A Strategic Gateway for Specialized Business Operations in Dubai

Trakhees, the regulatory arm of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), governs a collection of specialized free zones and business districts in Dubai, including areas within Dubai Maritime City, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Heights, and Dragon Mart. It provides licensing, regulation, and infrastructure support for companies operating across engineering, retail, trading, maritime, and real estate sectors. Trakhees offers a niche yet strategically vital platform for investors seeking tailored licensing and business-friendly regulatory frameworks.

Core Benefits for All Businesses

Diverse Sector Access:

• Operates in non-traditional yet high-value zones like the Nakheel-developed areas, JAFZA South, and Dubai Maritime City.
• Suitable for SMEs, specialized traders, marine services, engineering consultancies, and wellness brands.

Investor-Friendly Setup:

• 100% foreign ownership with full profit and capital repatriation.
• 0% corporate tax on qualifying Free Zone income and no personal income tax, under UAE Free Zone regulations.
• Simplified company formation process through a centralized digital platform.

PCFC Alignment & Government Backing:

• Integrated with Dubai’s ports, customs, and logistics network, enabling streamlined trade, compliance, and business operations.
• Operates under Dubai government authority, ensuring regulatory credibility and international investor confidence.

Benefits to Different Industries

Retail & Trading Businesses

Strategic Retail Zones:       

• Licensing is available for retail stores, showrooms, and trading operations within prime locations like Dragon Mart, Palm Jumeirah, and Jumeirah Heights. Dragon Mart alone is recognized as the largest Chinese trading hub outside China, with over 4,000 shops and 65,000+ daily visitors, providing access to the MENA market. Palm Jumeirah offers high-end retail opportunities within luxurious communities like Nakheel Mall (4.5 million sq ft, 300+ outlets) and Golden Mile Galleria, attracting a high-income resident and tourist base.

Operational Ease:

• Benefit from simplified logistics, licensing renewals, and customs integration facilitated by PCFC (Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation) platforms. PCFC’s digital services offer 24/7 access to over 700 e-services, streamlining processes like license amendments and renewals, and reducing paperwork for trading operations.
• Ability to operate showrooms with integrated warehousing and fulfillment capabilities under one roof. This combined approach leverages Dubai’s advanced warehousing infrastructure, which includes large integrated logistics hubs like Technopark (over 500,000 sqm of adaptable warehouse space), supporting efficient inventory management and order fulfillment.

Maritime & Marine Services

Dubai Maritime City Access:

• Trakhees regulates business activities in Dubai Maritime City (DMC), a world-class hub for ship repair, maritime engineering, vessel management, and marine tech services. As of 2022, DMC hosted 280 registered businesses leasing 340 units and employing 7,500 professionals.
• Offers custom-built plots for shipbuilding, dry docking, and offshore oil & gas marine support, including workshops from 260 sqm to 2,522 sqm (yacht repair). DMC has significantly boosted its ship handling capacity from 400 to 1,000 vessels per year (as of September 2024), with 465 vessels repaired in the first 9 months of 2022 alone. The Industrial Precinct features 19 ship-repair plots and two ship lifts (3,000 and 6,000 tons capacity).

Support for Vessel Registration & Services:

• Licensing is available for marine consultancies, classification services, shipping agents, and yacht services. The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) provides comprehensive services for marine vessel registration and licensing, offering 24/7 online access and a streamlined process for various vessel types.
• Close cooperation with DMA ensures operational compliance and safety, facilitating permits and certifications for maritime activities, thereby enhancing the overall safety and regulatory adherence within Dubai’s waters. This strong regulatory framework contributes to Dubai’s goal of becoming a top global maritime capital, with the maritime sector contributing AED 26.9 billion to Dubai’s GDP in 2015, and significant ongoing investment.

Engineering, Construction & Consultancy Firms

Built Environment Licensing:

• Enables engineering consultants, project management firms, architects, and construction specialists to operate in Nakheel-owned developments. Nakheel has a substantial project pipeline, with major ongoing projects like Dubai Islands (expected full completion by 2030), featuring 80+ luxury resorts and 20+ km of beachfront, and Palm Jebel Ali (handovers starting in 2027), indicating a sustained demand for services.
• Access to a growing pipeline of infrastructure and community projects in premium residential and commercial districts. The UAE construction market is projected to grow by 6.2% annually to reach AED 189.59 billion in 2025, with a 4.8% CAGR from 2025-2029 to AED 242.33 billion. Dubai also has $83 billion in active projects and a $323 billion pipeline in planning phases (as of early 2025).

Project-Based Flexibility:

• Offers licensing flexibility for short-term and long-term projects, including temporary site offices, consultancy services, and supervision contracts. This aligns with the dynamic nature of Dubai’s construction sector, where major infrastructure developments like the Dubai Metro Blue Line ($5.8 billion) and the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement (13 km) are under execution with phased completions.
• The UAE’s management consulting services market, which includes construction consultancies, is estimated at USD 10.73 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 13.34 billion by 2030 (4.46% CAGR), highlighting a robust market for flexible consultancy engagements.

Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Services

Community Integration:

• Ideal for salons, spas, clinics, gyms, and wellness centers targeting residents and tourists in premium Nakheel zones like Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Village. Palm Jumeirah alone attracts millions of tourists annually and features high-income residential communities. The broader Dubai population stands at 4 million (as of 2025), with 92% expatriates, ensuring a diverse consumer base.
• Zoning approvals and licensing are tailored to lifestyle brands, streamlining setup. The UAE health and wellness market is projected to reach USD 28.01 billion by 2033 (3.94% CAGR), driven by increasing health consciousness and a growing expatriate community.

Tourism-Driven Footfall:

• Operate in high-end residential and hospitality districts, ensuring a strong consumer base and visibility. Dubai’s thriving tourism sector significantly boosts demand for wellness services, with the UAE wellness tourism market projected to reach USD 12.5 billion by 2030 (11.7% CAGR).
• Spas and salons in the KSA & UAE market were valued at USD 1.9 billion in 2024, expected to grow to USD 4.3 billion by 2034 (8.4% CAGR). The UAE health and fitness club market reached USD 484.4 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 742.9 million by 2033 (4.37% CAGR), indicating robust local demand augmented by tourism.

Real Estate & Facility Management

Real Estate Licensing Support:

• Licensing options are available for real estate developers, brokers, property management firms, and short-term rental operators in Trakhees-regulated zones. The UAE residential real estate market is projected to grow from USD 36.32 billion in 2024 to USD 52.32 billion by 2030 (CAGR of 5.1%), with Dubai capturing 45% of the UAE market share in 2024.
• Short-term rentals are experiencing robust growth, with daily luxury apartment rates in prime areas like Palm Jumeirah reaching up to AED 6,960 per night, reflecting a 14.6% annual increase.

Smart Community Integration:

• Operate within managed smart communities with modern infrastructure, security, and digital governance. The UAE property and community management market is valued at USD 3.82 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 7.68 billion by 2030 (CAGR of 12.3%).
• Smart building solutions in Dubai offer up to 30% reduction in energy consumption and enhanced operational efficiency, aligning with Dubai’s push for sustainable urban development. These communities prioritize quality of life, security with round-the-clock surveillance, and offer a wide range of amenities.

Why Choose Trakhees Free Zone for Your Business

Specialized Benefits:

• Regulatory Efficiency: Access a centralized portal for licensing, building permits, inspections, and operational approvals. Trakhees’ streamlined processes, including 24/7 online access to over 700 e-services, significantly reduce paperwork and processing times, leading to up to 40% faster project approvals for accredited firms.
• Access to Iconic Locations: Operate within high-visibility zones like Palm Jumeirah, The World Islands, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart (the largest Chinese trading hub outside China with over 4,000 shops and 65,000+ daily visitors), and Dubai Maritime City (a hub for 7,500 maritime professionals handling 1,000 vessels per year).
• Sector-Specific Focus: Benefit from tailored regulatory support across specialized sectors, including wellness, maritime, engineering, and community services. Trakhees is proactively supporting innovative construction methods like 3D printing, having issued the first 3D printing construction license in Dubai, aligning with the city’s goal for 25% of new buildings to be 3D printed by 2030.
• PCFC-Integrated Network: Enjoy seamless coordination with customs, ports, and other free zone entities under the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) umbrella. This integration ensures efficient trade, logistics, and compliance, including advanced initiatives like the “Workers Protection Program” in collaboration with Dubai Insurance, enhancing employee welfare and business stability.

Trakhees Free Zone offers a uniquely strategic advantage for businesses seeking to operate in Dubai’s premium lifestyle, retail, maritime, and engineering zones—delivering the regulatory clarity, operational efficiency, and location access needed for sustainable growth.