Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) is a specialised free zone for education and training businesses, operated by TECOM Group. It is part of the Dubai Knowledge Village / Knowledge Park campus in Al Sufouh. Here is a complete guide.
Dubai Knowledge Park Overview
DKP is dedicated to: higher education institutions (universities, colleges), K-12 schools (in some cases), professional training and development, corporate learning and development (L&D) service providers, executive education, language training centres, and EdTech companies (technology solutions for education). Notable DKP tenants: several international university campuses have Dubai campuses near DKP including the Manchester Business School, Middlesex University Dubai, and Herriot-Watt University Dubai. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme is based at the DKP campus.
DKP Permitted Activities
Licences available for: corporate training (business skills, management, leadership), professional certification programmes, language training (English, Arabic, and other languages), ICT training (programming, data science, cybersecurity), vocational education and skills training, children’s education and enrichment, and online education platform companies (EdTech).
DKP Setup Requirements
DKP setup differs from other TECOM zones in one key way: physical office with suitable training facilities is required for most activities (you cannot operate a classroom-based training company from a flexi desk). DKP office space: AED 80–120/sqft/year. Annual licence fee: AED 10,000–20,000 depending on activity. Regulatory note: training companies offering professional certifications may need approval from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in addition to the DKP licence.
Pricing Evidence & Source Notes
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Knowledge Park | GoFreelance freelance package | AED 13,180 all-in for 1 visa (licence AED 9,500 + visa AED 2,750 + medical AED 320 + Emirates ID AED 370 + establishment card AED 240) per startupu.ae verified breakdown. Higher packages with dedicated office start from AED 17,500–35,000. Confidence: Indicative public price |
Quote-based renewal - confirm current package Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on confirmed renewal Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Visa is separate; official page lists an optional one-year visa at AED 4,600 | Freelance community access; a company office is not included | Indicative public price | Official GoFreelance programme page with conflicting current amounts | Conflicting public sources - confirm current package | July 2026 |
| What is included | The official programme lists the freelance package and access to the selected TECOM freelance community. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Visa, establishment or immigration services, insurance, company office, extra activities and advisory support unless separately selected. |
| Hidden-cost risk | The current official page shows AED 7,500 in its headline and AED 7,520 in its FAQ. This is a freelance package, not a full company licence; confirm the current invoice, renewal, activity and banking fit before payment. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium to high |
| Best fit | Independent education, training, coaching and human-capital professionals using the Dubai Knowledge Park freelance route. |
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.