Three Free Zones, Three Completely Different Permit Systems
We moved a fintech startup from a flexi desk in DMCC to a full office in JAFZA last quarter. The company assumed it would take a week — sign the new lease, pack the desks, hire movers. It took 23 working days. Not because the physical move was complicated, but because JAFZA's trade licence update process alone ate up 7 business days, and the DMCC exit NOC added another 5.
Dubai's free zones are self-contained ecosystems. Each one has its own building management, its own security protocols, its own permit fees, and its own timeline. What works at DIFC won't work at DMCC. What DMCC accepts, JAFZA doesn't recognise.
If your company is relocating within or between DMCC, JAFZA, or DIC/DMC, this is the practical playbook. Not the theory — the actual steps, fees, and contact points you'll need.
DMCC Office Moves: JLT Tower Logistics
DMCC controls over 100 towers in the JLT (Jumeirah Lakes Towers) district. Moving between DMCC towers or out of DMCC involves a specific process.
The Permit Process
- DMCC Member Portal: Log in and submit a relocation notification at least 10 working days before your move
- Tower developer NOC: Contact your tower's developer (DMCC, Saba, Bonnington, etc.) for a No Objection Certificate — processing takes 3-5 working days
- DMCC move permit: Apply through the DMCC portal. Fee: AED 200 plus a refundable deposit of AED 2,000 for the service elevator
- Elevator booking: Each JLT tower has a service elevator booking system through building management. Slots are typically 4-hour blocks — morning (8 AM-12 PM) or afternoon (1 PM-5 PM)
- Security clearance: Your moving company needs to submit trade licence and vehicle registration to tower security 48 hours before
The AED 2,000 deposit gets refunded within 14 working days if no damage to common areas. But — and this is important — they inspect the service elevator before and after. Any scratches, scuffs, or damage to elevator padding gets deducted. Make sure your movers bring their own elevator protection blankets.
JLT Loading Bay Reality
JLT's loading bays are shared between commercial and residential tenants. Clusters J, K, and L have the tightest parking situations. Reserve your loading bay slot when you book the elevator — don't assume there'll be space.
Pro tip: towers along the lake side (Cluster T, V, W) generally have better loading bay access and less congestion. The inner-cluster towers on the boulevard side have loading bays that double as delivery zones for restaurants, which means competition for space.
Fit-Out Considerations
If you're doing any modifications to the new office — partitions, cabling, signage — you need a separate fit-out permit from DMCC. This is AED 500 and takes 5-7 working days. Submit this BEFORE the move to avoid sitting in an empty office waiting for permission to install your server rack.
JAFZA Office Moves: Industrial Meets Corporate
Jebel Ali Free Zone is a different beast. It's not just offices — it's warehouses, showrooms, light manufacturing facilities, and headquarters for major logistics companies. Moving here involves more paperwork than DMCC because of the industrial component.
Trade Licence Update (Mandatory)
This is the step that surprises everyone. When you move your registered address within JAFZA or into JAFZA, your trade licence must be updated to reflect the new unit number. This isn't optional.
- Submit the application through the Dubai Trade Portal (not JAFZA's website directly)
- Processing time: 5-7 working days
- Fee: AED 1,000-2,500 depending on licence type and amendments needed
- Required documents: new lease agreement, old trade licence, passport copies of partners/shareholders
Don't start your physical move until the licence update is at least submitted. Some clients try to move first and update later — JAFZA's compliance team doesn't appreciate that approach.
Warehouse Moves: A Different Scale
If you're moving a JAFZA warehouse, the logistics multiply. Forklift access, loading dock coordination, inventory management during the transition — this is where professional commercial movers earn their fee.
Typical JAFZA warehouse-to-warehouse move costs: AED 15,000-45,000 depending on inventory volume, racking disassembly, and whether you need temporary storage during the transition. Timeline: 2-5 days for physical relocation.
JAFZA security requires a gate pass for every vehicle entering the zone. This is separate from the move permit. Your moving company needs to submit vehicle details, driver Emirates IDs, and the expected entry/exit schedule at least 3 working days ahead.
Subleasing Your Old Space
Planning to sublease your old JAFZA unit while moving to a new one? You need a JAFZA NOC for subleasing. Processing: 5-10 working days. Fee: AED 500. And JAFZA has specific sublease terms — your subtenant must also be a JAFZA licensee or apply for a licence. This delays your exit timeline.
DIC/DMC Office Moves: Knowledge Worker Hubs
Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City share infrastructure and building management through TECOM Group. The process is more streamlined than DMCC or JAFZA, but has its own quirks.
Building Management Protocols
DIC and DMC towers are managed centrally. The move permit process:
- Notify TECOM: Submit relocation notification via TECOM's tenant portal, 5 working days minimum
- Building access: Building management issues a move permit after reviewing your moving company's credentials
- Elevator booking: Similar 4-hour block system to JLT. No deposit required at most DIC buildings — a nice change from DMCC
- Weekend moves: Available at DIC/DMC and strongly recommended. Most tenants are tech companies; a Friday-Saturday move means zero disruption to neighbours
DIC buildings tend to have better freight elevator capacity than JLT towers — many were purpose-built for commercial use, so the service elevators actually accommodate large items like server racks and standing desks.
Internet and IT Infrastructure
This is where DIC moves get interesting. Tech companies have server rooms, networking equipment, and specific ISP requirements. At DIC, du is the primary provider with dedicated business fibre. Etisalat coverage exists but is patchy in some towers.
Before moving:
- Contact your ISP minimum 2 weeks ahead to arrange service transfer
- If switching towers, your IP addresses will likely change — coordinate with your IT team
- Server room decommission at the old office and recommission at the new office should happen simultaneously on move day to minimise downtime
- Budget AED 3,000-8,000 for IT infrastructure migration if you maintain on-premises servers
Moving Between Free Zones: The Visa Question
This catches businesses off guard. If your company moves from DMCC to JAFZA (or any free-zone-to-free-zone move), your employee visas may need to be cancelled and reissued under the new zone's sponsorship.
Same zone, different office: Visa update only — change of address, processing 3-5 days, minimal cost
Different free zones: Full visa cancellation and reissue — AED 2,000-3,500 per employee, processing 10-15 working days per batch
For a company of 20 employees, that's potentially AED 40,000-70,000 in visa transfer costs. Factor this into your relocation budget before signing the new lease. Some companies time their move to coincide with visa renewals to consolidate the paperwork.
Cost Comparison: Moving an Office Across Free Zones
| Cost Item | DMCC (JLT) | JAFZA | DIC/DMC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move permit | AED 200 | AED 500-1,000 | AED 0-300 |
| Elevator deposit | AED 2,000 (refundable) | N/A (warehouse) | None at most buildings |
| Trade licence update | AED 500-1,500 | AED 1,000-2,500 | AED 500-1,500 |
| Fit-out permit | AED 500 | AED 500-2,000 | AED 300-800 |
| Physical move (20-person office) | AED 5,000-12,000 | AED 8,000-25,000 | AED 5,000-12,000 |
| IT migration | AED 3,000-8,000 | AED 3,000-10,000 | AED 3,000-8,000 |
| Timeline | 10-15 working days | 15-25 working days | 8-12 working days |
Also worth reading: our general office relocation guide for planning frameworks and our DIFC office moving guide if you're considering the financial district.
Weekend and After-Hours Moves
For office relocations, Friday-Saturday moves are the gold standard. Your team loses zero working hours, building common areas are empty, and elevator availability is better.
Weekend move premium: most movers charge 15-25% extra for Friday work. But the trade-off is worth it. A mid-week office move means half your staff is working from coffee shops while the other half is directing movers around their desks. We've done enough of these to know: pay the premium, move on the weekend, and be fully operational Monday morning.
After-hours weekday moves (6 PM onwards) are another option. Some DMCC towers restrict moving to business hours only — check with building management before assuming a 7 PM start is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to update my trade licence when moving offices in a free zone?
Yes. All Dubai free zones require a trade licence address update when you move to a new unit. At JAFZA this takes 5-7 working days and costs AED 1,000-2,500. DMCC and DIC are typically faster at 3-5 days. Submit the update as soon as you sign your new lease — don't wait until move day.
How much does it cost to move an office in Dubai's free zones?
A 20-person office move within DMCC or DIC costs AED 5,000-12,000 for the physical relocation. JAFZA warehouse moves run AED 15,000-45,000. Add AED 500-2,500 for permits, AED 3,000-8,000 for IT migration, and potentially AED 2,000-3,500 per employee for visa transfers if changing free zones.
How long does a free zone office relocation take?
The physical move takes 1-2 days for a standard office. But permits, licence updates, and IT migration extend the total timeline to 8-12 working days for DIC, 10-15 for DMCC, and 15-25 for JAFZA. Start the paperwork 4-6 weeks before your target move date to avoid delays.
Plan Your Free Zone Move
We've handled office relocations in every major Dubai free zone. Our commercial moving teams know the permit contacts, elevator booking systems, and loading bay layouts across DMCC, JAFZA, and DIC. Request a free commercial move estimate — include your current and destination free zone, office size, and preferred move date, and we'll map out the full timeline and cost.
