TECOM Free Zones — Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai Production City Guide 2026
TECOM Group manages several UAE free zones beyond Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City. Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and Dubai Production City (DPC) serve technology/residential and media production sectors respectively. This guide covers these TECOM free zones for 2026.
In this guide:
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) — Technology and Integrated Community
- What it is: integrated technology park and residential community; technology companies, semiconductor fabrication, electronics, IoT, smart city solutions; also has a large residential population (families, apartments)
- Location: northeast Dubai; near Academic City and Dubai International Academic City; 25 minutes from Dubai city centre
- Residents: Samsung, Philips, Henkel, and 2,000+ companies registered; large SME and startup technology community
- DSO Innovation Hub (DSOA): early-stage tech startup support; free or subsidised office; mentorship; Dubai government pilot opportunity access
- Licence cost: AED 15,000-25,000/year; lower than DIC for similar technology activities
- When to choose DSO: technology product manufacturing or engineering; businesses that need residential community adjacent to their office (for employee lifestyle); proximity to UAE universities (knowledge sharing)
Dubai Production City (DPC)
- Previously known as: International Media Production Zone (IMPZ)
- Focus: printing and publishing; packaging; broadcast media production; creative services; advertising; less prestigious than Dubai Media City but significantly cheaper
- Location: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311); near Jumeirah Village Circle; adjacent to other TECOM free zones
- Residents: major publishing houses; printing companies; packaging manufacturers; creative agencies
- Licence cost: AED 12,000-20,000/year; 20-40% cheaper than Dubai Media City for similar media activities
- When to choose DPC: media and publishing businesses that don’t need the CNN/BBC prestige address of DMC; printing and packaging; budget-conscious media companies
TECOM Across the Group — Which Free Zone?
- Technology software/IT services: Dubai Internet City (DIC)
- Media, broadcast, PR, advertising: Dubai Media City (DMC)
- Technology product, hardware, IoT: Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)
- Printing, publishing, packaging: Dubai Production City (DPC)
- Creative design, fashion, luxury: Dubai Design District (d3)
- Higher education and research: Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)
- All TECOM free zones share administrative infrastructure; visa processing and business services are similar across all TECOM entities
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 Silicon Oasis | Dtec service / trade licence membership package | AED 25,000-55,000 (licence from AED 12,000 for service + flexi-desk AED 10,000-25,000 + 1 visa AED 3,500-5,000 + establishment card + medical + Emirates ID) Confidence: Indicative public price |
AED 21,375 service or AED 24,375 trade published for each succeeding year Confidence: Indicative public price |
AED 67,425 service or AED 76,425 trade calculated from the published Year 1 and succeeding-year figures Confidence: Indicative public price |
Dtec membership includes visa access; confirm the applicant and immigration configuration | Annual Dtec coworking membership/rent is included in the published package components | Indicative public price | Official DSO 2024 business setup guide; indicative fee schedule | Current package / renewal confirmation required | July 2026 |
| What is included | The official Dtec table lists annual rent, annual establishment card and service or trade licence components; the guide describes coworking, visa, licence and community access. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Insurance, status change, medical, Emirates ID, extra visas, extra activities, regulated approvals and advisory support unless the final quotation includes them. |
| Hidden-cost risk | The official guide labels the fees indicative and asks applicants to obtain a quotation. The three-year values are arithmetic totals from the published Year 1 plus two succeeding-year amounts, not independent authority quotes. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium |
| Best fit | Technology, software, IT consultancy and Dubai innovation-focused companies. |
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.