Dubai

The emirate the zones sit inside — and the D33 targets they are measured against.

Dubai GDPAED 972bn2025
External tradeAED 3.0tn2025
FDI capitalAED 52.3bn2024
Active Dubai Chamber members292.5K2025

Greenfield FDI projects

Announced per year · #1 globally every year since 2021

D33 targets

Free-zone contribution to GDP by 2030AED 250bnFree zones to contribute AED 250bn to Dubai GDP by 2030.
Foreign trade
AED 14.2tn (past decade) → AED 25.6tn in goods and services by 2033.
FDI
AED 32bn/yr average → AED 60bn/yr, AED 650bn cumulative by 2033.
Trade map
400 new cities added to Dubai’s foreign trade map.
Economy
Double the size of Dubai’s economy; top-3 global city.

Dubai Free Zones Council

Chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum · 11 member authorities

  • One Freezone Passport (Jul 2025): one licence, multiple free zones — first case Louis Vuitton (JAFZA + DWTC) in 5 days.
  • Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit (Oct 2025): free zone companies operate on the mainland for AED 5,000 per 6 months.
  • 0% corporate tax on Qualifying Income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person; 9% on non-qualifying income (de minimis: lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5m).

FDI by source country

  1. India
    21.5%
  2. United States
    13.7%
  3. France
    11%
  4. United Kingdom
    10%
  5. Switzerland
    6.9%

Share of FDI capital · 2024

FDI by sector

  1. Hotels & tourism
    14%
  2. Real estate
    14%
  3. Software & IT
    9.2%
  4. Building materials
    9%
  5. Financial services
    6.8%

Share of FDI capital · 2024