Dubai Outsource City DOC Free Zone 2026 Guide
Dubai Outsource City (DOC) is a TECOM Group free zone dedicated to business process outsourcing (BPO), IT services, back-office operations, and professional services. It hosts 400+ companies and provides a purpose-built ecosystem for outsourcing and managed services businesses targeting the GCC market.
What Is Dubai Outsource City?
DOC is one of the UAE’s most specialised free zones, designed exclusively for the outsourcing and professional services sector. Companies here benefit from a concentrated cluster of like-minded businesses, TECOM’s infrastructure, and proximity to Dubai’s business districts. DOC is ideal for customer service centres, IT managed services, HR outsourcing, legal process outsourcing (LPO), and accounting outsourcing.
DOC Formation Cost 2026
- Annual trade licence: AED 18,000–30,000
- Flexi-desk package: AED 10,000–15,000 per year
- Office space: from AED 50,000 per year
- Visa allocation: 1–6 per flexi-desk, up to 50+ for large office space
DOC Permitted Activities
BPO and KPO services, IT outsourcing, call centre operations, data processing, HR management, payroll processing, legal process outsourcing, accounting and finance outsourcing, customer experience management, and digital marketing services.
DOC Banking and Operations
DOC companies open business accounts at UAE-licensed banks. Popular choices include First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Emirates NBD, and Mashreq for BPO businesses with large payroll requirements. DOC companies can hire UAE nationals (Emiratisation) and expatriates.
DOC vs DMCC vs IFZA for Service Companies
- DOC: outsourcing/BPO niche, TECOM cluster, specialised ecosystem
- DMCC: general services, commodities, very popular, higher profile
- IFZA: lower cost, flexible activities, less specialised ecosystem
For dedicated outsourcing and BPO businesses, DOC’s specialised environment offers advantages. For general professional services, IFZA or DMCC are more cost-effective.
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 Outsource City DOC Free Zone 2026 Guide | Current authority package | Quote-based - confirm current package Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based renewal - confirm current package Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on renewal Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Depends on package and office allocation | Authority quote required | Authority quote required | Current package / renewal confirmation required | June 2026 |
| What is included | Confirmed only after authority or partner quote. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Visas, insurance, medical, Emirates ID, office upgrades, amendments and cancellation unless quoted. |
| Hidden-cost risk | Confirm establishment card, visas, office/flexi desk, insurance, renewal and cancellation before payment. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium - depends on activity and documents |
| Best fit | Founders comparing this free zone against activity, visa, office, banking and renewal requirements. |
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 June 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.