Introduction

Dubai always focuses on building business-friendly policies. From providing tax-free environments to attracting some of the globe’s most sophisticated free zones, the city has remained firmly established as a world trade and investment hub. In 2025, Dubai launched another initiative, the One Freezone Passport .

This system enables companies to do business in numerous free zones on a single license, no longer needing individual registrations for each zone. This represents a significant departure from the way firms expand within the emirate, streamlining bureaucracy and offering greater opportunity for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational firms.

What Is the One Freezone Passport?

Dubai free zones were independent of each other. They each maintained their own regulatory body, licensing process, and approval procedure. While this provided companies with flexibility to select an optimal zone for their operations, it also raised a problem: companies with expansions across zones needed to obtain multiple trade licenses, resulting in increased costs and longer lead times.

The One Freezone Passport does away with this entirely. Companies licensed in one of the free zones can now move into other member free zones without needing to undergo another full incorporation process.

Louis Vuitton became the first adopter, combining warehousing in JAFZA with a headquarters in DWTC Free Zone. Previously this required two licenses, but under this initiative , it was only needed one within 5 working days.

This reduced compliance costs, saved time, and showcased Dubai’s commitment to business-friendly reforms. Louis Vuitton’s adoption demonstrated how global brands can benefit from the new framework, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a unified international business hub.

Why Dubai Implemented This Reform

The One Freezone Passport is not only about time-saving for companies, it is a step that aligns with the long-term vision of Dubai.

• Dubai Economic Agenda D33: The emirate aims to double its GDP by 2033. Facilitating businesses to grow is a supporting measure.
• Global Competitiveness: Cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Riyadh vie for foreign investment. Dubai required a competitiveness enabler. This passport offers unparalleled flexibility.
• Increasing Investor Confidence: Streamlined licensing by Dubai assures international investors that it is serious about ease of doing business.

Advantages of the One Freezone Passport

1. One License for Multiple Zones

Firms no longer have to register independently in JAFZA, DIFC, DWTC, or other free zones. One license serves the purpose of operations in several zones.

2. Time and Cost Savings

Applications take approximately five working days, as against weeks or months in the past. This reduces incorporation and compliance expenses as well.

3. Increased Operational Ease

Companies can tailor their configuration. For example:

• Maintain warehousing in JAFZA for logistics optimization
• Set up corporate offices in DWTC for reputation
• Operate R&D labs in Dubai Silicon Oasis for innovation

All through a single license.

4. Digital-First Process

Applications are processed entirely online, making the system fast, transparent, and user-friendly.

5. Stronger Market Positioning

This reform enhances Dubai’s global reputation as an innovation-driven business hub.

Limitations of the One Freezone Passport

While the system is highly beneficial, it does come with specific restrictions.

• Eligibility: Retailers, regulated financial institutions, and DNFBPs (Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions) are excluded.
• Consistency: Business activities, shareholders, and directors must be identical across zones.
• Physical Presence: Businesses are required to rent physical office space in secondary zones. Virtual offices or flexi desks are not permitted.
• Employment Rules: Employees cannot be transferred or newly employed in the secondary zone with this license.
• Warehousing Restrictions: Professional service firms are not permitted to utilize the framework for warehousing.

These regulations ensure compliance without misuse of the new framework.

How to Apply for One Freezone Passport

It is easy to apply for the One Freezone Passport:

Check Eligibility

• Ensure your company is already licensed in a participating Dubai free zone.

• Ensure your shareholders, directors, and activities do not change.

Prepare Documents

• Original trade license from your home free zone.

• Memorandum of Association (MoA) / Articles of Association (AoA).

• Shareholder & director details.

• Office lease agreement (for the secondary free zone).

Access the Portal

• Go to the Dubai Free Zones Council official website → dfzc.ae
• Go to the One Freezone Passport section. 

Submit Application

• Complete the online form.
• Upload the necessary documents.
• Choose the secondary free zone in which you wish to expand.

Authority Review

• Both the primary free zone (the one where you are already licensed) and the secondary free zone examine your application together.

Approval & Payment

• On approval, pay the government and licensing fees due, if any, through the portal.

Receive Unified License

• Within 5 working days, you are issued the One Freezone Passport license that covers operations within the selected free zones.

 Why This Matters for Dubai’s Economy

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): By smoothing  operations, Dubai becomes more attractive to international companies.
• Facilitating SMEs and Startups: Small enterprises, typically discouraged by bureaucracy, now face less difficulty in scaling up.
•  Enhancing Global Competitiveness: The reform makes Dubai stand out from competitors and entrench it as a gateway for global trade.
•  Increasing Synergy: Free zones cooperate instead of competing, making it a more streamlined ecosystem.

Challenges Ahead

Although the initiative is promising, companies should keep some points in mind:

• Eligibility Verification: Not every company is eligible, so companies need to ensure they qualify.
• Compliance Maintenance: Shareholders and directors need to be consistent, curbing structural flexibility.
• Office Requirements: Companies need to budget for physical office costs in new zones.
• Staff Planning: With staffing regulations limited, organizations require solid HR strategies. 

Such challenges imply that companies must plan their expansion strategy cautiously before applying.

Eligible Businesses

• Already must have existing free zone license in Dubai
• Same directors, shareholders, and activities in all zones
• Physical office rental needed in secondary zone (no virtual/flexi desks)
• Trading/industrial companies may utilize warehousing

 Not Eligible

• Retailers
• Regulated financial institutions
• DNFBPs (e.g., brokers, auditors, service providers)
• Professional firms using warehousing
• Firms wanting to transfer/hire employees under secondary license

Conclusion

The One Freezone Passport is a game-changer for businesses in Dubai, simplifying cross-zone operations with one unified license. It cuts costs, saves time, and makes expansion seamless—whether for global brands like Louis Vuitton or ambitious startups.

Ready to expand your business across Dubai’s free zones? Contact E-Startup today and simplify your setup!

FAQs

1. What is the One Freezone Passport?
A single license that lets companies operate across multiple Dubai free zones without separate registrations.

2. Who can apply?
Businesses already licensed in a Dubai free zone, with the same shareholders, directors, and activities.

3. How long does approval take?
Usually 5 working days via the Dubai Free Zones Council portal.

4. Who is not eligible?
Retailers, regulated financial institutions, DNFBPs, and firms using virtual/flexi offices.

5. Where to apply?
Through the Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) official website → dfzc.ae.