Dubai South Free Zone Setup (2026) — Costs, Beyond Hub Portal & Process

Dubai South Free Zone (منطقة دبي الجنوبية الحرة) is the aviation and logistics city built around Al Maktoum International Airport and beside Jebel Ali Port. In September 2025 it launched its digital-first platform DSBH and the Beyond Hub portal — the online gateway for name checks, applications, payments and visa tracking, with same-day digital licensing for straightforward files. It suits e-commerce, logistics, aviation, general trading and startups that want an affordable Dubai address near the airport. Note: Dubai South is not a Sijil partner zone, so the figures below come from publicly published fee information rather than a verified authority data file.

Per the published fee schedule: the Starter License (no visa) is AED 12,500 for Year 1 with a flexi desk included, renewing at AED 12,500; the 1-Visa Package is AED 19,000 in Year 1 (AED 16,000 renewal). The listed visa cost is around AED 6,500, with additional visas available up to a quota of 10, and processing runs 2–4 working days. Confirm on the official portal first: the platform is new (launched September 2025) and bundles may change, so verify the current schedule on the Dubai South portal before you commit.

Beyond Hub is where the application lives: check your trade name in English and Arabic, select your activities (multiple activities per licence at no extra cost, per the published terms), pick your package, and pay online or via flexible 6–24-month installments. Same-day digital licensing is available for straightforward files; visa processing then runs through the zone's immigration services. Dubai South also supports a mainland branch under Resolution No. 11 of 2025 (an AED 5,000 permit), useful if you need direct UAE market access alongside the free zone licence — see how in our DED e Services guide.

Dubai South supports activities spanning software development, e-commerce, management consulting, general trading, logistics, aviation, manufacturing, food trading and construction — strongest for logistics, aviation and trading companies. Banking sits with Mashreq, Emirates NBD and Wio Business; the published approval probability is around 88% with roughly 10-day account opening, rated Moderate difficulty, noting that banking relationships are still developing because the platform is new. Visas: Investor, Employment, Partner and Dependent types are available, with no refundable deposits required and visa renewal around AED 3,500 for two years.

Dubai South fits founders who need proximity to Al Maktoum Airport and Jebel Ali Port — logistics, aviation, import/export and e-commerce fulfilment — at an affordable Dubai price. Published pros: same-day digital licensing, a flexi desk at AED 12,500, and mainland branch access. Published cons to weigh: the platform is very new (September 2025 launch), banking relationships are still maturing, an FZCO needs AED 300,000 minimum share capital, and the location is a 40+ minute drive from central Dubai. Compare it against other logistics zones such as JAFZA and DAFZA, or browse the full list of UAE free zones. Ready to weigh your options? Start on /compare.