Dubai Science Park is built for businesses that need more than a standard office licence. A pharmaceutical marketing office may need sector approval. A diagnostics company may need a suitable laboratory. A medical-device distributor may need storage, import permissions and product registration. Choosing the correct activity and facility at the start can prevent expensive changes later.
Dubai Science Park, commonly called DSP, is part of TECOM Group and operates under the licensing jurisdiction of the Dubai Development Authority. In February 2026, TECOM reported that the district had more than 90 laboratories and over 6,500 professionals working across life, energy and environmental sciences.
This guide explains the Dubai Science Park company setup process, current published fees, licence activities, facilities and approvals you should check before applying.
What Is Dubai Science Park?
Dubai Science Park is a sector-focused business district in Barsha South. It serves life sciences, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food science, medical equipment, environmental services and energy-related businesses. Its community includes international companies such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Boston Scientific, Himalaya Wellness and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
The district provides Grade A offices, LEED-certified laboratories, warehouses and light industrial units. It had more than 500 customers and 6,500 professionals as of 2025, according to TECOM Group.
You can review the official Dubai Science Park business setup page before choosing your facility. For a broader comparison of jurisdictions, Nexture’s guide to Dubai mainland vs free zone business setup explains how local market access, office needs and operating flexibility differ.
In a 30-minute call we map your situation against jurisdiction, activity and cost — no commitment required.
Who Should Consider Dubai Science Park?
DSP suits companies whose activity genuinely fits the science cluster. Common examples include:
Pharmaceutical research, marketing, storage or manufacturing
Biotechnology and life-science services
Medical and scientific equipment businesses
Diagnostic testing and laboratory analysis
Food research, production or specialised storage
Cosmetics, fragrances and personal-care product development
Environmental testing and consultancy
Renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste-management services
The DDA’s official licence categories cover therapeutics, food, agriculture, environment, medical or scientific devices, speciality supplies, diagnostics, life-science services and several energy-related segments. Activities within a segment can include research, storage, marketing, manufacturing, import and re-export or support services.
DSP may be a poor fit for a general consultancy with no scientific connection or for a patient-facing clinic. In those cases, another free zone, Dubai mainland or a healthcare-specific jurisdiction may be more suitable. Use Nexture’s step-by-step Dubai business setup guide to compare the wider options before paying any authority fee.
Business Structures Available in DSP
Most applicants use one of two structures.
Free Zone Limited Liability Company
An FZ-LLC is a separate legal entity. Its shareholders may be individuals, corporate entities or a combination of both. The authority issues a certificate of incorporation, commercial licence, directors’ register and articles of association.
Branch of an Existing Company
A UAE or foreign company can register a branch in the DDA free zone. The branch remains legally dependent on its parent company and normally carries out activities connected to the parent’s business.
Your choice affects document attestation, liability, banking and future ownership changes. A foreign corporate shareholder or overseas parent will usually need notarised and UAE-attested corporate documents.
Dubai Science Park Licence Activities
The correct activity determines your licence fee, facility and approval route. The published DDA schedule separates many DSP activities into non-manufacturing and manufacturing categories.
Activity segment | Examples of permitted work | Published annual licence fee |
Therapeutics | R&D, storage, marketing, import and re-export | AED 15,000 |
Food | R&D, storage, marketing, import and re-export | AED 15,000 |
Medical or scientific devices | R&D, storage, sales promotion, servicing and import or re-export | AED 15,000 |
Diagnostics and analysis | Screening, testing, R&D and support services | AED 15,000 |
Life-science services | R&D, storage, regulatory support, data and related professional services | AED 15,000 |
Manufacturing or production segments | Production, processing, packaging and labelling | AED 25,000 |
These figures come from the DDA’s published licence categories decision. The schedule also limits how many activities may sit under one segment, so you should confirm the exact combination before applying.
Dubai Science Park Company Setup Cost
There is no single package price for every DSP company. A small scientific consultancy and a pharmaceutical manufacturer need very different premises and approvals.
The current DDA registration service lists these authority charges:
Cost item | Published amount |
Company registration | AED 3,500 |
Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 per transaction |
Innovation Dirham | AED 10 per transaction |
Standard DSP segment licence | Usually AED 15,000 annually |
Manufacturing or production segment | Usually AED 25,000 annually |
The licence fee is calculated using your chosen activities. Your final first-year budget may also include office or laboratory rent, visa and establishment-card charges, document attestation, translation, fit-out, inspections, product registration and external regulator fees. DDA’s online service states a registration fee of AED 3,500 and calculates licence fees according to the selected activities.
Ask for a written quotation that separates authority fees, premises, visas and third-party approvals. Nexture’s company formation and business setup service can help you prepare a costed structure before submission.
Office, Laboratory and Warehouse Options
DSP offers several property types, so the premises should match the licensed activity.
Commercial offices: Suitable for regional headquarters, sales teams, scientific consultancies and administrative operations.
Laboratories: The LEED-certified Laboratory Complex supports research, product development, testing, diagnostics, manufacturing and production.
Light industrial units: DSP lists units of around 5,000 to 6,000 square feet for businesses needing ready industrial infrastructure.
Warehouses: Units range from about 6,000 to 16,800 square feet and include loading areas, fire-protection systems, parking and 24-hour security.
Do not sign a lease until the authority and any external regulator confirm that the premises can support your activity. A marketing office, wet laboratory, medical warehouse and manufacturing unit will have different technical requirements.
Documents Required
An individual-shareholder FZ-LLC generally starts with an application form, passport copies and the appointment details of the director and general manager. Corporate shareholders must also provide incorporation documents, constitutional documents, a good-standing certificate and an incorporation resolution. DDA may request an external authority NOC where the selected activity is regulated.
Prepare the following early:
Passport copies of shareholders, directors and manager
UAE visa and Emirates ID copies, where applicable
Proposed company names
Business plan or activity description
Corporate documents for company shareholders
Board resolution and power of attorney, where applicable
Facility details or lease proposal
Regulator approval or NOC, if required
Incomplete corporate documents are a common cause of delay, especially when overseas notarisation and UAE embassy attestation are needed.
Step-by-Step DSP Company Formation Process
- Confirm the Activity
Describe what the company will sell, manufacture, test, store or research. Avoid choosing a broad activity simply because it sounds close.
- Check External Approvals
Regulated pharmaceutical, medical-product and device activities may require approval from the Emirates Drug Establishment, which regulates medical and pharmaceutical products at the federal level. Food, cosmetics and consumer-product activities may involve Dubai Municipality.
- Choose the Legal Structure
Select an FZ-LLC or branch. Confirm shareholders, manager, authorised signatory and ownership percentages.
- Select Suitable Premises
Choose an office, laboratory, warehouse or industrial unit that meets the activity and inspection requirements.
- Submit the Application
Upload the application and supporting documents through the free-zone business community portal. DDA lists 10 working days for provisional approval and two working days for registration once the file reaches that stage.
- Pay the Invoice and Receive the Licence
After approval, pay the registration, licence and property-related charges. You will receive the incorporation and licensing documents.
- Complete Post-Licence Work
This may include immigration registration, investor or employee visas, corporate tax registration, bank-account opening, product registration, inspections and operational permits. Nexture’s UAE immigration guide explains the main residency routes for investors and employees.
We’ll model the requirements and send back a single-page breakdown within 24 hours.
Tax Rules for DSP Companies
A DSP licence does not create an automatic blanket tax exemption. Free-zone companies fall within the UAE corporate tax system. A Qualifying Free Zone Person may receive a 0% rate on Qualifying Income while non-qualifying taxable income is generally subject to 9%. The conditions include adequate substance, qualifying income and compliance with transfer-pricing rules.
Review the Federal Tax Authority’s Free Zone Persons guidance and Nexture’s UAE corporate tax guide before deciding how your company will contract with mainland and overseas customers.
Can a DSP Company Operate Outside the Free Zone?
DSP’s official FAQ says its licence does not by itself authorise operations outside the free zone. A company serving the mainland may need a compliant distribution arrangement, a mainland branch or another approved structure depending on what it sells and where the activity takes place.
Check this point before signing local customer contracts. Market access should shape the jurisdiction decision, not become an afterthought.
Common Setup Mistakes
The most expensive errors usually happen before the application is filed:
Selecting an activity that does not cover the real operation
Leasing premises before technical approval
Forgetting product registration or regulator licensing
Budgeting only for the trade licence
Assuming all free-zone income receives 0% corporate tax
Ignoring mainland trading restrictions
Submitting unattested overseas corporate documents
A short compliance review at the start can save weeks of corrections and repeated fees.
Conclusion
Dubai Science Park is a strong choice for a company that needs a recognised science cluster, specialist laboratories, industrial space or access to a large life-science community. The setup must still be planned carefully. Your activity, facility, regulator approvals, tax position and market-access model should work together.
Start by confirming the exact licence activity and asking for a complete first-year quotation. Once those two points are clear, the rest of the application becomes far easier to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubai Science Park a Free Zone?
Yes. DSP is a TECOM Group business district under Dubai Development Authority registration and licensing rules.
How Much Does a Dubai Science Park Licence Cost?
The published DDA schedule lists many non-manufacturing DSP segments at AED 15,000 a year and manufacturing segments at AED 25,000. Company registration is listed at AED 3,500. Premises, visas and external approvals cost extra.
Can I Open a Laboratory in DSP?
Yes. DSP provides LEED-certified laboratory space for research, product development, testing, diagnostics and certain production activities, subject to licensing and technical approvals.
How Long Does DSP Company Registration Take?
DDA lists 10 working days for provisional approval and two working days for the registration stage. Regulated activities can take longer because external approvals and inspections run on separate timelines.
Can a Foreign Company Open a DSP Branch?
Yes. DDA permits branches of foreign and UAE companies within its free zone, subject to the required parent-company documents and approvals.
