Academic City, Dubai Est. 2004 Technology · Electronics · R&D

Dubai Silicon Oasis

Government-owned integrated tech park spanning 7.2 km² — residential, commercial and industrial in one zone. Home to Samsung, 3M and Huawei regional R&D. Now part of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ).

Dubai Silicon Oasis
License from
AED 10,000+
Visa quota
3 visas
Setup time
5-15 days
Office
Flexi-desk / office
About the zone

Why DSO Stands Out

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) is a 7.2 km² technology park founded in 2004 by the Dubai government. The zone integrates residential, commercial and light-industrial functions in one master-planned community next to Academic City. It now operates under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) umbrella alongside DAFZA and Dubai CommerCity.

DSO suits technology trading companies, electronics importers, semiconductor distributors, and R&D-focused operations that benefit from co-location with global manufacturers like Samsung, 3M and Huawei. Light-industrial activities are permitted, which is rare for Dubai Free Zones. For pure software companies without hardware, DIC offers a more curated tech ecosystem.

Dubai Silicon Oasis location
Key benefits

Why Choose DSO

100% Foreign Ownership
No local sponsor required. Full equity and control of your UAE company.
0% Corporate Tax
Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZP) pay 0% on qualifying income up to AED 375K threshold.
100% Profit Repatriation
Full capital and profit transfer abroad with no currency restrictions.
Fast Digital Setup
License issued in 5-15 days. Full process online — no government visits required.
Visa Quota Included
3 visas included in base package. Sponsor family on your investor visa.
Premium Dubai Address
Real Dubai postal address — critical for bank account opening and client trust.
Service packages

Insight Setup Packages for DSO

Bundled services that save 20%+ vs ordering individually. All prices include Insight's professional fee plus the zone's basic license cost.

Light
from AED 9,875
  • Company registration and licensing
  • Office lease agreement
Get this package
Maximum
from AED 32,115
  • Company registration and licensing
  • Office lease agreement
  • Establishment Card
  • 1 resident visa + Emirates ID
  • 1 corporate bank account
Get this package
Maximum PRO
from AED 38,115
  • Company registration and licensing
  • Office lease agreement
  • Establishment Card
  • 1 resident visa + Emirates ID
  • 1 corporate bank account
  • 1 personal bank account
Get this package

Prices are starting from. Final quote depends on the activity, visa count and office type — we send the exact breakdown within 24 hours of your enquiry.

Allowed activities

What You Can Do in DSO

10 most popular activities — the zone supports 1,500+ in total. Full list available on request.

Technology trading
Electronics & semiconductors
Software & IT services
R&D operations
Light manufacturing
Logistics
Telecom equipment
Smart city solutions
Engineering services
Industrial design
Setup process

6 Steps to Launch in DSO

From document collection to first banking transaction — typical timeline 2-4 weeks.

01

Initial consultation & document collection

We map your business activity to the right license type, prepare the document checklist and answer cost questions. Most clients close this step on a 30-minute call.

Initial consultation & document collection
02

Name reservation & activity approval

We submit 3 proposed company names to the zone and confirm the activity is on the approved list. Approval comes back in 1-2 working days.

Name reservation & activity approval
03

License application & payment

We submit the application package, MOA and lease through the zone portal. Payment is via online card / bank transfer. License is issued in 5-7 days.

License application & payment
04

Establishment Card & investor visa application

Once the license is live, we apply for the Establishment Card (3-5 days) and submit your investor visa entry permit (3-7 days).

Establishment Card & investor visa application
05

Medical, biometrics & Emirates ID

You complete the medical (1 hour) and biometric capture (30 minutes). Emirates ID is issued within 5-10 days. We handle all bookings.

Medical, biometrics & Emirates ID
06

Corporate bank account opening

We introduce you to 2-3 UAE banks matched to your activity (Mashreq Neo, WIO, Emirates NBD, ENBD, ADCB). Account opens in 2-4 weeks.

Corporate bank account opening
Interactive

Estimate Your Year-1 Cost in DSO

Pick license type, visa count and office — we calculate the total instantly.

Estimates only · Final quote within 24h
Documents

What You Need to Provide

We handle all government paperwork on your side. Here's everything we'll ask from you at the start:

  • Passport copies of all shareholders (6+ months valid)
  • Passport-size photos with white background
  • Proposed company name (3 options)
  • List of intended business activities
  • Application form signed by the shareholder
  • Proof of address (utility bill less than 3 months old)
  • Visa copies & Emirates ID (if UAE residents)
  • NOC from current sponsor (if employed in UAE)
Document preparation
Compare

DSO vs Other Free Zones

Year-1 entry-level package starting prices.

ZoneYear 1 fromFocus
DSO this zone AED 10,000+ Silicon, tech manufacturing, R&D
IFZA AED 12,500 SMEs, services, e-commerce Details
DMCC AED 23,000 Commodities, trading, crypto Details
Meydan FZ AED 12,500 Trading, e-commerce, consulting Details
FAQ

DSO — Frequently Asked Questions

Entry-level packages in DSO start from AED 10,000+. The final cost depends on activity type, visa count and office option — most SMEs land in the AED 18,000-30,000 range for Year 1 with 1 investor visa. We send the exact breakdown within 24 hours of your enquiry.

DSO issues most licenses in 5-15 days through its digital portal. The investor visa adds another 10-14 days after the license is issued. A corporate bank account opens in 2-4 weeks depending on the bank and activity.

Free Zone companies can sell to other Free Zone or Mainland businesses (B2B), export internationally, or sell on e-commerce platforms. Direct B2C retail to UAE consumers requires a Mainland (DET) license or a Mainland distribution agreement.

The base package includes 3 visas. Additional visas are available — pricing depends on package and office size. Investor visas allow you to sponsor your spouse, children and parents for UAE residency.

No, the incorporation is fully digital — passport scans, signed forms and payment can be submitted remotely. You only need to be physically present for Emirates ID biometrics and the medical check (2-3 hours total) when activating your investor visa.

DSO licenses cover tech trading, electronics, software, R&D and light manufacturing. Full list of approved activities is available on request — we match your business model to the right license type before you commit.

Legal documents

Sertificates

Insight Dubai certificate
Insight Dubai certificate
Insight Dubai certificate
Insight Dubai certificate
Free consultation

Start Your DSO Company

Senior consultant
>40
Businesses under ongoing support
250+
Successful projects



    • Business Setup in the UAE
    • Accounting Services
    • Bank Account Opening Assistance
    • Legal Services
    • Residence Visa
    • Document Legalization
    • Real Estate Services
    • International Money Transfer
    • Partnership