DTEC - Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Center

Company setup from 18,375 AED (flexi desk included)

Registration from 3-4 weeks

Bank account Guaranteed

Residence visas for 2 years

Emirabiz experts’ opinion

Is DTEC suitable for your business?

— Yes

• If you have an ambitious IT project, DTEC is specifically designed for startups in technology and innovative development. In this tech hub, you will find everything needed to create breakthrough products—modern, cozy, and high-tech spaces with cafes, free Wi-Fi, printing equipment, conference rooms, and even showers, where you can work 24/7.
• If you wish to work and live in one place, DSO has residential buildings with a wide range of amenities. It's like a city within a city, where everything is within easy reach.
• If you have a young company in the IT and creative professions and want to do business in Dubai, DTEC is an excellent and affordable option to establish yourself in the emirate, as the setup costs are lower than even in other free zones outside of Dubai.
• If you plan to grow, after 5 years you will need to move from DTEC to Dubai Silicon Oasis.
• If you need a creative environment and a community of like-minded individuals who will push you to grow, DTEC regularly hosts training programs, accelerator programs, and professional meetings and events.
• If you belong to a high risk nationality, DTEC is a Dubai free zone and thus has a flexible visa processing system with almost no restrictions on nationalities.

— No

• If you engage in heavy manufacturing, trading or consultancy activities. DTEC business activities are mainly technology-based. For other activities that are not tech-related, you'd better try UAQ Free Zone, JAFZA Free Zone, or Hamriyah Free Zone.
• If you're interested in different business activities, such as trading, we recommend exploring the Dubai South free zone for setting up your business in Dubai. While the price range may be slightly higher, Dubai South offers a broader range of activities to choose from.

DTEC company formation process

The registration process for DTEC begins with an initial approval, which determines if your business model qualifies for the free zone. This approval is issued by the UAE security authorities, not the free zone itself. Once the initial approval is granted, the company owner may complete the registration process. Visiting in person is not required. The registration can be done remotely.

Step 1. Determine which type of license offered by the DTEC free zone suits you.

It is crucial to approach this question carefully, as choosing the wrong activity, registration authority, or location can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or getting a residence visa.

Step 2. Prepare the necessary documents. DTEC requires a minimal documentation package.

• passport with a 6-month validity
• business plan
• copy of UAE entry stamp/resident visa and Emirates ID (if applicable)
• photo
• residential address
• email
• educational certificate of General Manager

Registration can be completed remotely - you don’t need to be physically present. Also you have to pay all the registration and processing fees at this step.

Step 3. Receive the license and registration documents for the company, namely

• Certificate of incorporation
• License
• Lease agreement
• MoA and Articles of Association

Step 4. Receive an establishment card that contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residence visas.

Step 5. Apply for an entry permit.

If you apply from inside the UAE, after the entry permit is issued you have to change your visa status from the previous visa to a residence visa. If you are outside the UAE, then arrive in the country, get your entry permit stamped and then proceed with the rest of the residence visa process, submitting the necessary documents.

Step 6. Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residency visa.

Step 7. Apply for an Emirates ID.

Step 8. Complete biometrics procedure in one of the Emirates ID centers.

Step 9. Once you have the results of your medical test and biometrics you can submit all the details for a visa approval. Your electronic visa will be sent to you by email. You can also find it in the UAE ICP app.

Step 10. Receive your Emirates ID. After the residence visa is issued, the Government prepares a plastic identity card which is an important document that is required to open a bank account, rent an apartment, pay bills or fines, etc. It also entitles you to many local services and discounts.

Step 11. Open a bank account. Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. The approval may take a few weeks.

After receiving the account details, you can start running your business in the UAE.

Note: A manager of your company (who may also serve as a director and shareholder) must possess a UAE resident visa, preferably issued by DTEC itself. Typically, company registration in DTEC takes 3-4 weeks. There are no nationality restrictions, allowing anyone to apply for the initial approval.

DTEC licenses and cost

DTEC's pricing structure sets it apart from other Dubai free zones offering one of the cheapest packages for visa eligible companies in Dubai.

Here are the setup costs for DTEC companies:

In DTEC you can open either a service or a trade license.

Each license can have up to 5 activities.

Annual license fee in the DTEC free zone is 5,000 AED for a service license, and it is valid only for the first five years. When the company moves to the DSOA free zone this fee increases to 8,000 AED.

DTEC business activities

DTEC specializes in a wide range of activities, fostering a vibrant and focused community. The available options include, but not limited to:

• Computer Graphic Design Services
• Software house
• Electronic Chips Programming
• IT Infrastructure
• Web-design
• Public Networking Services
• Internet Content Provider
• Portal Building
• Portal

To ensure your business qualifies for DTEC registration, it's highly recommended to consult with business setup consultants in Dubai. Their professional advice will help you find the right solution and increase the likelihood of approval.

DTEC facilities

DTEC offers various workspace options tailored to your needs:

Within DTEC, you have access to modern business facilities available 24/7, including:

• Comfortable workspaces
• High-speed Wi-Fi
• Conference rooms
• Cafes
• Telephone booths
• Fashionable common areas
• Showers
• Gaming room
• 1 dedicated parking slot for every 50 sqm of office space

Additionally, DTEC hosts a variety of acceleration programs, professional events, and social gatherings on a monthly basis.

It's important to note that after 5 years, you will need to transition to a full-time physical office within Silicon Oasis. This will grant you the opportunity to have your own office of any size and expand your team if necessary.

DTEC visa costs

DTEC follows the visa procedures and costs set by the Silicon Oasis free zone.

Visa costs in DTEC (AED):

Please note that some nationalities may be required to provide an attested birth certificate upon Immigration request. The company manager must also provide a legalized educational degree during the visa processing. The manager can hold a UAE residence visa in DTEC or any other location within the UAE.

DTEC company license renewal

Renewal of your DTEC company can be done remotely, eliminating the need for your personal presence. Simply make the payment and provide the originally signed lease agreement for your facility. The renewal process typically takes 3-4 working days.

DTEC renewal costs (Flexi-Desk)

DTEC company amendments

DTEC offers flexibility when it comes to making changes to your business. You have the option to modify the following aspects:

• Company name
• Business activity
• Director/manager
• Shareholding structure
• Facility (flexi-desk or office)

Most amendments require the personal presence of the company owner or general manager.

DTEC company liquidation

If you decide to liquidate your DTEC company, a liquidation fee of 1,000 AED will be charged at the time of license registration. This fee covers all the costs associated with company cancellation, including advertising for liquidation. The process takes about 1 month. It consists of these major steps:

1. Visa cancellation  (7-10 working days) - if there is a visa in the company.
2. Establishment card cancellation (7-10 working days) - if it was a visa eligible company.
3. License cancellation.

In the event of liquidation, you're required to provide a final audit report and return all original company documents. Any existing lease agreements should be terminated and visas closed.

If you had a corporate bank account, it should be closed before applying for company liquidation. You should obtain a letter proof from the bank confirming that.

After the company is dissolved, you will get an official deregistration letter from the free zone as a formal confirmation of the liquidation.

About DTEC

Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Center (DTEC) is an innovation hub situated within the Silicon Oasis Free Zone, specifically designed for IT startups. It offers an ideal environment to launch and grow your business amidst a dynamic community in Dubai, providing both residential and business facilities within the same area.

DTEC registered companies can be within the freezone for a period of 5 years, after which they are required to move to the Silicon Oasis Freezone.

You do not need to rent an office for the registration. The license is issued with a flexi desk agreement.

Flexi desk usage is required at least 36 hrs/month to avoid lease cancellation.

There are no paid-up capital requirements here. Annual audits are required.

The resident visa will be valid for 2 years and the company license will need to be renewed annually to keep this resident visa valid. The visa holder will also need to come into the country at least once every 180 days to keep the visa valid.