Compare Dubai Gold & Diamond Park and UAQ Free Trade Zone for General Trading & Import/Export setup. Side-by-side comparison of fees, processing times, substance, and bank approval.
Dubai Gold & Diamond Park vs UAQ Free Trade Zone for General Trading & Import/Export: Dubai Gold & Diamond Park starts at AED 15,000 (88% bank approval) and UAQ Free Trade Zone at AED 5,500 (82%). On Year-1 cost, UAQ Free Trade Zone is the lower-priced option.
| Jurisdiction | Baseline Gov Fee | Processing Speed | Banking | Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 15,000 | 3-5 days | Moderate | Gold, diamonds, and jewelry trading and manufacturing | |
| AED 5,500 | 1-3 days | Moderate | Low-cost free zone in UAE with minimal setup requirements |
Gold, diamonds, and jewelry trading and manufacturing
General trading is one of the most popular free zone activities and allows import, export, and distribution of a wide range of goods. Certain restricted items such as pharmaceuticals, weapons, and food products require additional approvals from relevant UAE federal authorities. The trade license must list the specific commodity groups the business intends to trade.
General trading qualifies for the 0% free zone rate on qualifying income, provided the goods are not sold to the UAE mainland without appropriate customs clearance. VAT at 5% applies to domestic supplies; re-exports from designated zones are zero-rated.
Trading companies should expect thorough KYC checks, especially for cross-border transactions. Letters of credit and trade finance facilities require established banking relationships. Banks will request trade references and may ask for evidence of existing supplier or buyer contracts.
Expanded retail wing with 50 new outlets in 2025
New gem certification lab partnership
Company setup in Dubai Gold & Diamond Park starts from AED 15,000 per year.
Dubai Gold & Diamond Park processes company registrations in 3-5 working days.
Bank account approval probability is 88%. Banking difficulty is rated Moderate.
Most UAE free zones including Dubai Gold & Diamond Park allow remote company incorporation. Bank account opening may require an in-person visit.
Dubai Gold & Diamond Park does not require paid-up share capital for most standard license types. Share capital is notional.
UAQ Free Trade Zone wins on 3 of 4 dimensions. We recommend UAQ Free Trade Zone for cost-conscious founders and Dubai Gold & Diamond Park if gold, diamonds, and jewelry trading and manufacturing.
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