Pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device importers, and life sciences companies in the UAE benefit from free zones that offer regulatory support, cold-chain logistics, and proximity to UAE health authority approvals.
Dubai Science Park (DSP)
Dubai Science Park is the leading science and technology free zone in the UAE, home to over 600 companies including Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, and Novartis. DSP offers licences for pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device trading, biotechnology, and research and development. It is home to the region’s largest science and technology cluster and provides RERA-regulated laboratory and office space. Annual licence costs: AED 15,000–25,000 for trading companies, AED 30,000–80,000+ for manufacturing operations. DSP has direct relationships with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) to streamline product registration.
Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD)
KEZAD is Abu Dhabi’s industrial free zone and is preferred by pharmaceutical manufacturers who need large-scale production facilities. KEZAD offers purpose-built pharmaceutical-grade warehousing, GMP-compliant manufacturing units, and direct port access via Khalifa Port. Licence costs are competitive for large manufacturers at AED 10,000–20,000/year for trading plus warehouse/land lease. KEZAD clients benefit from expedited ADDA (Abu Dhabi Department of Agriculture and Food Safety) and MOH approvals through the free zone’s regulatory liaison desk.
Key Regulatory Requirements
All pharmaceutical companies in UAE free zones must register products with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). Medical devices require MDMA (Medical Devices and Medicinal Products Authority) registration. Cold-chain logistics companies need GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certification. The UAE Drug Establishment Licence is issued by MOHAP and is mandatory for all pharmaceutical trading and manufacturing 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 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.