Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) Tech Setup Guide
A current guide to establishing technology, R&D and innovation businesses in Dubai Silicon Oasis, including DSO facilities, Dtec, Dubai Digital Park, Corporate Tax and Golden Visa pathways.
Important: DSO is a technology-focused free zone, but a DSO licence does not automatically confer a Golden Visa, 0% tax on all income, or permission for every regulated activity.
DSO Tech Business Planning Tool
Use this as a facility and operating-profile planner. Current DSO pricing should be obtained directly from DIEZ/DSO for the exact licence, activity and space selected.
Technology-company planning profile
DSO is designed around technology, knowledge and innovation businesses. Your selected workspace should be matched to the company’s actual operational, staffing and facility requirements.
Dubai Silicon Oasis at a glance
7.2 million sq m
DSO is a 7.2-million-square-metre technology-focused economic zone and integrated community.
30,000+ companies
Current DSO investor material states that the community is home to more than 30,000 companies and over 100,000 professionals and residents.
Technology & innovation
DSO supports commercial, industrial, R&D and technology-testing activities, from robotics and UAVs to autonomous vehicles and AI-enabled smart-city pilots.
DSO facilities and ecosystem
DSO HQ
Modern furnished plug-and-play offices, fixed desks and larger areas suitable for SMEs, regional headquarters and R&D centres.
Dubai Digital Park
A 150,000-square-metre integrated smart-city district combining commercial, residential, leisure and retail space.
Dtec
Startup-focused coworking, accelerators, MVP labs, business matchmaking and fundraising access through the DIEZ innovation ecosystem.
Techno Hub
Flexible furnished and unfurnished offices, fixed/flexi desks, meeting facilities and an innovation-focused business environment.
R&D & Technology Testing
DSO supports technology pilots and testing at scale, including robotics, UAVs, autonomous vehicles and AI-enabled smart-city applications.
Industrial & Warehouse Space
Light-industrial units and warehouses are available for permitted manufacturing, assembly, storage and technology-enabled industrial activities.
Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec)
DSO's Dtec is a major startup component of the ecosystem. DSO currently describes Dtec as having 108,000 square feet dedicated to new businesses, with accelerator programmes, MVP labs, business matchmaking and fundraising access.
| Startup support | Company-formation assistance, coworking and startup support. |
| Product development | MVP labs and technology-development facilities. |
| Growth | Accelerator programmes, business matchmaking and access to the wider DIEZ innovation ecosystem. |
| Investment ecosystem | Dtec houses Oraseya Capital, DIEZ's investment arm, while investment remains subject to separate eligibility and commercial decisions. |
R&D and real-world technology testing
One of DSO's distinctive features is the ability to pilot and test emerging technologies within a real community environment. Current DSO material highlights examples including EV infrastructure, autonomous driving, medical-delivery drones, AI-enabled pedestrian crossings and smart delivery robots.
UAE Corporate Tax in DSO
DSO's current business material states that DSO is a qualified free zone for UAE Corporate Tax purposes and that qualifying businesses can benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income.
The broader federal rule is more precise: a Qualifying Free Zone Person can benefit from 0% Corporate Tax on Qualifying Income, while Taxable Income that is not Qualifying Income can be subject to the 9% rate.
Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 is part of the current qualifying/excluded-activity framework. A DSO company should therefore assess the nature of its activities and income rather than advertising itself as completely tax-exempt.
Golden Visa routes for DSO founders and technology professionals
The original page incorrectly connected a DSO licence directly to a 10-year Golden Visa. The current UAE framework instead provides different Golden Visa categories.
| Route | Duration | General requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | 5 years | Innovative/technical or future-oriented project plus the required auditor, authority or incubator approvals and evidence. |
| Exceptional talent / specialised expertise | 10 years | Specific category-based endorsement, qualification, experience or recommendation requirements depending on the talent category. |
A DSO company can provide a business context for an application, but the applicant must independently satisfy the requirements of the relevant Golden Visa category.
Office and industrial options
| Facility | Current DSO description | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| DSO HQ | Furnished plug-and-play offices, fixed desks, larger areas, floors and wings. | SMEs, regional offices and R&D centres. |
| Dubai Digital Park | 150,000-square-metre integrated smart-city district. | Technology businesses wanting a mixed commercial, residential and leisure environment. |
| Techno Hub | Flexible furnished/unfurnished office spaces, fixed and flexi desks and meeting/event facilities. | Startups, scale-ups and technology SMEs. |
| Light Industrial Units | Units designed for production, automated assembly and storage. | Tech-enabled manufacturing and industrial operations. |
| Warehouses | Warehouses from roughly 3,228 to 5,380 sq ft, plus larger High Bay capacity. | Storage and logistics-intensive technology businesses. |
Typical DSO setup workflow
Confirm activity
Identify the exact permitted activity and whether additional regulatory approval is required.
Select business solution
Compare subsidised licence options and the required office, coworking, R&D or industrial space.
Prepare documents
Prepare ownership, identification, business-activity and premises information required by DIEZ/DSO.
Complete licensing
Finalise the licence, lease/premises arrangements, establishment formalities and any relevant visa or regulatory applications.
Related UAE Tools & Guides
2026 VerifiedFrequently Asked Questions
International Money Transfer & FX Rates
Sending funds for tuition, rent, or immigration fees? Retail banks sneak 2.5%–4% into exchange rates. Check today's real mid-market rate first.
DSO quick facts
Golden Visa reminder
A DSO company licence does not itself grant a Golden Visa.
Technology founders may need to qualify under the entrepreneur route, while coders, engineers or other specialists must satisfy the relevant exceptional-talent/specialised-expertise criteria.
Official DSO portals
This page relies primarily on current DSO/DIEZ investor and business material, current UAE Golden Visa guidance and the federal Corporate Tax framework. Fixed licence, office and visa prices are intentionally omitted where the official DSO sources do not establish a universal 2026 amount.