Here we have gathered the rules that apply in 2026: the stages of opening a company in DSP, verified tariffs, premises requirements and the tax regime. The key figures are checked against the official TECOM Group resources and open sources.
Why businesses choose DSP
Infrastructure is critical for science and medicine — and here it was designed with that purpose in mind.
- A dedicated environment for science and healthcare within the TECOM Group portfolio
- Premises built for R&D: offices, laboratories and warehouses, not just desks
- 100% foreign ownership of the company and free profit repatriation
- Proximity to international industry players — from medtech to pharma distribution
- Licence, lease and visas handled through the single axs portal
- The option of Qualifying Free Zone Person status with 0% tax on qualifying income
Steps to register a company in DSP
The standard TECOM scheme is joined by sector approvals for medicine and pharma.
- Choose your activities — pharma, biotech, medical devices, scientific consulting — and the company form
- Reserve the name and obtain the administration’s initial approval within 5–7 days
- Pass the sector approvals: for medical and laboratory activities, with the relevant regulators, including the DHA
- Submit the documents, pay the fees and select an office, laboratory or warehouse
- Obtain the DSP licence and establishment card (3–5 business days)
- Open a corporate account and arrange residence visas for the team
Office companies fit into four to six weeks, going by TECOM zone practice. Projects with laboratories or medical licences take longer — sector approvals add anywhere from one to several weeks.
Cost of setting up a company in DSP (2026)
DSP does not publish a price list: laboratories and warehouses are quoted individually, by floor area and fit-out. For baseline planning, the common TECOM zone tariffs will do, according to open sources.
| Cost item | Amount, AED | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | 3 520 | One-off; common TECOM zone tariff per open sources |
| Licence (annual) | from 15,020 | Per open sources; the exact tariff is on request |
| Office or workstation | around 36,000 | Per year, a guide from neighbouring TECOM zones; in DSP, on request |
| Laboratory / warehouse | on request | Depends on floor area, fit-out and temperature regime |
| Establishment card | 2 000 | Mandatory for the visa quota |
| Residence visa | 5 370 | Visa 4,220 + medical 760 + Emirates ID 390; refundable deposit 2,500 |
| First-year total | from 26,000 + premises | Registration, licence, card and one visa, excluding rent/td> |
Temperature-controlled laboratory premises are the least predictable line in the budget: prices vary many times over. Request the administration’s offer for a specific site before you finalise the business plan.
Taxation in DSP
DSP companies are subject to the general UAE regime: 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 per year, and 0% below the threshold. VAT is 5%, with mandatory registration from a taxable turnover of AED 375,000. Science and pharmaceutical companies with export revenue and a genuine presence in the zone may qualify for Qualifying Free Zone Person status and a 0% rate on qualifying income. The criteria are set by the FTA and revised from time to time.
Who DSP is right for
- Pharmaceutical and biotech companies that need laboratories and specialised warehouses
- Distributors of medical devices and health-tech start-ups
- Research and consulting teams in life sciences, energy and the environment
“For pharma and biotech, DSP is often the only option: an ordinary flexi-desk will not meet the storage and laboratory requirements. But the planning has to be different too — you start from the premises and approvals, not the licence”, notes a senior lawyer at Dynasty Business Adviser.
Set up your company in DSP with Dynasty Business Adviser
We will support the whole project: sector approvals, selecting a laboratory or warehouse, the licence, visas and a UAE bank account. Write to us — we will put together an estimate and a launch schedule for your science or medical business.
Get a consultation
Pricing data is current as of the publication date (13 July 2026) and verified against open sources, including dsp.ae and tecomgroup.ae; please confirm tariffs directly with the zone administration before payment.
