Dubai Science Park (DSP) is a TECOM Group free zone dedicated to life sciences, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and scientific research businesses. Here is a complete guide to setting up in DSP.
Dubai Science Park Overview
Dubai Science Park (formerly Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park extension area) is located in the Barsha Heights area of Dubai, adjacent to Dubai Internet City. DSP hosts 300+ companies across: pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, medical devices and diagnostics, cosmetics and personal care, animal health and veterinary products, food science and nutrition, and environmental science. DSP has grown rapidly since 2015 as the UAE’s pharmaceutical sector expanded to meet local and GCC demand for domestically-produced medicines.
DSP UAE Pharmaceutical Advantage
Setting up in DSP offers pharmaceutical companies: MOHAP regulatory support (Ministry of Health and Prevention — the UAE’s pharmaceutical regulator), pharmaceutical manufacturing GMP facility access, clinical trial regulatory framework support, and access to UAE National Formulary programmes (government pharmaceutical procurement). The UAE is actively promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce import dependency — DSP companies can access government manufacturing incentives.
DSP Licence Types and Requirements
Standard DSP licences for pharma/life sciences: Trading Licence (for importing and distributing pharmaceutical products — requires MOHAP approval for each product category), Industrial Licence (for pharmaceutical manufacturing — requires GMP certification and MOHAP manufacturing facility approval), and Professional Licence (for consultancy, regulatory affairs, and clinical research services). Annual DSP licence cost: AED 12,000–30,000+ depending on package and office size.
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 Science Park | DDA FZ-LLC registration component | AED 15,000–35,000+ (licence AED 12,000–22,000 + 1 visa AED 4,500–7,000 + office/lab costs). Physical lab or specialist facility significantly increases total. Quote-based for most setups. Confidence: Indicative public price |
Quote-based renewal - activity licence and facility depend on the selected district Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Quote-based 3-year total - depends on licence, facility and renewal evidence Confidence: Needs confirmation |
Visa allocation and immigration services depend on the selected facility and are separate | A TECOM/DDA district facility or lease is selected and priced separately | Indicative public price | Official DDA FZ-LLC registration service; partial setup component | Current package / renewal confirmation required | July 2026 |
| What is included | The current DDA service page publishes an AED 3,500 registration fee and lists certificate of incorporation, commercial licence, registers of directors and articles of association as service deliverables. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Activity licence fee, Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams, office or facility, deposit, establishment card, visas, insurance, external approvals and advisory support. |
| Hidden-cost risk | AED 3,500 is only the FZ-LLC registration component. DDA states that licence fees are calculated from the selected activities; the district facility and immigration configuration also require a current quote. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium to high |
| Best fit | Life sciences, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, laboratory and research businesses needing a specialist Dubai ecosystem. |
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.