Define the consultancy activity
Map the services you intend to provide and match them with the appropriate available activity.
IFZA consultancy business setup
Consultancy Licence in IFZA Dubai
Set up an IFZA consultancy around the professional services you actually intend to provide. Define the activity first, then build the company, visa and post-licence plan around it.
Start with the activity
Your licence should reflect the consultancy services the company will genuinely provide.
Setup route
IFZA professional licensing
Ownership structure
Foreign ownership supported
Activity planning
Match the licence to the real service
After licensing
Visas, PRO and banking readiness
The essential answer
What is an IFZA consultancy licence?
An IFZA consultancy is generally built around a professional licence covering the approved service activity. The important part is choosing activity wording that matches what clients will actually pay the company to deliver.
Management, technology and other specialist consultancy activities can carry different descriptions or requirements.
Define the service before choosing the package.
Start with the service scope, client market, owners, visas and any activity-specific approval requirement.
Professional activities
Consultancy activities that can fall within the IFZA professional route
Activity availability and requirements should always be confirmed against the current IFZA activity list before an application is submitted.
01
Management consultancy
Strategic, organisational, administrative or performance-focused advisory services.
02
IT consultancy
Professional advice covering IT, networks, infrastructure and related technology.
03
Science & technology consultancy
Specialist advisory work in science, technology and innovation-related fields.
04
Other specialist services
Use the activity that matches the real scope of work rather than the nearest-sounding label.
Choosing the jurisdiction
When IFZA can make sense for a consultancy
IFZA can fit a consultancy when the required professional activity is available and a Dubai free-zone structure suits the client, workspace, visa and banking model.
Your intended consultancy activity is available within the relevant professional licence scope.
A Dubai free-zone company fits how and where you intend to operate.
The shareholder, visa and workspace structure works for the planned business.
Any qualifications or external approvals connected with the activity have been identified.
The setup remains commercially practical after banking, tax, immigration and ongoing compliance requirements are considered.
Check the current route against IFZA's business activities directory and licensing overview before filing.
IFZA or another Dubai setup route?
Choose the jurisdiction around the activity, clients, visas, workspace and approvals — not the headline licence price.
Formation roadmap
How an IFZA consultancy setup typically progresses
The exact sequence varies, but most setups move through these core stages.
Confirm the structure
Review shareholders, company name, visa requirements, workspace needs and any activity-specific considerations.
Prepare the application
Compile the applicable shareholder information, identification documents and licence application details.
Application processing
The formation file is submitted and progressed through the relevant IFZA incorporation stages and checks.
Complete incorporation documents
Required company documents and electronic signatures are completed as the application progresses.
Licence and next steps
After licence issuance, move into the immigration, visa, banking, tax and operational requirements that apply to your company.
Application preparation
Documents typically needed
Requirements vary by shareholder, residence status and activity. This is a practical starting point for a straightforward individual-shareholder application.
- 01Completed licence application information, including beneficial ownership details where required.
- 02Passport copy for the shareholder or shareholders.
- 03Digital passport-style photograph.
- 04Emirates ID and UAE visa copy for UAE residents, where applicable.
- 05Proposed company names in accordance with the applicable naming requirements.
- 06Any additional corporate, qualification or activity-specific evidence requested for the particular application.
Budgeting correctly
What determines the cost of an IFZA consultancy company?
There is no useful single price for every consultancy. Budget around the licence, activity, owners, visas, workspace and any extra approvals you actually need.
The proposal should reflect the full operating setup, not only the initial licence.
Licence and activity
The selected professional activity and any additional activity requirements.
Shareholder structure
Individual or corporate ownership and the supporting documentation involved.
Visa requirements
The number and type of immigration requirements connected with the company.
Workspace
The facility or workspace arrangement required for your setup and visa plan.
Additional approvals
Specialist activities may require qualifications, approvals or further evidence.
Post-licence support
Banking preparation, visas, PRO work and other operational requirements where needed.
After incorporation
The licence is the start of the operating setup
After incorporation, the company may still need immigration records, visas, Emirates ID steps, banking preparation, tax/accounting setup and ongoing licence administration.
Plan these before incorporation so the company structure supports the way you intend to operate.
First Elite Global support
Build the licence around the consultancy you intend to operate
Share the service scope, target clients, owners and visa plan. First Elite Global can then map the IFZA route and coordinate the setup.
Activity review
Clarify the proposed consultancy services before the licence route is finalised.
Formation coordination
Prepare and progress the relevant company setup documentation and submissions.
Visa and PRO planning
Connect the incorporation with applicable immigration and government-service requirements.
Banking preparation
Prepare the company and business information required for a bank's independent review.
Common questions
IFZA consultancy licence FAQs
Is a consultancy licence in IFZA a professional licence?
Consultancy and service-based activities generally fall within IFZA's professional licensing route. The exact activity should still be confirmed before the application because different types of consultancy can have different descriptions or requirements.
Can a foreign entrepreneur own 100% of an IFZA consultancy?
IFZA promotes 100% foreign ownership for companies established through its free-zone structure. The proposed ownership and legal structure should still be reviewed against the specific application.
Can an IFZA consultancy company be incorporated remotely?
Much of the IFZA incorporation process can be completed remotely. Separate post-licence processes, including certain immigration, Emirates ID or banking steps, may require physical presence depending on the circumstances.
What documents do I need for an IFZA consultancy licence?
A straightforward individual-shareholder application commonly starts with the licence application information, passport copy, digital photograph, proposed company names and UAE visa or Emirates ID documents for residents where applicable. Additional documents can be requested depending on the shareholder structure or consultancy activity.
Can professional and commercial activities be combined in IFZA?
IFZA provides flexibility to combine professional and commercial activities in certain company structures. The specific combination should be checked before filing to make sure the proposed activities are compatible and permitted together.
Do I need an office for an IFZA consultancy?
Workspace requirements should be reviewed alongside the chosen licence, visa allocation and operating model. Do not assume that the same facility arrangement applies to every consultancy setup.
How much does an IFZA consultancy licence cost?
The total depends on the selected licence and activities, shareholder structure, visa requirements, workspace and any additional approvals or services. A case-specific proposal is more useful than relying on a headline starting price.
How long does it take to obtain the licence?
There is no dependable universal timeline. Processing can vary according to the activity, shareholders, document readiness, approvals and authority queries. The expected sequence and timing should be confirmed once the intended structure has been reviewed.
Plan the setup properly
Start your IFZA consultancy with the right activity and structure
Tell us what your consultancy will actually do, who will own it and how you intend to operate. We can help you map the IFZA formation requirements and the practical steps that follow.
