Business set up in Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

If you’re starting a new business in the UAE, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with the country’s many free zones. With over 40 spanning the length and breadth of the Emirates, our free zones are famed around the world for low tax and thriving business environments.

Set up in a free zone and you’ll not only benefit from 0% tax on both corporate and personal incomes but you can also take advantage of 100% foreign ownership, the ability to repatriate 100% of your capital and profits, zero import or export tax, low set up and operating costs, state of the art facilities and much more.

And these are just the standard benefits that you can expect to find in any of the UAE’s free zones. Each individual zone also brings with it a range of unique advantages. In the case of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), those advantages include access to world-class business technology, a rich and supportive business environment and a range of support services including startup incubators and funding programmes.

Why do business in Dubai?

Dubai has long been a popular business destination with entrepreneurs from every corner of the globe. The emirate, and indeed the wider UAE, is famed the world over for its incredibly attractive tax regime and supportive business environment.

The emirate, and indeed the wider UAE, is famed the world over for its incredibly attractive tax regime and supportive business environment.

There is also Dubai’s excellent strategic location to consider – perfectly placed between the thriving markets of East and West. Dubai also boasts world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities, and is home to any number of startup incubators and grant schemes designed to help small businesses reach their full potential.

About DSOA

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) was established in 2005 and is a 100% government-owned free zone. The aim in launching the free zone was to ‘facilitate and promote modern technology based industries’ and support the region’s growing demand for business expansion.

Spanning an incredible 7.2 million square metres, DSOA is divided into five core sections – industrial, commercial, education, living and residences, and public facilities. The free zone is home to a range of office space, warehousing units, land for development and state-of-the-art utility infrastructure featuring advanced telecommunications, electricity, and road networks.

As well as benefiting from the excellent facilities, companies setting up here can also take advantage of the free zone‘s native startup incubation centre and receive ongoing support and guidance on the best way to raise venture capital funding.

Dubai Silicon Oasis license types

There are several Dubai Silicon Oasis license types to choose from. These include operating licenses such as the service license which allows a registered business to carry out only specified services; the trade license which permits the holder to practice activities related to import, export, and distribution of items and goods as specified; and the industrial license which allows a business to import raw material, manufacture, and process, assemble, package, and export a finished product.

DSOA also issues a special license known as the Business Operation Permit: This is a special permit issued by Dubai Economic Department (DED) to companies operating in the free zone’s Administrative Zone.

DSOA also issues a special license known as the Business Operation Permit: This is a special permit issued by Dubai Economic Department (DED) to companies operating in the free zone’s Administrative Zone.

As well as issuing a variety of licenses, DSOA also welcomes a range of company types. These include branches of existing local or international companies, Free Zone Establishments (FZE), Free Zone Companies (FZCO), and existing DED registered companies (which are permitted to trade within the Administrative Zone).

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) Company Setup Cost

The Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) company setup cost is relatively low, making the free zone particularly popular with entrepreneurs looking for the most cost-effective path to company ownership.

With all Dubai Silicon Oasis registration fees considered, you can expect to pay in the region of AED 5,000 to setup here. Of course the exact level of Dubai Silicon Oasis registration fees that you will pay will depend greatly on the nature of your business and your chosen company setup. Other costs to consider include visa fees and rent on office space or warehousing facilities.

Setting up in Dubai Silicon Oasis

The process of setting up in DSOA is incredibly straightforward. The first step is to complete and submit your application form along with some standard documentation including:

• Letter of Intent
• Passport Copy(s)
• NOC for UAE residents only
• Bank statement/reference letter or audited financial report
• Company business plan

Once approved, you are then required to pay any necessary fees and submit your legal documents before finally signing your agreement and demonstrating proof of any required share capital.

Providing your application is both complete and accurate, you can expect to establish your business within just seven days. Any inaccuracies in your application or supporting documents, however, could result in delays or potentially the outright rejection of your application – costing you both time and money.

To avoid this, many entrepreneurs choose to work with a company setup expert to manage the application process for you. When working with such an expert you are usually only expected to provide some basic documents and a few hours of your time for a consultation, the company formation firm will then take care of the rest.

How to establish a business in Dubai

Business setup in Dubai and the UAE is in fact a fairly transparent process, but that does not mean working through the steps comes without its many challenges. There can be a fair bit of red tape, and many details to work through that you may be better off trusting to the professionals – that is, one of the many company setup providers in the country – who do it every day.

With the help of a company formation specialist, your business could be up and running within a matter of days. All that is required of you is some basic documentation – such as passport copies and your application form – and a little of your time. Then you can rest assured that your application is both accurate and complete.

But before you even get to the step of contacting a UAE business setup consultant, it’s best you get a general feel for how it all works. What sort of company type is the right fit for you? What industry categorisation does your business fall into? Will you need a visa for you or dependents or employees? What sort of costs upfront and on an annual basis can you expect? What are your legal responsibilities? What do you need to know about corporate banking?

With a clear idea of what you want to achieve, a company formation specialist can take care of everything else, helping you decide between free zone and mainland setups, managing your entire license and visa applications, and even helping you open your corporate bank account.