Dubai CommerCity

Most UAE free zones accept e-commerce as one activity among thousands. Dubai CommerCity flips that idea: the whole campus was planned around selling online, from the office towers at the front to the loading docks at the back. If your business is an online shop, a marketplace, or a company that stores and ships goods for online sellers, the zone was literally drawn for you.

The project is a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), which also runs Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai Airport Freezone, and Wasl, the Dubai government property group. It was announced in 2017 and began commercial operations in 2020. Licences are issued through the DIEZ system, so the paperwork feels similar to its two sister zones.

The site is split into clusters. The Business Cluster holds offices from a single smart desk up to a full floor. The Logistics Cluster holds warehouse units with their own truck docks, plus shared fulfilment space run by large logistics firms. A Social Cluster with food and retail sits between them, so staff from the office and the warehouse side meet in the same place.

The tenant mix leans towards regional e-commerce brands, B2B marketplaces, logistics providers and tech firms that serve them. Over the years the zone has announced partnerships with marketplaces such as eBay and has hosted fulfilment centres for operators including Hellmann and Tradeling. That matters for small sellers: you can rent a desk upstairs and hand your stock to a third-party warehouse in the same compound.

Recent news points to growth rather than standing still. DIEZ has reported very high occupancy across its zones in 2025, and Dubai CommerCity has announced a large second phase of offices and logistics units, planned for delivery from 2027 onwards. In 2025 Dubai also issued Executive Council Resolution No. 11, which created clearer routes for free zone companies to sell into mainland Dubai through permits, and that is useful for online sellers with local customers.

Visas are allocated by space, so a smart desk usually unlocks only one or two residence permits, while an office or warehouse can support a larger team. Some business cluster offices have been marketed with allocations in the double digits. Ask the zone what your exact unit allows before you sign.

The visa itself follows the normal Dubai free zone route: entry permit, change of status if you are already in the country, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping. With DIEZ the process is fully online, and most applicants finish within two to three weeks if they are in the UAE.

Warehouse operators should note that warehouse staff count against the same quota as office staff. If you plan shift work in a logistics unit, size the lease for the headcount, not just the pallets.

Being next to the airport and run by a government-backed authority helps, but banks still care most about your business model. E-commerce firms are asked about payment gateways, supplier invoices and where customer money comes from. Have your website live, your supplier contracts ready and a clear story about your sales channels before you apply. Local banks and digital banks such as Wio are common choices for small sellers.

The campus sits in Umm Ramool on the edge of Dubai International Airport, a short drive from Dubai Festival City, Al Rashidiya and the Business Bay area. Road access is through the Airport Road and Ras Al Khor corridors, and the nearest Red Line metro stations are Rashidiya and Emirates. Al Maktoum Airport and Jebel Ali Port are roughly 45 minutes away by road, which matters for sea freight.

For e-commerce, the short trip to DXB cargo terminals is the main draw, because fast air freight is how many cross-border parcels move. Last-mile vans can reach most of Dubai's residential areas quickly from here.