DAFZA vs DIFC
Dubai Airport Free Zone compared to Dubai International Financial Centre
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | DAFZA | DIFC |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Dubai Airport Free Zone | Dubai International Financial Centre |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Specialty | General trading, logistics | Financial services, fintech |
| Cheapest Year 1 | AED 28,500 | AED 23,000 |
| Cheapest Package | DAFZA Service | DIFC Innovation License |
| License Fee (from) | AED 15,000 | AED 12,000 |
| Visa Cost Range | AED 5,000-AED 7,000 | AED 6,000-AED 8,000 |
| Notable | Adjacent to DXB airport | Independent legal system (common law) |
| Website | www.dafz.ae | www.difc.ae |
All Packages Compared
DAFZA Packages
| Package | Year 1 | Visas |
|---|---|---|
| DAFZA Service | AED 28,500 | 3 |
| DAFZA Trading | AED 28,500 | 3 |
| DAFZA Office | AED 49,000 | 6 |
DIFC Packages
| Package | Year 1 | Visas |
|---|---|---|
| DIFC Innovation License | AED 23,000 | 1 |
| DIFC Commercial License | AED 77,000 | 3 |
| DIFC Financial License | AED 127,000 | 5 |
Verdict
DIFC is the more affordable option, starting from AED 23,000 compared to AED 28,500 for DAFZA. However, DAFZA may offer advantages in terms of general trading, logistics.