Arakan

For companies

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

For firms serving clients

OnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA compliance

For setting up

ScoutPlanning your UAE setup

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
How the platform worksAll apps

Start from where you are

I'm setting up a company in the UAEScout — Choose the right free zone or mainland licence before you pay for one.I run a UAE companyComply — Know what applies to your company and stay on top of it, whether it's a trading firm, a DNFBP or licensed by a financial regulator.I'm a firm serving clientsOnboard · Shield · Ledger · Verify — Deliver compliance, bookkeeping or KYC for many clients from one workspace.I'm researching UAE regulationLexara — Read the law itself and get answers that cite the article.

Free zones

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGM

Business activities

Mainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup report

UAE law

Laws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

Learn

Regulatory updatesArakan Lexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Free — no account neededAll resources
Pricing
Sign inStart free

Products

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board complianceOnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA complianceScoutPlanning your UAE setupVerifySanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you

Solutions

I'm setting up a company in the UAEI run a UAE companyI'm a firm serving clientsI'm researching UAE regulation

Free tools & guides

UAE free zonesCosts and visas by zoneFree zone price indexFree zone cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMMainland licence activitiesBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklistSample setup reportLaws and rulebooksRegulatorsUAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulationsRegulatory updatesArakan Lexara WeeklyTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Pricing
Start freeSign in

Loading...

Free zonesAll free zonesBy emirateCosts and visasPrice indexCost calculatorFree zone comparisonMainland vs free zoneDIFC vs ADGMBest for startupsBest for freelancersCrypto / VASP licenceFree zone authoritiesSetup guideBusiness activities →UAE law →Tax and compliance terms →

Free zone tools

By emirate Costs and visas Price index Cost calculator Free zone comparison Mainland vs free zone DIFC vs ADGM Best for startups Best for freelancers Crypto / VASP licence Free zone authorities Setup guide

Related

Business activities Qualifying Free Zone Person UAE Corporate Tax law Get a setup recommendation

Get started

Every regulation that applies
to your business. Found. Checked. Actioned.

Start free How pricing works
Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 10 apps on one company record.

Platform

  • Product
  • Solutions
  • All apps
  • Start free
  • Pricing
  • Security

Resources

  • Briefings & Lexicon
  • Industry Scenarios
  • Free Zones Guide
  • Certification
  • Institutional Guide

Free tools & guides

  • UAE free zones
  • Costs and visas by zone
  • Mainland licence activities
  • Business activity look-up
  • Laws and rulebooks
  • Regulators
  • Regulatory updates
  • Arakan Lexara Weekly

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

10 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Verify

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDMCDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDMCDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZ2454ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAORAKEZ
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

Arakan-managed document storage: AWS me-central-1 (UAE).

  1. Home
  2. ›Free zones
  3. ›Dubai
  4. ›DFC

Loading...

Setting up in DFC?

Setup costs, licence packages, visas and banking

See DFC costs

Comparing zones?

Estimate your setup cost across every free zone

Open the cost calculator

Other free zones in Dubai

  • Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA)
  • Dubai Auto Zone (DUCAMZ) (DUCAMZ)
  • Dubai CommerCity (DCC)
  • Dubai Design District (D3)
  • Dubai Free Zone at Mina Rashid (DUQE) (DUQE)
  • Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)
  • Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)
  • Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
  • Dubai Internet City (DIC)
  • Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP)
  • Dubai Maritime City (DMC)
  • Dubai Media City (DMC)

Want help setting up in DFC?

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

Dubai Flower Centre (DFC)Free zone tax status and compliance

Dubai

DAFZA

The Verdict

Single-Purpose Perishables Hub; Narrow but Defensible Scope.

I. Statutory Basis

As a Qualifying Free Zone Person, this jurisdiction requires strict adherence toCore Income-Generating Activities.Governed under DAFZA's regulatory authority; activities are restricted to floriculture, horticulture, and perishable-goods import/export/re-export, giving a narrow and largely unambiguous Qualifying Income profile under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 Article 18.

Compliance Roadmap

01

Confirm the specific perishables/floriculture activity code covers your exact goods category before incorporating — the zone does not accommodate general trading

02

Maintain cold-chain and re-export documentation as primary evidence for Qualifying Income substantiation

Audit Hotspots

Attempting to use the zone for general trading or unrelated activities — DFC licences do not extend beyond floriculture/perishables

Underestimating setup timeline due to specialised cold-storage facility allocation

Jurisdictional Connectivity

Check your DFC setup

Scout scores Dubai Flower Centre against your activity, ownership and visa needs, with full setup costs, and compares it with every other free zone and mainland.

See costs and setup options
Global Parent

15%

DFC

0%

Live Node
Dubai Mainland

9%

Forensic Brief

Qualifying Income requires physical CIGA within the zone boundaries. Article 18 mapping is mandatory to maintain 0% status.