Dubai Internet City Company Setup
The region's flagship tech district, home to Google, Meta, Microsoft and 1,600+ tech firms.
- Ownership
- 100% foreign
- Setup time
- 2 to 4 weeks
- Licence cost
- from AED 20,000
- Visas
- Tied to office space
Dubai Internet City has been the Middle East headquarters of global technology for two decades: Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, LinkedIn and hundreds of regional software firms operate from its campus between Media City and the Marina. The in5 Tech incubator gives startups a lower-cost door into the same ecosystem.
DIC is a premium zone: office rents and licence costs sit above the mid-market, and the return is proximity, enterprise customers, hyperscaler partners and the densest tech talent pool in the region walk the same campus. For B2B software firms selling to the Gulf enterprise market, the address itself opens doors.
Who Dubai Internet City suits
- Regional HQs for tech companies
- Enterprise software and SaaS vendors
- Startups via the in5 incubator
- Tech firms recruiting senior talent
Why choose Dubai Internet City
- The Gulf's flagship technology cluster
- Neighbours include every major global tech firm
- in5 incubator route for early-stage startups
- TECOM's mature licensing and services
- Metro-connected campus next to Media City and the Marina
Dubai Internet City frequently asked questions
How much does a Dubai Internet City licence cost?
Commercial licences typically start around AED 20,000 to AED 30,000 before office costs, and DIC requires physical workspace, which drives the real budget. Startups can enter via in5 at materially lower cost.
Why pay DIC prices instead of a cheaper zone?
Ecosystem and signalling. Enterprise buyers, government digital programmes and global partners treat a DIC address as a mark of seriousness, and hiring senior tech talent is easier when the office sits where the industry already works.
What is in5?
TECOM's incubator inside the DIC ecosystem offering subsidised licences, co-working and mentorship for tech, media and design startups. It is the standard low-cost entry into Internet City before scaling to a full commercial licence.