A Dedicated Science Community
The first science-focused free zone in the region — 350+ companies across pharma, life sciences, energy and environment — so a science business sits among peers, suppliers and partners, not generic tenants.
Dubai Science Park (DSP)
Company Formation
Set up a science, pharma, life-sciences or energy-research business in the region's first science-focused free zone — with the LEED-certified labs, warehouses and ecosystem that lab-based work actually needs.
- 100% Ownership
- Established 2015
- TECOM Group
- Science & R&D
- Fitted Labs
The Region's Science Community
Dubai Science Park (DSP) was established in 2015 by TECOM Group, part of Dubai Holding, as the region's first science-focused business community. It holds more than 350 companies employing over 3,600 people, with startups and SMEs around 40%. Covering human, plant, material, environmental and energy sciences, it offers a LEED Silver-certified laboratory complex in Al Barsha South.
Dubai Science Park was established in 2015 by TECOM Group, part of Dubai Holding, as the first science-focused business community in the region. It now holds more than 350 companies employing over 3,600 people, with startups and SMEs making up roughly 40% of them. The remit covers human, plant, material, environmental and energy sciences — research, prototyping and innovation across the life-sciences and energy fields, rather than general commercial activity.
What makes DSP practical for a science business is the infrastructure. The district has a LEED Silver-certified laboratory complex, warehouses, and land for sale and lease alongside offices, in Al Barsha South — the fitted labs and storage that pharma, biotech and materials companies need but that a standard office free zone can't provide. For a research or life-sciences venture, that combination of sector ecosystem and lab-ready facilities is the reason to choose DSP.
The region's first science-focused free zone, with lab-ready facilities
Why Dubai Science Park
DSP is built for science, not retrofitted for it. For a pharma, biotech, materials or energy-research business, fitted labs, warehousing and a science community in one place are the deciding factors a general free zone can't match.
LEED-certified Laboratories
A LEED Silver-certified laboratory complex gives research and pharma businesses fitted, compliant lab space from day one — the hardest thing to find in a normal office zone.
Warehousing and Land
Warehouses and land for sale or lease alongside offices, suited to materials, manufacturing, storage and distribution for science and energy businesses.
Built for R&D and Prototyping
The district is oriented around research, prototyping and innovation across human, plant, material, environmental and energy sciences — the activity, not just the address.
Startup-Friendly
Startups and SMEs make up around 40% of the community, so an early-stage science venture is in good company and can scale within the same district.
Full Ownership, UAE Free-Zone Status
100% foreign ownership with no local-shareholder requirement, and eligibility for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income.
Ideal for
- Pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- Life-sciences and medical-device businesses
- Materials, chemicals and industrial science
- Energy, cleantech and environmental science
- Agritech, food science and nutrition
- Research, prototyping and laboratory businesses
Dubai Science Park Licence Types
DSP licences cover research, products and the services around them.
Science & R&D Licence
For research, prototyping and laboratory work across life sciences, pharma, materials, energy and environmental science.
- Pharma & biotech R&D
- Life sciences & diagnostics
- Materials & chemical science
- Energy & environmental research
- Agritech & food science
Industrial & Trading Licence
For manufacturing, processing, distribution and trading of scientific, pharmaceutical and energy products, using the park's warehouses and land.
- Pharma & medical-product distribution
- Light manufacturing & processing
- Scientific equipment trading
- Warehousing & logistics
- Import, export and re-export
Service / Professional Licence
For consultancy, technical and professional services supporting the science businesses in the park.
- Scientific & technical consultancy
- Regulatory & registration services
- Quality & laboratory services
- Professional & corporate services
- Specialist B2B services
Legal Structures Under Dubai Science Park
DSP recognises the standard TECOM / free-zone legal forms — the right one depends on shareholder count and whether you are incorporating fresh or extending a company.
Free Zone LLC (Single Shareholder)
A limited-liability entity with one shareholder, individual or corporate — for a founder or wholly-owned science business.
Free Zone LLC (Multiple Shareholders)
A limited-liability entity with two or more shareholders, for partnered ventures and joint ventures.
Branch of a Company
A branch of an existing UAE or foreign science / pharma company, operating under the parent's name and balance sheet.
How a Dubai Science Park Company Is Formed
Five steps from activity selection to a banked, visa-ready entity.
- 01
Confirm Activity & Licence
Pick the activities and matching licence — science / R&D, industrial / trading, or service — and the lab, warehouse or office space the work needs.
- 02
Reserve the Name & Apply
Reserve the company name and file the licence application with shareholder and activity documents to the DSP authority.
- 03
Choose Facilities
Select facilities — fitted laboratory space, warehouse, land or office — to match the licence and the science activity.
- 04
Licence & Establishment Card
On approval, the trade licence and establishment card are issued, which unlocks visa allocation.
- 05
Bank Account & Visas
Open the corporate bank account and process investor and employee visas with Emirates ID and medicals.
Documents Required for Dubai Science Park Setup
A standard science free-zone document set — corporate shareholders add a few group documents.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Proposed company names and the planned science activities
- Personal information / KYC form
- For corporate shareholders: parent licence, MoA, board resolution and UBO list
Why Choose Dubai Science Park
DSP pairs free-zone basics with science-ready infrastructure few zones can match.
100% foreign ownership with no local-shareholder requirement
The region's first science-focused business community
LEED Silver-certified laboratory complex
Warehouses and land for materials, pharma and energy businesses
An ecosystem built around R&D and prototyping
0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime
A startup-friendly community (SMEs ~40% of partners)
Support for product registration with UAE regulators
Tax & Compliance Position — Dubai Science Park
DSP entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. VAT applies in the standard way; goods-handling science businesses should confirm Designated-Zone status.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
DSP entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income; R&D, IP and qualifying product activities are common candidates.
QFZP eligibilityQFZP eligibility needs Qualifying Income, adequate Free Zone substance, arm's-length transfer pricing and audited financials. R&D, IP-licensing and manufacturing income each have specific rules we assess per business.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Standard VAT Regime
DSP entities follow standard UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold, with input-tax recovery on business costs. Certain medicines and medical equipment carry their own VAT treatment, which we map per product.
Designated Zone status: verify with FTADSP areas may carry VAT Designated-Zone status under Cabinet 59/2017, relevant to physical-goods movement for pharma, materials and equipment businesses. Confirm the current status for the specific licensed area before relying on it.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment
- Audited financial statements (free zone requirement; mandatory for QFZP)
- Trade-licence renewal with the free zone authority
- Product registration with the relevant UAE regulator (pharma / medical / food)
- ESR notification + report where a Relevant Activity is carried on
- UBO register with the free zone authority
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (VAT Designated Zones)
Sectors Active in Dubai Science Park
DSP's tenant base spans the life-sciences and energy fields.
Pharma & Biotech
Life Sciences & Diagnostics
Materials & Chemicals
Energy & Environment
Agritech & Food Science
Medical Devices
Science Distribution
Research & R&D
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs Dubai Science Park setups end-to-end — from activity scoping through to a banked, visa-ready entity registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
Science-Activity Fluency
We map pharma, life-sciences and energy-research activities to the right DSP licence, and flag product-registration needs early.
Lab & Facility Guidance
Help selecting fitted lab, warehouse or land space against the licence and the science activity.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks that onboard science and pharma firms, with the compliance file they ask for.
Investor & Employee Visas
Investor and employee visas processed alongside Emirates ID and medicals — scaled to a research team.
Corporate Tax & VAT
FTA registrations and ongoing filings, including QFZP assessment and Designated-Zone confirmation for goods.
Product Registration
Coordination with the relevant UAE regulator for pharma, medical or food product registration where required.
Meet Our Specialists
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of a Dubai Science Park setup — formation, facilities, tax and ongoing compliance.
Why Founders Choose Avyanco for Dubai Science Park
Three things that come up in every DSP engagement once the licence is issued.
Science-Sector Aware
We set up pharma, life-sciences and energy businesses and know how DSP's labs, warehouses and regulatory touchpoints work.
End-to-End Delivery
Licence, facilities, bank, visas, product registration and tax — handled by one team on one engagement letter.
Built for Lab-Based Business
Recommendations shaped by how research and product businesses actually operate, not a generic office template.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
Dubai Science Park suits pharma, life-sciences, materials and energy-research businesses. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE companies through Avyanco.
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
Dubai Science Park — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in Dubai Science Park.
What is Dubai Science Park?
Dubai Science Park (DSP) is the region's first science-focused free zone. It was established in 2015 by TECOM Group, part of Dubai Holding, and is home to more than 350 companies across pharma, life sciences, energy and environmental science. It offers a LEED-certified laboratory complex, warehouses and land alongside offices in Al Barsha South.
Does DSP have laboratory facilities?
Yes — that is one of its main draws. DSP has a LEED Silver-certified laboratory complex, so research, pharma and life-sciences businesses get fitted, compliant lab space, which is difficult to source in a standard office free zone. It also offers warehouses and land for materials and product businesses.
What kinds of business is DSP best for?
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, life-sciences and medical-device businesses, materials and chemical science, energy and cleantech research, agritech and food science, and laboratory / R&D ventures.
Can a foreign founder own 100% of a DSP company?
Yes. As a free zone, DSP permits full foreign ownership with no UAE-national shareholder requirement.
Does DSP qualify for the 0% UAE Corporate Tax rate?
DSP is a UAE free zone for Corporate Tax purposes. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person; non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. R&D, IP and qualifying product activities are common candidates, which we assess at the planning stage.
Do science products need separate registration?
Often yes. Pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food products typically require registration with the relevant UAE regulator on top of the trade licence. Avyanco identifies which registrations apply to your product and coordinates them as part of the setup.
Verification & independence
Content verified against the official Dubai Science Park / TECOM Group sources and Wikipedia as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of Dubai Science Park, TECOM Group, Dubai Holding and all UAE government authorities, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Free zone licence categories, laboratory and land availability, product-registration rules, VAT Designated-Zone status and Corporate Tax Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve, and the legacy 'tax-free' free-zone incentives have been superseded by the UAE Corporate Tax regime. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with TECOM Group and the relevant authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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