100% foreign ownership
Full ownership for foreign shareholders with no local sponsor or partner required, like every UAE free zone.
DSOA free zone, built for tech
Dubai Silicon Oasis Business Setup
Dubai Silicon Oasis is where Dubai placed its tech economy: a full free zone on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, run by the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) and built for ICT, software, research and development, trading and service companies. Setting up here means a DSOA license, an office or flexi-desk inside the zone, visas linked to your space, and the same tax and accounting duties as any UAE company. BizNex Consulting runs the whole setup for you: license, visas, bank account, VAT and corporate tax registration, plus bookkeeping from day one.
From AED 12,000Annual license fee, by license type
Tech-focused zoneICT, software, R&D, trade, services
End to endLicense, visas, banking and tax in one run
The free zone
What is Dubai Silicon Oasis?
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) is a free zone developed as an integrated technology park. The Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) acts as both regulator and master developer: it issues licenses, manages the district and runs the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (DTEC), one of the largest tech startup hubs in the region. Offices, R&D facilities, retail and residential areas sit inside one planned district, which is why banks and enterprise clients treat a DSO address as a serious operating base rather than a mailbox license.
The zone welcomes ICT and online businesses, industrial companies, research and development units, and trading and commercial firms. Each license can carry up to seven activities, so a software company can combine development, consultancy and trading activities under one roof. DSO suits tech startups, IT service firms, software vendors, R&D teams and trading companies that want a structured Dubai base with real offices and room to scale.
Tech ecosystem on site
DTEC flexi-desks and coworking, accelerators such as Startupbootcamp and Intelak, and venture funding access through DTEC Ventures.
Bank-friendly licenses
A DSOA license with a real office passes bank due diligence far more smoothly than the cheapest no-office licenses on the market.
License types and costs
DSO license types and what they cost
DSOA issues three license categories. The fee depends on the category and the specific activities you choose:
Service license
AED 12,000 to 20,000 per year. Consultancy, IT services, professional and business services. The most common choice for tech and service firms.
Trade license
AED 12,000 to 30,000 per year. Trading, import and export, general commerce. The range reflects the activities on the license.
Industrial license
From AED 12,000 per year. Manufacturing, assembly and industrial activities, paired with warehouse or production space.
Typical first-year cost, line by line
Take a service license with a flexi-desk and one visa as the common starting shape:
- License fee: AED 12,000 to 20,000 depending on activities
- One-time registration fee: around AED 5,000
- Flexi-desk: AED 10,000 to 20,000 a year, available at DTEC and Techno Hub
- One residency visa: AED 5,000 to 8,500 including medical, Emirates ID and stamping
- Establishment card and extras: AED 2,000 to 3,000
All in, roughly AED 34,000 to 56,000 for year one. Renewals cost less because the registration fee and first visa issuance do not repeat. Note that some structures carry a share capital requirement of AED 100,000, and DSO companies must file an annual financial audit plus an ultimate beneficial owner report, so budget ongoing accounting from the start.
DSO vs the rest
Why DSO instead of another free zone?
Against the cheapest zones: budget free zones win on the license sticker price, but a DSO setup buys things cheap licenses cannot: a real office, a tech-district address, and a license banks recognise. Founders who pick the cheapest license and then stall for weeks at the bank account stage often spend the saving twice over.
Against the premium zones: DSO sits in the middle. It is more structured than the low-cost zones and more affordable than premium addresses like DMCC or Dubai Internet City, while offering a comparable tech ecosystem through DTEC. If your clients are enterprises that check where you operate, DSO gives you that credibility without the premium rent.
The honest trade-off: DSO requires office space, and visas are linked to that space (roughly one visa per 9 sq.m). If you want a zero-visa, minimal-cost holding license, a cheaper zone fits better. If you want to hire, host clients and grow a team, DSO is built for exactly that. Compare the full picture in our Dubai business setup guide before you decide.
How it works
From idea to trading in four steps
Consultation & quote
We confirm your activities, the right license type, space and visa needs, then hand over a written full-cost breakdown.
Application & approvals
Trade name reservation, initial approval, memorandum of association and document submission to DSOA.
License issued
Flexi-desk or office contract signed, license in hand. The full run typically takes three to four weeks.
Visas, bank & compliance
Residency visas, corporate bank account, VAT and corporate tax registration, bookkeeping live from invoice one.
Visas and banking
Visas and bank accounts in DSO
Visas in DSO follow your office space: the rule of thumb is one visa per 9 sq.m, and flexi-desk packages come with a visa quota built in. Shareholder and employee visas run AED 5,000 to 8,500 per person including medical, Emirates ID and stamping, and three-year durations are common. Investor, employee and family visas all route through the same DSOA immigration channel, which keeps the sequencing simple.
Bank accounts: UAE banks accept DSOA licenses, subject to their normal due diligence. The file that gets approved fastest includes the trade license, memorandum of association, shareholder passports and visas, a short business plan and proof of address. We prepare that file properly and introduce you to banks that suit your profile, so you skip the rejection loop that eats weeks for unprepared founders.
DSO setup FAQs
Questions about Dubai Silicon Oasis setup
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai Silicon Oasis?
It depends on the license type, office choice and visa count. The license itself runs AED 12,000 to 30,000 a year by category, plus a one-time registration fee of around AED 5,000. A typical first year with a service license, flexi-desk and one visa lands between AED 34,000 and 56,000 all in. Renewals cost less because one-off fees do not repeat.
What license types does DSOA offer?
Three: industrial (from AED 12,000), service (AED 12,000 to 20,000) and trade (AED 12,000 to 30,000). Each license can hold up to seven activities, so mixed models like software plus consultancy fit under one license.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a DSO company?
Yes. Dubai Silicon Oasis allows full foreign ownership with no local sponsor or partner required. One shareholder is enough and there is no cap on the number of shareholders.
How long does DSO company setup take?
Typically three to four weeks from complete documents to license plus visas: trade name and approvals, document submission, license issuance, then visa processing. We map your exact timeline before you start.
Do I need an office in Dubai Silicon Oasis?
Yes. DSO requires office space, and your visa quota links to it (roughly one visa per 9 sq.m). Flexi-desks and coworking at DTEC and Techno Hub keep the entry cost down while satisfying the requirement.
Is an annual audit required for DSO companies?
Yes. DSO companies must file an annual financial audit and an ultimate beneficial owner report. This is exactly why setting up bookkeeping from day one costs far less than reconstructing a year of records later.
Can I open a corporate bank account with a DSO license?
Yes. UAE banks accept DSOA licenses subject to due diligence. A complete file (license, MOA, passports, visas, business plan, proof of address) plus the right bank introduction is what separates a two-week approval from a two-month ordeal.
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Ready when you are
Get your DSO setup quoted properly
Tell us your activities and team size and we will send back a written breakdown: the right DSOA license, the full first-year cost, and the timeline. No pushy sales calls, no missing line items.
