Dubai Breaks the Mold: One Freezone Passport Lets Businesses Expand with a Single License
DUBAI, July 22, 2025 — Dubai has just done what most cities can’t.
With the launch of One Freezone Passport, companies can now operate across multiple free zones using just one license. This is a huge development in the business world. No more duplicate applications. No more back-and-forth.
One setup, multiple zones, faster growth.
And the world is paying attention. Louis Vuitton just became the first corporate member under the scheme, completing its registration in just five working days.
Why This Is a Big Deal
It’s a fundamental shift in how Dubai does business. Before this, companies had to juggle different rules, offices, and approvals to operate in more than one free zone. It would cost a lot of time. It created friction. It slowed down big decisions.
But that’s all in the past.
Now businesses get access to multiple zones through a unified process. It will save weeks, if not months. Dubai is the first in the region to offer this kind of licensing agility, and the aim is to attract the world’s biggest names and it’s already working.
What Is the One Freezone Passport?
In simple terms, it’s a shared licensing system. One Freezone Passport lets businesses expand across multiple free zones while holding just one license. It opens access to over 40 specialized zones where foreign investors and expats can fully own their companies.
Before this, setting up in multiple freezones meant applying separately, meeting different rules, and repeating paperwork.
Now? One license can unlock operations across several zones and it simplifies all aspects of a business like registration, regulation, giving businesses faster setup, lower admin costs, and freedom to scale.
The initiative is backed by the Dubai Free Zones Council and includes zones like Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ), and others.
Louis Vuitton Sets the Benchmark
Louis Vuitton has rushed to make a news out of it. LV registers right away , causing quite a stir in the international market. The process took only five working days. That’s fast, even by Dubai standards.
This isn’t just a corporate win. It’s a signal that global brands trust Dubai’s direction and are ready to invest more. For the luxury sector especially, it shows confidence in Dubai as both a retail hub and a strategic base for the region.
Benefits for Multinational Companies and Investors
The One Freezone Passport gives companies room to breathe. It reduces duplication, simplifies compliance, and allows easy access to different markets across Dubai.
This matters most to multinational firms, who often need multiple legal entities to cover logistics, warehousing, retail, and regional offices. With this passport, they can do it under one framework, saving lots of time and money.
The result is simple yet powerful – Dubai becomes more attractive to foreign investors, especially those looking to launch fast and scale smart.
Economic Goals in Motion
This passport isn’t just a paperwork update. It’s part of a bigger plan. It ties directly into Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the city’s economy over the next decade. By making business’s entry easier, the initiative is expected to boost FDI, support job creation, and drive innovation across sectors. More efficient licensing also frees up capital and talent for growth, not bureaucracy.
Dubai is dreaming big and they are fortifying their dreams with convenient laws and attractive facilities for international businesses. They are working on their dreams.
Expert Insights and Reactions
According to the Dubai Free Zones Council, the passport is designed to “empower companies” and “reduce regulatory burdens.” Officials say it reflects Dubai’s role as a global business hub that adapts fast.
“This initiative changes the game,” said Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Free Zones Council. “It gives businesses the freedom to grow across our top-tier free zones with ease. The fact that Louis Vuitton joined so quickly shows how efficient and attractive Dubai’s business environment really is.”
“Louis Vuitton joining through the One Freezone Passport shows the kind of global brands Dubai continues to attract,” said Abdalla Al Banna, Vice President of Free Zone Regulatory Operations at DWTC. “Their move from Jafza to DWTC Free Zone reflects real trust in Dubai’s business setup. This programme makes it easier for major companies to expand across the city without hitting regulatory roadblocks.”
Analysts agree: the initiative puts Dubai ahead of regional competitors like Riyadh or Doha. It’s all about speed, clarity, and coordination.
Global Context and What Comes Next
Globally, multizone licensing is still rare. Singapore, Luxembourg, and parts of China offer similar models, but often with more red tape. Dubai’s system stands out for how quickly it launched, and how public-private alignment made it happen.
Now that Louis Vuitton has joined, other global brands are expected to follow. And there’s talk of expanding the passport beyond Dubai, linking it to federal-level initiatives in the UAE.
Conclusion
The One Freezone Passport could be a game-changer. It makes Dubai’s already strong freezone ecosystem faster, easier, and more appealing to the world’s biggest companies.
With Louis Vuitton leading the way, expect more names to join. For now, Dubai just raised the bar on how global business gets done.
References
- “Dubai Launches One Freezone Passport with Louis Vuitton as First Adopter: All about It – CNBC TV18.” CNBCTV18, 23 Jul. 2025, https://www.cnbctv18.com/travel/dubai-launches-one-freezone-passport-with-louis-vuitton-as-first-adopter-all-about-it-19642179.htm.
- https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/july/22-07/dfz-council-dwtc-free-zone-welcome
- https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/finance-and-economy/dubai-economic-agenda-d33
- https://www.arabianbusiness.com/business/dubai-announces-new-one-freezone-passport-system
- https://www.dfzc.ae/
- https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/july/22-07/dfz-council-dwtc-free-zone-welcome
