Dubai

Dubai South — formerly Dubai World Central — is a 145 km² master-planned aerotropolis built around Al Maktoum International Airport, the airport that will eventually replace Dubai International. It groups Logistics, Aviation, Business Park, Commercial, and Residential districts alongside Expo City Dubai, and licenses aviation, logistics, e-commerce, and services businesses under standard UAE free-zone benefits.

Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), established in 1985 and operated by DP World, is the UAE's first and largest free zone — 9,500+ companies on a 57 km2 site adjacent to Jebel Ali Port. It is the country's default home for heavy industry, manufacturing, port-dependent trading, and large-scale logistics, with a separate JAFZA Offshore regime for asset and IP holding.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial free zone of Dubai — established in 2004 on a 110-acre district off Sheikh Zayed Road. It hosts 5,500+ firms including ~75% of the world's top 50 banks, operates under English common law with its own DIFC Courts, and is regulated by the independent DFSA.

The International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) is Dubai's budget-friendly free zone, headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis. It is built around a broker-distributed model, issues licences in 48-72 hours, and is the cheapest entry point among the major Dubai free zones for solo founders, consultants, and freelancers.

DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is the UAE's largest free zone by registered company count, with 25,000+ businesses operating from the 67-tower Jumeirah Lakes Towers cluster. It accepts 600+ activities, runs the influential DMCC Crypto Centre, and offers 0% corporate tax for qualifying free zone persons plus 100% foreign ownership.

Orient Insurance is a Dubai-domiciled general insurer founded in 1982 and wholly owned by the Al-Futtaim Group. It is one of the UAE's largest motor insurers by policy count, leveraging Al-Futtaim Auto's Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Volvo dealer network, and writes a full general-insurance book across health, travel, property, marine, and corporate lines.

Salama is the UAE's largest Takaful (Sharia-compliant) insurer and one of the oldest in the world, founded in Dubai in 1979 and listed on the DFM. It offers cooperative-pool motor, health, family and general cover supervised by an internal Sharia Supervisory Board, with pricing broadly in line with conventional peers.

Wise is a digital-only money transfer service operating in the UAE since 2018, sending funds to 80+ currencies at the mid-market exchange rate plus a transparent percentage fee. There are no physical branches — transfers are initiated through the Wise app or website, and the service is typically 20–50% cheaper than traditional UAE exchange houses for major corridors.