After your visa is approved, proceed to obtain your Emirates ID card. The processing and issuance of both the visa and Emirates ID typically take around 5–7 working days following approval.
12,000 AED
2 weeks
Guaranteed
2 years
Company registration can be completed remotely, whether you’re based in the UAE or abroad. The entire process typically takes just 2–3 weeks. For setting up a company in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the first step is selecting an office facility. It’s recommended to visit the available spaces in person to get a clear understanding of the options and offerings.
This step is critical, as selecting the wrong activity, registration authority, or location can lead to complications during the company registration process. Such mistakes may cause delays or issues when opening a bank account or applying for a residence visa.
When setting up in the DSO Free Zone, you must specify the legal status of your company. The available options include:
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Branch of a foreign company
Dubai Silicon Oasis requires only a basic set of documents for company registration.
For individual shareholders, you’ll need:
A passport with at least 6 months’ validity
A recent passport-sized photo
Email address, residential address, and mobile number
UAE visa or a recent entry stamp
For corporate shareholders, the following notarized documents are required:
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA/AoA)
Certificate of Incorporation
Valid Trade License
Once all necessary documents are collected and the application is prepared, the required government fees must be paid to proceed with the registration process.
They include:
Receive an establishment card that contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residence visas.
If you’re outside the UAE during the entry permit processing, you must enter the country within 60 days of the permit’s issuance to complete the required medical examination and biometric procedures for your visa.
Complete a medical checkup and submit the necessary documents for your residence visa. The number of visas available for company owners and employees may vary depending on the registration package you choose.
After your visa is approved, proceed to obtain your Emirates ID card. The processing and issuance of both the visa and Emirates ID typically take around 5–7 working days following approval.
Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account in one the UAE local or international banks.
The minimum cost of a business license in Dubai Silicon Oasis is outlined below. Renting an office is mandatory when establishing a company in this free zone. The smallest available office space is 13.5 sq. meters. Office rent can be paid using four post-dated cheques.
| ITEM | COST |
|---|---|
| License. 2 visa allocations | 12,000 AED |
| Office. 13.5 sq. m | 28,392 AED |
| Office 13.5 sq. m deposit | 2,704 AED |
Yes
You have a startup in IT, online services, industry, or R&D and plan to grow into a larger business. DSO offers a dedicated startup hub called DTEC (Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus), where new businesses can establish themselves at a lower cost. After five years, companies are expected to transition to the main Dubai Silicon Oasis zone.
You run a large IT company and are seeking a vibrant tech community with top-tier infrastructure. Dubai Silicon Oasis features a technology park with ready-to-use, fully equipped modern offices, home to several major tech firms.
You’re looking for a place where you can live and work. DSO offers residential buildings with a full range of amenities, housing around 60,000 residents.
Your business involves light manufacturing—DSO has facilities specifically suited for this sector.
No
You are a freelancer. DSO does not offer freelance license options. Consider alternatives like the DMCC Freelance License or Go Freelance by TECOM.
Your business involves heavy manufacturing. DSO lacks the necessary infrastructure for heavy industry. Better options include UAQ Free Zone, JAFZA, or Hamriyah Free Zone.
Dubai Silicon Oasis offers the following types of licenses:
Start your IT business in the UAE’s growing market, whether it’s software development or IT consulting.
A Commercial License enables you to start a business in retail, wholesale, or import-export, providing access to both local and international markets.
With a Professional License, you can offer specialized services in fields like consulting, management, education, real estate, and more.
Offer professional services in sectors like consulting, marketing, or IT with a hassle-free setup process.
Gold is always a profitable investment. Buy and sell gold and precious metals with a Gold Trading License in the highly lucrative UAE market.
Trade multiple products across various industries with a single license, offering maximum business flexibility.
Have you always dreamed of opening your own bakery and delighting the community with the aroma of fresh pastries? The UAE loves coffee and sweets.
Document processing services are in high demand in the UAE due to the large expat population. Open your Typing Center and help people with paperwork.
Provide financial services, including accounting, auditing, and tax consulting.
Opening a good coffee shop or tea house in busy areas or shopping malls is a great business idea, as the UAE is full of coffee and dessert lovers.
Quality food is in ever-growing demand in the UAE. A Foodstuff Trading License will allow you to import, distribute, and sell food products.
Provide a wide range of technical services in the UAE, from equipment installation and maintenance to repairs and construction.
Offer educational services, private tutoring, or professional training in one of the world’s fastest-growing learning hubs.
Start a travel agency, tour operator, or adventure tourism business in the UAE’s booming tourism sector.
Become a registered real estate professional in Dubai and legally buy, sell, or lease properties in a lucrative market.
The UAE has plenty of men who care about their appearance. Open a barbershop with a Gents Salon License, offering haircuts and grooming services
A professional license that allows you to provide health-related professional services, for example medical consultancy, dental services, or physical
Set up your own production facility in the UAE and benefit from advanced infrastructure and global market access.
Open a beauty salon and cater to the UAE’s high demand for personal care and grooming services.
Dubai Silicon Oasis Free Zone follows the business activity list provided by the Department of Economic Development. You can include up to 7 different activities from the same category (trading, services, or industrial) in your license.
The freelance category is not available in this free zone. For a freelance license, consider options like the DMCC Freelance License or Go Freelance by TECOM.
Dubai Silicon Oasis offers flexible plans of facilities suitable for all categories of licensees, from startups to large corporations:
A space designed for businesses involved in light manufacturing, testing, or repairing.
Office spaces in Dubai Silicon Oasis can be leased either in business towers across the area or in the following towers managed directly by the free zone:
Headquarters Building (rent includes utilities)
Dubai Digital Park Offices
Techno Hub
The Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority offers flexible leasing options. Businesses can rent office space through the free zone’s management or from independent landlords within the Silicon Oasis area, including freehold zones. Additionally, companies registered with the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) are also eligible to lease offices within this free zone.
In Dubai Silicon Oasis Free Zone, the number of resident visas a company can obtain is directly linked to the size of its office space. For every 9 square meters, one visa is granted. For example, if your office is 50 square meters, your company would be eligible for 5 visa slots.
|
|
VISA
|
MEDICAL CHECKUP
|
EMIRATES ID
|
REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Applicant in the UAE
|
4,860 AED
|
650 AED
|
330 AED
|
2,500 AED
|
|
Applicant outside the UAE
|
3,260 AED
|
650 AED
|
330 AED
|
2,500 AED
|
Dubai Silicon Oasis does not issue Investor or Partner visas. Instead, all visas are issued with managerial designations. It’s important to note that the company’s General Manager must hold a resident visa issued by Dubai Silicon Oasis.
An additional fee of AED 5,000 applies to applicants over the age of 60.
All visas issued are valid for a period of 2 years.
Renewing your company annually is mandatory and involves payment of the license fee and office rent. The renewal process typically takes around 2 weeks.
Additionally, companies are required to submit annual audit reports. The first audit must be conducted 18 months after the date of registration.
Common changes that companies make include:
Transfer of shares
Change of company name
Modification of business activities
Change of company manager
Amendment fees range from AED 500 to AED 2,000. While many changes can be made remotely, changes involving shareholders may require in-person attendance.
Dubai Silicon Oasis has streamlined the company closure process and significantly reduced the associated fees. The current cost of liquidation is approximately AED 2,000, and the process typically takes about 1 month. Key steps include:
Visa cancellation (7–10 working days) – applicable if the company has active visas
Establishment card cancellation (7–10 working days) – for visa-eligible companies
License cancellation
Additional requirements:
Submission of a final audit report
Return of all original company documents
Termination of any existing lease agreements
Closure of corporate bank accounts, with a bank letter confirming the closure
Once the process is complete, you will receive an official deregistration letter from the free zone as confirmation of the company’s closure.
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) is a leading free zone and technology park established in 2004 by the Government of Dubai. Today, it is home to over 4,000 companies, including multinational corporations, startups, and R&D centers.
DSO stands out as a dynamic business and residential hub, designed to foster innovation and support businesses in sectors such as IT, online services, industry, and research and development. As a key technology ecosystem in Dubai, it plays a vital role in driving digital transformation and innovation across the region.
The free zone also features Dubai Digital Park, a modern development offering cutting-edge workspaces and residential units, ready for immediate use. Residents enjoy a comprehensive lifestyle with access to over 80 restaurants, retail outlets, a shopping mall, schools, and a hospital—all within the community.
Strategically located, DSO is easily accessible from all major roads, helping to reduce traffic congestion and making it one of the most convenient and attractive locations for setting up a business in the UAE.
Additionally, DSO serves as a testbed for Dubai’s government-led technological initiatives, making it a focal point for future-forward innovation in the emirate.
The brand name Visa Kings Global is used under licence by Visa Success Limited. Visa Success Limited is not a firm of solicitors and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Visa Success Limited does not give financial, legal or tax advice.
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