New Freezone Incentives—Up to 30% Fee Reduction for Startup
Set Up a Company in Dubai Design District (d3)
7,500AED
From
2013
Established
1,100
Companies
8
Max Visas
Moderate
Banking
Business Overview
d3 Overview
About d3
- Set up in 2013, Dubai Design District is the leading creative free zone in Dubai, focused on luxury, art, fashion and design
- A prominent address close to Downtown Dubai, surrounded by a creative ecosystem
- Home to 1,100+ companies and 20,000 creative professionals
Ideal for
- Design studios
- Luxury and fashion brands
- Freelancers, artists and creative agencies
Visa Details
- Quota: up to 8 visas
- Processing: roughly 12 days; for a DDA FZ-LLC, provisional approval needs 10 working days and registering 2 working days more, while a freelance licence needs roughly 2 working days
- Renewal: AED 5,560 once every 2 years
- Available visas: Investor, Employment, Partner, Dependent
- Visa costs: AED 5,560 for employees, AED 5,560 for investors, AED 5,000 for dependents
- Medical test from AED 450 (standard) or AED 850 (VIP) · AED 390 to type the Emirates ID
Banking
- Ease: Moderate
- Banks: Wio Bank, ADCB, RAKBANK, Mashreq and Emirates NBD
- Allow 2-6 weeks; a premium address is useful, but being ready for compliance matters most
Key Features
- Physical office needed: Yes, for companies
- Dual licence: Yes
- Shared ownership: Yes
- Online portal: Yes
- Co-working: Yes
- Audit needed: Yes
- Not offered: crypto, mainland trading or free zone to mainland
Share Capital
- Depends on the legal form and activity; check the incorporation documents with DDA/TECOM
Specialist Ecosystems
- GoFreelance (for creative freelancers)
- in5 Design (a startup platform)
- d3 Design Award (recognising the industry)
Latest Updates
- April 2025: The community reached 1,100+ companies, and an expansion is bringing 500,000+ sq ft of new premium space
- 2025: A DDA licensing decision confirmed standard licence segments and the AED 7,500 fee for freelance permits
- December 2024: Prices in the market differed, and certain consultants quoted roughly AED 40,000 for a licence
Freezone Cost Calculator
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Why d3?
Why d3 Stands Out
Creative Community
Networking and credibility come from a community of 1,100+ companies and 20,000 creative professionals.
GoFreelance Permit
Freelancers can get one for AED 7,500 per year.
Clear Fees
A standard company licence commonly costs from AED 15,000 per year.
Workspace Options
Micro studios start at AED 96,000 per year, while shared desks start at AED 25,000 per year.
Large Expansion
Plans unveiled for 500,000+ sq ft of new premium space.
Prominent Address
Being close to Downtown Dubai gives creative brands a real edge.
Packages & Pricing
d3 Package Prices
GoFreelance Permit Alone
AED 7,500 licence · No office included · Renews at AED 7,500.
0 visas
GoFreelance with 1 Visa
AED 7,500 licence · No office included · Renews at AED 10,520.
1 visa
FZ-LLC with Shared Desk and 2 Visas
AED 15,000 licence · Dedicated desk included · Renews at AED 44,020.
2 visas
FZ-LLC with Micro Studio and 4 Visas
AED 15,000 licence · Private office included · Renews at AED 117,020.
4 visas
Watch Out For
Points to Weigh Up Before Picking d3
Have Questions?
Common Questions
