Business setup in Dubai Logistics City for UK businesses and British entrepreneurs
- Service Overview
Business setup in Dubai Logistics City for UK businesses and British entrepreneurs
Dubai Logistics City sits within Dubai South, beside Al Maktoum International Airport and within reach of Jebel Ali Port. For a British freight, distribution or supply-chain business, it connects air and sea in one location. GateStone handles your licence, warehousing, visas and bank account from the UK, so you can launch in Dubai without flying out.
Proven Support for Business Owners
Can UK citizens open a business in Dubai Logistics City?
British citizens can register a company as an individual shareholder or through an existing UK holding company. You can start a new operation or open a branch of an existing UK logistics business. You do not need UAE residency before you start.
Can you own 100% of the company?
You keep full ownership of every share. Dubai Logistics City allows complete foreign ownership, with no requirement to hand a stake to a local partner or service agent.
Can you set up remotely from the UK?
For most activities, yes. We collect your documents digitally, submit the application and arrange your licence without you leaving the UK. A licence tied to warehouse space may need a site visit, which we arrange around one trip, along with the bank account and Emirates ID medical.
What documents are required?
Passport copies for each shareholder, a recent proof of address, a short activity description and your chosen company name. UK directors adding a corporate shareholder will also need certified incorporation documents. We give you a tailored checklist so nothing gets rejected halfway through.
How long does setup take?
A standard Logistics City licence is typically ready within one to three weeks once your documents are in order. Fitting out warehouse space takes longer on its own timeline. We tell you which licence types move quickest for your operation.
- SETUP QUESTIONS
Can UK businesses open a company in Dubai Logistics City?
Yes. British nationals and UK-registered companies can own a Dubai Logistics City entity outright, with no local sponsor and no Emirati shareholder. The zone was built for logistics and supply-chain firms. Whether you need a desk or a warehouse, the zone can house both.
- OUR ADVANTAGE
Why UK businesses choose GateStone for Dubai Logistics City company formation
With more than 1,000 clients supported worldwide and over 35 years of combined team experience, we are one of the few UAE business setup specialists with people on the ground in both countries, so you get UK-hours communication and Dubai-based execution on the same job.
You deal with an English-speaking team that understands how a British business operates, from HMRC obligations to how UK banks view an overseas entity. Our Dubai team then handles the local filing, approvals and government liaison.
Logistics City has its own activity groups for freight, distribution and supply chain. We match your licence to how you actually operate, so your permissions cover your work and leave room to grow.
A licence on its own does not run a logistics business. We arrange your corporate bank account, your residence visas and your ongoing compliance so you are moving freight, not chasing paperwork.
You get a written cost breakdown before you commit, with no hidden government fees appearing later. What we quote is what you pay.
- Why choose Us
Why choose Dubai Logistics City over other UAE free zones?
Logistics City is built for supply chain, with air and sea links close together and warehousing designed for freight. If your business moves goods between modes, few zones connect them as tightly. For founders who want a broader view first, our Dubai free zone guide sets the main options side by side.
Freight forwarding, third-party logistics, distribution, e-commerce fulfilment and supply-chain operations fit Logistics City best.
Logistics City is the strong choice for pure logistics and multimodal freight. If your business is broad trading or manufacturing, a port-based industrial zone may suit you better. We weigh the right ones against your model before you commit.
For a British founder, Logistics City offers full ownership, no personal income tax on your UAE earnings, and a base built around freight connectivity. It also gives you a residence visa, which unlocks local banking and long-term presence.
If you run freight, distribution or fulfilment, it usually is. If you are a general trader or manufacturer, we may point you to a port-based zone instead. A quick call is the fastest way to know for certain.
Professional services
Logistics, customs and supply-chain advisory firms license here and sit close to the operations they support.
Consultancy and advisory businesses
Supply-chain, freight and distribution consultancies fit the tenant base and find clients on site.
Trading activities
Import, export and distribution activities are supported, with warehousing on site. Broad general traders who need port access sometimes compare this against Dubai South freezone setup, the wider zone it sits within, and we help you judge which fits.
E-commerce businesses
Online retailers use Logistics City to hold inventory and fulfil orders close to air and sea links, with warehousing available on site.
Technology and digital companies
Logistics technology, freight platforms and supply-chain software firms fit the zone and sit near the operations they serve. Tracking and fleet systems also base themselves here.
- SETUP QUESTIONS
Business activities available in Dubai Logistics City
Logistics City licences cover freight and supply-chain activities. These are the ones UK founders ask about most.
- OUR SETUP PROCESS
How GateStone helps you set up in Dubai Logistics City
We confirm the exact activities your licence needs to cover, so you can operate legally from day one without paying for extras you will never use.
We match you to the right Logistics City licence based on how you actually operate. For air-freight-led operations, this is where we flag whether DAFZA free zone setup beside the airport would suit your supply chain better.
We prepare and submit your full application, handle the name reservation and manage every approval on your behalf.
Once approved, your licence is issued and your company legally exists in the UAE. You are then cleared to move to visas and banking.
We arrange residence visas for you and any staff, including the Emirates ID and medical steps.
We introduce you to banking partners suited to UK-owned entities and help you through the account opening, often the slowest part when founders go it alone.
- COST BREAKDOWN
How much does it cost to set up a business in Dubai Logistics City?
Cost depends on your licence, the number of visas you need and whether you take warehouse space. Below is how the pricing breaks down.
Your Logistics City licence is the core annual fee. It varies by activity, and we quote it in writing before you commit.
Each residence visa carries its own government and processing fee. The number you can hold links to your licence and any leased space.
Logistics City offers desks, offices and warehousing. A desk keeps first-year costs low, while a warehouse for freight needs more.
Your licence, visas and workspace renew annually. We set out the full renewal figure upfront so year two never catches you out.
We give you a single first-year total combining licence, visas and workspace, each line itemised. If your work is humanitarian or relief logistics, we can price a specialist option such as International Humanitarian City base beside it for comparison.
Opening a UAE corporate bank account
UAE banks apply real scrutiny to new companies, especially foreign-owned ones. We prepare your application so it meets what the bank expects, which cuts delays and rejections.
Banking requirements for UK directors
Expect to provide your UK proof of address, business background and a clear description of your trade and expected turnover. Most banks will want to meet you once in person.
Visa eligibility and residency options
Your Logistics City licence entitles you to residence visas for yourself, staff and dependants, subject to your licence and space. These give you Emirates ID, local banking access and the right to live in the UAE.
Annual renewals and compliance
Logistics City companies must renew the licence each year and meet UAE reporting duties, including corporate tax registration where it applies. We manage the calendar so nothing lapses.
Common mistakes to avoid
The usual errors are choosing the wrong activity, underestimating warehouse costs and picking the wrong zone. A general trading or manufacturing business, for example, often belongs in Jebel Ali Free Zone setup with its port access rather than a pure logistics zone. We catch these before they cost you.
- BANKING & COMPLIANCE
Banking, visas and compliance for Dubai Logistics City companies
- FAQs
Frequently asked questions about Dubai Logistics City company formation
Yes. A Logistics City company is fully owned by its foreign shareholders, with no local partner required.
Yes. Many clients run their Logistics City company from the UK and visit Dubai only when the operation needs it. Your residence visa does not force you to relocate.
Yes, and we help you do it. A corporate account is realistic for UK-owned Logistics City companies when the application is prepared properly.
The number is tied to your licence and any office or warehouse space you lease. A desk supports a smaller allocation, while leased space supports more.
A free zone company cannot sell directly into the mainland without a local distributor or a mainland presence. If mainland trade is central to your plan, a mainland company in Dubai is the route we would discuss instead.
Renewal covers your licence, visas and workspace. We give you the full figure at the start so it is never a surprise in year two.
It depends on who you sell to. Logistics City is better for international freight and distribution. Mainland is better for selling directly across the UAE. We help you weigh both against your customer base.
A Logistics City licence is usually ready within one to three weeks once documents are complete, with visas and banking following on.
Start your Dubai Logistics City company formation journey with GateStone
Getting a British logistics business into Logistics City is straightforward when someone who does it every week runs the process for you. Our UAE business setup experts handle the licence, warehousing, visas and bank account end to end, with a UK team you can actually reach. Book a free consultation and we will map out your setup, your costs and your timeline before you commit to anything. It is the same process we have run for over 1,000 clients worldwide.