Sergey Dimitrov 
02.09.2025 Dubai Gold and Diamond Park free zone business setup is designed for a very specific community: jewelers, gold traders, and precious stone businesses. The project opened in 2001 under Emaar Properties, and from the start it was marketed as a cluster where workshops, retailers, and offices sit side by side. Unlike general free zones that handle every type of company, this one has always been about jewelry and precious metals.
The location itself feels different from an industrial park. It is both a commercial mall, managed by Emaar Malls, and a regulated free zone with company registration services. For investors, that means customers walk through the showrooms while production continues in the back workshops. Visibility and business infrastructure are combined in one site.
For entrepreneurs in the sector, the advantage is clarity. Licenses are tailored to trading, manufacturing, or retailing of jewelry and gold. The regulatory framework is in place to support international investors while maintaining credibility in a sensitive industry. If your business belongs to this niche, setting up in the Gold and Diamond Park avoids the compromises of working in a zone designed for unrelated sectors.
Why Choose Dubai Gold and Diamond Park for Business Setup?
Dubai has many free zones, but very few are dedicated to a single sector. The Gold and Diamond Park is one of them. It was created to give jewelers and precious metal traders a base with the right facilities and regulatory framework. Instead of being surrounded by logistics companies or tech startups, businesses here are part of a cluster where everyone operates in the same industry. That focus is a real advantage if your work depends on credibility and proximity to peers.
About Dubai Gold and Diamond Park
The Gold and Diamond Park opened in 2001 under Emaar Properties, the developer behind some of Dubai’s best-known projects. It is now part of Emaar Malls. From the beginning, the idea was to combine retail space with workshops and offices, so that jewelers could design, manufacture, and sell in one place.
The free zone is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, one of Dubai’s main highways, which makes it easy to reach both from the city center and from industrial areas where raw materials are brought in. Its reputation has grown internationally, and today the park is home to hundreds of jewelers, from small designers to established international names. Being backed by Emaar and positioned as part of Dubai’s gold trade ecosystem gives it a stable place in the UAE market.
Business Activities Allowed in Dubai Gold and Diamond Park
The free zone focuses on jewelry and precious metals. Licenses are available for manufacturing — such as gold refining, jewelry design, diamond cutting, and polishing — as well as for trading raw and finished products. Retail showrooms are also licensed, which means a company can both produce and sell on-site.
Some activities require extra approval, particularly those involving refining or dealing with high-value commodities. But the scope is wider than just jewelry shops. Designers, gemologists, wholesalers, and specialist service providers can all operate from the park. One of the setup's main selling points is that, unlike in other free zones in Dubai, it lets companies combine manufacturing and retail under one roof.
Step-by-Step Dubai Gold and Diamond Park Freezone Company Formation and Registration
Setting up in the Gold and Diamond Park follows the standard UAE free zone model, but with some sector-specific requirements. The free zone authority reviews every application carefully, since the activities involve high-value goods. If the documents are prepared correctly, the process moves steadily and usually finishes within a few weeks.
The first decision is choosing the legal form of the company. The park follows the DMCC framework, which means you have three options. A Free Zone Establishment (FZE) is the simplest and is meant for a single shareholder. A Free Zone Company (FZCO) is used when there are two or more shareholders, up to a maximum of fifty. Existing firms can also set up a Branch, either of a UAE entity or a foreign parent, which allows the business to operate inside the park without creating a new legal entity. The structure you select will decide what liability rules apply and what corporate documents you must provide.
Required Documents and Timeline
The paperwork for setting up in the Gold and Diamond Park isn’t complicated, but it does come in two parts.
On the personal side, shareholders and directors have to hand in the usual items: a passport copy, a proof of address like a utility bill or tenancy contract, and a couple of photos. If someone is planning to take up residence in Dubai, then an entry permit is also added to the file.
The corporate side is heavier. If the shareholder is a company, the authority will ask for the Certificate of Incorporation, the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and the Articles of Association (AOA), and a Share Register showing the ownership split. A board resolution authorising the new entity usually goes in as well. In some cases, the free zone also asks for a Certificate of Good Standing to confirm the parent is active. Like everywhere in the UAE, details of the Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBO) also have to be declared.
As for timing, it’s fairly predictable. Retail or consultancy businesses can often get their license within two to three weeks. Manufacturing or refining setups take longer, sometimes closer to a month. If visas are included, expect extra days because immigration steps — entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID — run alongside the license process.
Remote Registration Option
One useful feature is that company formation can be handled remotely. The Gold and Diamond Park accepts applications online and through registered service providers in Dubai. Identity checks can be done through secure video calls, and agents are permitted to sign and attest documents on behalf of the applicant.
In some cases, original papers have to be couriered to the UAE, particularly if a corporate shareholder is involved. But most of the process can be completed digitally. This gives international investors the chance to secure a license while still abroad, and only travel later when visas need to be stamped. For many entrepreneurs, that flexibility reduces the cost and risk of entering the market.
Types of Licenses and Costs in Dubai Gold and Diamond Park Freezone
Licenses in the Gold and Diamond Park are designed for the jewelry and precious metals trade. Unlike larger, multipurpose zones that issue dozens of license categories, this free zone keeps the focus narrow. Investors can choose from manufacturing, trading, or retail licenses, depending on whether they want to produce, sell, or distribute. Service activities connected to the jewelry trade, such as design studios or gem certification, are also possible.
Visa Packages and Pricing Breakdown
The cost of setting up in the Gold and Diamond Park depends on three elements: the license type, the size of the space rented, and the number of visas attached to the package. A basic setup with a small office or workshop comes with a limited visa quota. Larger workshops and showrooms carry higher visa allowances, which makes sense because these operations require more staff.
Every company also has to register with the UAE’s e-channel system before visas can be issued. This is a standard requirement across all free zones. Each residence visa then has government charges attached, which cover the entry permit, medical tests, Emirates ID card, and health insurance. These costs are not unique to this free zone but are mandatory for anyone applying for visas in the UAE.
Exact figures are only available through the free zone authority or licensed consultants, since fees vary based on the space selected and the scope of activity. What is consistent is the structure: license plus facility rent plus visa costs. The advantage of the Gold and Diamond Park is transparency — packages are published, renewal charges are predictable, and businesses know what to expect when they scale up.
Dubai Gold and Diamond Park Corporate Tax, VAT, and Duties
The Gold and Diamond Park follows the same federal tax rules as the rest of the UAE, but with free zone perks that make a difference. Since mid-2023, the country has applied a 9% corporate tax once profits cross AED 375,000. Free zone companies, though, can still qualify for a 0% rate on income that stays within the free zone and ticks the compliance boxes set by the government. And like everywhere else in the UAE, there’s no personal income tax.
VAT is more straightforward. The rate is 5%, and jewelers or retailers inside the park need to charge it on local sales. International deals can often be zero-rated, so exports don’t carry the same burden. Once a business hits AED 375,000 in annual turnover, VAT registration is mandatory.
Customs are another advantage. Gold, diamonds, and raw materials can be imported into the park without duties, and re-exports move out duty-free as well. Duties only show up when goods are shifted into the Dubai mainland for local sale. For traders and manufacturers in this niche, that combination of tax relief and customs exemptions is one of the reasons the park remains attractive.
Dubai Gold and Diamond Park Company Formation: Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Choose This Free Zone?
The Gold and Diamond Park is built around a single industry: jewelry and precious metals. That specialization is what makes it attractive to some businesses and unsuitable for others. Here’s a clear breakdown.
Who should choose the Gold and Diamond Park (YES):
- Jewelry manufacturers who need licensed workshops for production.
- Gold and diamond traders dealing in raw materials or finished pieces.
- Retailers who want showrooms in a location that draws both residents and tourists.
- Designers, gemologists, and service providers tied to the jewelry and gemstone trade.
- International brands looking for credibility and visibility in Dubai’s established gold market.
Who should not choose the Gold and Diamond Park (NO):
- Freelancers or solo consultants searching for the cheapest setup.
- General trading companies outside jewelry, gold, or gemstones.
- Manufacturers in unrelated sectors (textiles, electronics, etc.) who need industrial space.
- Logistics firms or import–export businesses not tied to precious metals.
- Applicants from high-risk nationalities, since approvals may take longer or face restrictions.
- Companies that need VAT registration for broader commercial activity beyond jewelry and metals.
The logic is straightforward. If your business is part of the jewelry and gemstone value chain, the park provides facilities and a regulatory framework designed exactly for you. If your activity has nothing to do with that niche, the specialization becomes a limitation, and other free zones in Dubai — like DMCC for commodities or IFZA for general consulting — are a better fit.
Conclusion
The Gold and Diamond Park is not a generic free zone. It was built with one purpose back in 2001: to give jewelers and precious metal traders a place to work, sell, and grow. That focus hasn’t changed. Unlike zones that try to serve every type of company, this one is narrow by design — and that is exactly why it works.
For businesses in jewelry or gemstones, the advantages are straightforward. Workshops are already licensed for production, so there is no need to retrofit a space that was meant for something else. Retailers operate from showrooms inside a shopping complex managed by Emaar Malls, which means steady visibility. Offices are in the same place, so management, design, and sales all run under one roof. Being part of Dubai’s established gold market also carries weight when dealing with suppliers abroad.
The formation process itself is clear enough. Standard papers — passport, entry permit, proof of address — get the application moving. Corporate shareholders provide incorporation documents. Timelines depend on activity: a retail license is usually faster, while refining or manufacturing takes longer because of added checks. Costs follow a familiar structure: license plus facility rent plus visas. Nothing hidden, but investors still need to plan carefully.
It is worth saying plainly: this is not the right zone for everyone. A freelancer looking for the cheapest desk space won’t find it here. Nor will companies in industries far removed from gold or gems. Other free zones are built for that.
But if your business is jewelry design, diamond trading, or gold retail, the park offers credibility and convenience in one place.
Thinking of setting up in the Gold and Diamond Park? Talk to our consultants and get the process right from day one.
Yes. The authority allows applications to be submitted through its online system or through licensed service providers. Most of the process — uploading documents, approvals, even identity checks — can be handled remotely. The only point where a visit becomes unavoidable is when residence visas are issued, since medical tests and an Emirates ID have to be done inside the UAE.
The free zone itself usually requires fees to be paid in full. However, some licensed consultants in Dubai arrange installment plans for their clients, breaking the cost into several payments. This depends on the consultant you choose, not the authority.
Yes, but only if the trading relates to jewelry, gold, or precious stones. The license covers import, export, and re-export of these items. It is not a general commercial license for unrelated goods.
Manufacturing and refining are subject to extra checks. Businesses involved in gold refining, diamond cutting, or handling raw precious metals need clearance to make sure they meet regulatory standards. Retail and design activities are simpler and often processed more quickly.
