Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) Business Setup
Dubai Silicon Oasis business setup for tech, trading and light-industrial companies, licensed by DSO under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority. We help you choose the licence and space, apply, and handle visas and banking.
Description
Dubai Silicon Oasis business setup gives you a free zone company in a 7 sq km district that mixes offices, labs, light industrial units, warehouses and housing. DSO was established by Dubai Law No. 16 of 2005, sits under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), and lists more than 28,000 member companies. It is home to the Dtec startup campus and Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai.
DSO issues three licence types. A Service licence covers specified services, such as software, IT and consultancy. A Trade licence covers import, export and distribution of goods. An Industrial licence lets you import raw materials and manufacture, assemble, package and export products. You can form a Free Zone Company (FZCO) with one or more shareholders (under the 2023 regulations the old single-owner FZE is now treated as an FZCO) or register a branch of an existing UAE or foreign company.
Your workspace sets your visas. DSO's flexi desk allows up to two residence visas, a fixed desk up to three per desk, and private offices of 12 to 50 sqm come with a visa allowance based on size. Larger teams can take office floors, warehouses or light industrial units. Our Dubai flexi-desk and office rental service can help you compare options.
Note that IFZA is a separate free zone whose business park is in the DSO area. An IFZA licence is issued by IFZA, not DSO, with its own packages and rules; see our IFZA company setup page if you are comparing. For a tech company that wants to sit beside large multinationals, compare Dubai Internet City.
DSO's process has three stages: a consultation to fix your activities and space, documents and approval leading to the licence, then residence visas and banking. DSO's in-house government services handle work permits and visas for registered companies. After the licence come the Dubai investor visa, staff employment visas and a corporate bank account. DSO publishes no overall timeline, so we give you one based on your activity.
DSO says it is a qualifying free zone for corporate tax, so a Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% on qualifying income; other income is taxed at 9%. A DSO licence covers the free zone. Selling on the mainland needs a distributor, a mainland licence or, for eligible activities, Dubai's Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit.
Cost depends on the licence type, activities, workspace, number of visas and licence term. Message us on WhatsApp or live chat and we'll send a written quote.
What's Included
- Advice on licence type (service, trade or industrial) and on DSO vs IFZA, DIC or the mainland
- Activity check against DSO's permitted lists
- Workspace selection matched to your visa needs
- Application and documents through DSO's member portal
- Licence and company documents
- Establishment card, visa and Emirates ID applications
- Support with the corporate bank account application
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Activities that DSO permits under a Service, Trade or Industrial licence
- One or more shareholders for an FZCO, or an existing parent company for a branch
- Any share capital DSO sets for your company type
- A DSO workspace (flexi desk, fixed desk, office, warehouse or industrial unit) sized for your visas
- Approvals from other authorities where your activity is regulated
- NOC from your current employer if you hold a UAE employment visa and your situation requires one
Required Documents
- Passport copies of shareholders, directors and manager
- Passport photos and, for UAE residents, visa and Emirates ID copies
- Business plan or activity description
- Proposed trade names
- Proof of address and shareholder KYC forms, as DSO requests
- Corporate shareholder or branch: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, board resolution, attested as required
Our Process
- Consultation: activities, licence type, structure and space
- Reserve the trade name and submit the application
- Submit the documents your DSO advisor lists
- Initial approval
- Sign the lease and pay fees
- Licence and company documents issued
- Establishment card, visas, medical test and Emirates ID through DSO government services
- Corporate bank account application
Pricing
Contact us on WhatsApp for a tailored quote for this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What licence types are available for Dubai Silicon Oasis business setup?
Three: a Service licence for specified services, a Trade licence for import, export and distribution, and an Industrial licence for manufacturing, assembly and packaging. Your activities decide which you need.
How many visas can I get with a DSO licence?
DSO's flexi desk allows up to two residence visas and a fixed desk up to three per desk. Private offices of 12 to 50 sqm, and larger units, come with an allowance based on size. We confirm the quota for your exact space.
Is IFZA the same as Dubai Silicon Oasis?
No. IFZA is a separate free zone authority whose business park is in the DSO area. IFZA issues its own licences with its own packages; DSO licences are issued by DSO under DIEZ. We can compare both for you.
Can one person own a DSO company?
Yes. Under DIEZ's 2023 regulations, a Free Zone Company (FZCO) can have one or more shareholders. The separate FZE form is no longer used.
How long does DSO company setup take?
DSO doesn't publish a fixed timeline. It depends on your activity, documents and any outside approvals. We give you a realistic schedule once we know your activities.
How much does Dubai Silicon Oasis business setup cost?
It depends on the licence type, number of activities, workspace, visas and licence term. Tell us your plans and we'll send a written quote.
Do DSO companies pay corporate tax?
DSO is a qualifying free zone, so a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income. Every company must register with the Federal Tax Authority.
Can I run a mainland business from DSO?
Inside DSO's privately developed areas (the Administrative Zone), businesses can operate on a DET mainland licence with a DSO Business Operation Permit. A DSO free zone licence covers the free zone; mainland trade needs a distributor, a mainland licence or an eligible-activity permit.