFSA licensing needs.

What documents are required to register in DIFC?

Typically KYC/UBO information, passports, shareholder and director details, and corporate documents if a shareholder is an existing company—plus a business description and activity selection.

Is DIFC suitable for fintech businesses?

Yes—DIFC is commonly used for fintech and financial market infrastructure businesses, especially where institutional credibility matters.

Can Consultrio help after incorporation?

Yes—visas, corporate tax readiness, compliance hygiene, and bank/EMI onboarding can be included as post-setup support.

How long does DIFC company setup take?

Timing depends on structure, activity category, and document readiness. We streamline submissions to reduce back-and-forth.

Can this DIFC setup be expanded into a DFSA licence later?

Yes—if structured correctly from day one. We build your DIFC entity with a licensing roadmap so the transition to Category 4 / Category 3C is cleaner.

How do I register a company in DIFC?

To register a company in DIFC you select the company structure and approved licence activities, prepare the KYC/corporate documents, and submit the application for approval. Consultrio manages the process end-to-end.

Can I do financial services in DIFC without DFSA authorisation?

If your activities fall within the DFSA regulatory perimeter, DFSA authorisation may be required. We help you scope the activity perimeter early so the DIFC setup aligns with future licensing needs.

What’s the difference between DIFC company registration and DFSA licensing?

DIFC registration forms the company and issues a licence for approved activities. DFSA licensing is a separate authorisation process for regulated financial services permissions.

Do I need an office in DIFC?

Office and substance expectations depend on the licence type and operating model. We align the office solution with your visa plan and any future DFSA licensing roadmap.

What documents are required to register a company in DIFC?

Typical requirements include KYC/UBO information, passports and details for shareholders/directors/signatories, corporate documents for corporate shareholders, and a business description with selected activities.

Is DIFC suitable for fintech businesses?

Yes. DIFC is commonly used for fintech and financial market infrastructure businesses, particularly where institutional credibility and a strong legal/regulatory environment matter.

How long does DIFC company setup take?

Timelines vary based on structure, activity category, and document readiness. We streamline submissions to reduce back-and-forth and avoid resubmissions.

Can this DIFC setup be expanded into a DFSA licence later?

Yes. If structured correctly from day one, the DIFC entity can be aligned to a DFSA licensing roadmap (e.g., Category 4 or Category 3C), reducing rework later.

Dubai’s leading financial free zone for finance, fintech & professional services

Register a Company in DIFC — Fast, Compliant, Bank-Ready

If you’re looking to register a company in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), you’re choosing a premium jurisdiction designed for financial services, fintech, investment structures, and cross-border groups.

Consultrio supports you A–Z: the right legal setup, correct licence activities, office solution, visas, compliance readiness, and a bank-ready onboarding pack—with a structure built to scale.

Get in touch

Get DIFC setup quote

Supported more than 150 founders

Licensed Corporate Service Provider

5 Star Google Reviews

Presence in more than 50 countries

Why register in DIFC?

DIFC positions itself as the leading international financial centre in the MEASA region, built around deep ecosystems across banking and capital markets, wealth & asset management, insurance/reinsurance, and fintech/innovation (including FinTech/InsurTech/RegTech via DIFC’s Innovation Hub). DIFC also highlights its wider impact on Dubai’s economy—stating that DIFC-led initiatives helped the financial services sector capture 52% of all FDI investments into Dubai (per fDi Markets data cited by DIFC) and reporting continued scale in the centre’s footprint (e.g., 8,844 active registered companies by end-2025).

1) High-trust jurisdiction for financial and institutional counterparties

DIFC is commonly preferred when you need credibility with banks, funds, family offices, and regulated partners.

2) Built for finance + fintech operations

The ecosystem (service providers, legal/accounting, compliance, and market infrastructure) is designed for financial and cross-border businesses.

3) Better “bankability” when your setup is clean

A properly structured DIFC entity with clear activities, governance, and a solid onboarding narrative typically performs better in compliance reviews.

4) Scalable structures for groups

DIFC works well for group HQ setups, multi-entity structures, investment vehicles, and regional expansion.

DIFC company types & structures

When clients ask us to register a company in DIFC, we typically assess these setup routes:

Get in touch

Operating company

A DIFC entity used to run day-to-day operations—sign contracts, hire staff, lease office space, and invoice clients.

Holding company

A DIFC entity primarily used to own and manage assets such as subsidiaries, IP, shares, and investments.

Investment / vehicle-style structures

A DIFC structure set up to hold investments or execute a specific investment mandate, tailored to the intended use and any regulatory perimeter.

Branch vs subsidiary

A branch extends the parent company into DIFC under the same legal identity, while a subsidiary is a separate legal entity owned by the parent.

Requirements to register a company in DIFC

1. Corporate and KYC Requirements

Shareholder(s), Director(s) and UBO details (KYC)
Passport copies (and UAE visa/Emirates ID if applicable)
Corporate documents (if a corporate shareholder is used)
Proposed company name(s) (availability check)
Selected licence activities + short business description

2. Office & facility requirement

DIFC setup typically requires a DIFC address/office solution aligned to your licence scope and substance needs
Office type (flexi / serviced / physical office) is selected based on visas, budget, and compliance expectations
We coordinate office selection and documentation to keep the registration timeline on track

3. Capital Requirements

Share capital requirements vary by structure and activity (and are higher where regulated/DFSA permissions are involved)
We set the share capital structure (authorised/issued) and prepare any supporting resolutions/filings where required

Process

Process to register your DIFC company (4 steps)

Step 1 — Strategy & structure setup

Select structure: new entity / subsidiary / branch
Define licence type + activities (aligned & bankable)
Confirm office/substance approach + visa plan
Build a clean roadmap (timeline + checklist)

Step 2 — Application preparation

Compile corporate docs + KYC/UBO pack
Draft activity descriptions and supporting rationale
Prepare bank-ready profile (model, ownership, source of funds)
Final QA to avoid delays and resubmissions

Step 3 — Submission & approvals

Submit the complete application and manage authority queries
Coordinate payments, amendments, and final approvals
Track progress and keep timelines on schedule
Confirm readiness for licence issuance

Step 4 — Licensing & post-setup

Receive licence and corporate documents + complete office steps
Open immigration file and process visas (if needed)
Support bank/EMI onboarding with the onboarding pack
Set up compliance hygiene and corporate tax readiness steps

Contact Us

Costs to register a company in DIFC

To keep your cost predictable, we align the DIFC legal structure, licence scope, office solution, and (if applicable) DFSA pathway to your exact operating model—so you avoid over-licensing, unnecessary recurring fees, and banking/compliance friction.

Request Custom Proposal

One time set up fees

Trade name reservation (if applicable): from USD 800
Incorporation / registration (typical private company setup level): USD 8,000
Establishment card + initial deposits (only if you need visas): from ~USD 618 + ~USD 680 deposit
DFSA application fee (only if regulated — e.g., Cat 4 / Cat 3C): USD 15,000–70,000

Annual fees

DIFC commercial / operating licence renewal (typical private company level): USD 12,000 / year
Data Protection notification & renewals (if processing personal data): USD 250–1,250 initial; USD 100–500 renewal (depends on category)
Office lease / business centre package (required substance): varies by space & building
Ongoing visa renewals + medical / Emirates ID (if visas): per person, varies

Corporate Tax in DIFC

UAE Corporate Tax applies to DIFC entities, and DIFC companies must still complete tax registration, maintain proper accounting records, and file Corporate Tax returns in line with the UAE Corporate Tax framework.

A DIFC entity that qualifies as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) may benefit from:

0% Corporate Tax on Qualifying Income, and
9% Corporate Tax on Taxable Income that is not Qualifying Income, subject to meeting the required conditions.

If a DIFC entity does not qualify as a QFZP (or elects out), the standard UAE Corporate Tax rates generally apply:

0% up to AED 375,000, and
9% above AED 375,000.

Contact Us

How Consultrio supports you from A to Z (DIFC company setup)

End-to-end support

1. Strategy & structure setup

Select the right setup route: new DIFC entity / subsidiary / branch
Confirm licence type + activities (accurate, compliant, bankable)
Plan office/substance and visa approach to match operations
Structure share capital and governance for scalability (and future licensing if needed)

2. Application preparation

Compile corporate documents + KYC/UBO pack (clean, consistent, submission-ready)
Draft clear business and activity descriptions to speed up review
Prepare a bank-ready onboarding profile (model, ownership, source of funds)
Final QA to reduce delays, resubmissions, and compliance friction

3. Approval, licensing & post-setup

Manage DIFC approvals and licence issuance end-to-end
Collect corporate documents and confirm office allocation/lease steps
Open immigration file and coordinate visas (if required)
Support bank/EMI onboarding, Corporate Tax readiness, and ongoing compliance hygiene

Register a Company in DIFC—Fast, Compliant, Bank-Ready

We help founders and international groups register a company in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) end-to-end: the right structure (new entity / subsidiary / branch), correct licence activities, smooth approvals, DIFC office solution, visas, and a bank-ready onboarding pack. Built for finance, fintech and professional services—with a clear pathway to DFSA licensing later (e.g., Category 4 / Category 3C).

Get Started Now