Why choose DIC
The zone is known as the region’s leading IT address, but its strengths go well beyond that.
- 100% foreign ownership and free profit transfer — no local partner required
- Neighbouring Google, Microsoft, Intel and Dell reinforces your reputation with banks and clients
- Flexible formats: from a dedicated desk at AED 36,000 a year to entire floors for a growing team
- A GoFreelance permit at AED 7,500 a year — a legal format for solo developers with no staff on the payroll
- A single digital window, axs: licence, visas and rent are all handled through one portal
- The option of Qualifying Free Zone Person status with 0% tax on qualifying income
Steps to register a company in DIC
The process is standard for TECOM zones and runs almost entirely online.
- Choose your activities and company form — most often an FZ-LLC with share capital from AED 50,000
- Reserve the name and obtain initial approval — the administration responds within 5–7 days
- Prepare the document set: founders’ passports, a business plan, the articles and shareholder forms
- Pay the AED 3,520 registration fee and the annual licence
- Sign the lease — at minimum a desk in a DIC business centre with a visa quota
- Obtain the licence and establishment card, open a corporate account and apply for residence visas
The full cycle takes four to six weeks. Initial approval is issued within a week, the establishment card in three to five business days, and the visa with Emirates ID in another five to seven after approval. You need to visit in person twice: to sign the documents in the zone and to complete the medical test and biometrics.
Cost of setting up a company in DIC (2026)
The DIC administration confirms tariffs on request after initial approval, so plan around an estimate based on open-source data. Below is a baseline calculation for a small company with a single workspace.
| Cost item | Amount, AED | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | 3 520 | One-off payment when incorporating an FZ-LLC |
| Licence (annual) | 15 020 | In packages with a dedicated desk, reduced to the registration fee |
| Dedicated desk | 36 000 | Per year; plus a refundable deposit of 5,000 |
| Establishment card | 2 000 | Required for the visa quota |
| Residence visa | 5 370 | Visa 4,220 + medical test 760 + Emirates ID 390; refundable 2,500 deposit |
| GoFreelance permit | 7 500 | An alternative for freelancers; one-year visa — 4,600 |
| First-year total | from 48,000 | Package with a dedicated desk; visa costs counted separately |
A two-person office in a DIC business centre costs around AED 72,000 a year and already comes with a quota for three visas. All amounts are based on open-source data; the administration fixes the final estimate in the offer once your application is approved.
Taxation in DIC
DIC companies pay 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 a year; anything below the threshold is taxed at 0%. VAT is the standard 5%, with registration mandatory once taxable turnover reaches AED 375,000. IT companies that serve overseas clients and meet the economic substance requirements can qualify for Qualifying Free Zone Person status and a 0% rate on qualifying income. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) refines the conditions from time to time — check them at the moment of registration.
Who DIC suits
- Product IT companies and SaaS teams that value a prestigious address and proximity to the tech giants
- Digital marketing agencies and e-commerce projects with an international client base
- Solo developers and IT consultants — via a GoFreelance permit, without renting a full office
“DIC is above all about environment and reputation: banks are noticeably more willing to open accounts for companies with a Dubai Internet City address. But the QFZP relief does not come automatically — the activities and revenue structure need to be thought through before filing,” notes a senior lawyer at Dynasty Business Adviser.
Open a company in DIC with Dynasty Business Adviser
We will select your activities, align the business plan with the administration, arrange the licence and visas, and help you open an account with a UAE bank. Send us a request and we will calculate a precise estimate for your case within one business day.
Pricing data is accurate as of the publication date (13 July 2026) and verified against open sources, including dic.ae, tecomgroup.ae and gofreelance.ae; before making any payment, confirm the tariffs directly with the zone administration.
