New Freezone Incentives—Up to 30% Fee Reduction for Startup
Company Formation in Dubai Internet City
30,000AED
From
1999
Established
4,000
Companies
6
Max Visas
Moderate
Banking
Business Overview
Dubai Internet City Overview
What is Dubai Internet City?
- Launched in Al Sufouh in 1999, it was the first technology free zone in the Middle East
- IBM, LinkedIn, Meta, Microsoft and Google run their regional headquarters here
- Belongs to the wider TECOM Group network, giving access to DKP, DMC and further clusters
Who should consider it?
- Software and IT firms
- Technology startups
- Data and AI firms and digital marketing agencies
Visa Details
- Visa quota: up to 6; a flexi desk permits 2-3, while private offices grow with their size
- Processing: roughly 21 days, or about 3 weeks for the whole process covering medical, Emirates ID and stamping
- Available visas: Investor, Employment, Partner, Dependent
- Visa fees: investor AED 3,500, employee AED 3,500; dependent visas handled by GDRFA
- Emirates ID typing AED 390 · Medical: VIP AED 850, Standard AED 450
Banking
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Banks partnering with the zone: RAKBANK, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Mashreq Bank, Emirates NBD
- With standard KYC paperwork, a business account usually takes 2-4 weeks
Features
- Physical office needed: Yes, visas require a private office or flexi desk, and a virtual office is not offered
- Dual licence: Yes
- Shared ownership allowed: Yes, foreign owners can hold 100%
- Portal online: Yes, DCCA's digital platform handles visas, renewals and licensing
- Co-working: Yes
- Audit needed: Yes, audited financial statements must be filed each year to renew
- Not available: crypto, trading on the mainland, or a free zone to mainland route
Share Capital
- Not needed for most licence types
Special Ecosystems
- in5 Tech (TECOM Innovation Centre)
- Smart Dubai initiatives
Latest Updates
- Oct 2024: Marked 25 years in operation, with more than 1,600 companies on site
- 2025: More flexi desk and co-working space added by TECOM Group throughout DIC buildings
- 2025: DCCA simplified its online licensing platform to speed up processing
- 2024: Smart-city and AI firms arrived in the wake of Dubai's AI strategy
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Why DIC?
Why Dubai Internet City Stands Out
Leading Tech Community
Over 1,600 firms are based here, IBM, LinkedIn, Meta, Microsoft and Google among them.
Respected Address
Investors and clients take a DIC address seriously.
Flexi Desk Options
The licence starts at AED 15,000 annually, with workspace adding another AED 15,000.
Smoother Banking
Long-standing ties with the big UAE banks make account opening simpler than in younger zones.
TECOM Network
Connects you with Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Media City and further TECOM clusters.
Online Licensing
Licences are issued through the DCCA portal within 5-7 business days.
Ownership & Capital
Foreign owners can hold 100%, and most licence types need no minimum capital.
Sought-After Location
In Al Sufouh, close to Palm Jumeirah, JBR and Dubai Marina.
Packages & Pricing
Dubai Internet City Pricing & Packages
No-Visa Package
Flexi desk · Licence AED 15,000 · AED 30,000 on renewal.
0 visas
1 Visa Package
Flexi desk · Licence AED 15,000 · Roughly AED 33,000 on renewal, covering insurance and the establishment card.
1 visa
2 Visa Package
Flexi desk · Licence AED 15,000 · Roughly AED 34,000 on renewal.
2 visas
3 Visa Package with Private Office
Private office · Licence AED 15,000 · Roughly AED 60,000 on renewal.
3 visas
6 Visa Package with Private Office
Private office · Licence AED 15,000 · Roughly AED 104,000 on renewal.
6 visas
Watch Out For
Points to Weigh Up Before Picking Dubai Internet City
Have Questions?
Common Questions
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