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Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDMCDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDMCDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZ2454ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAORAKEZ
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

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Other free zones in Dubai

  • Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA)
  • Dubai Auto Zone (DUCAMZ) (DUCAMZ)
  • Dubai CommerCity (DCC)
  • Dubai Design District (D3)
  • Dubai Flower Centre (DFC)
  • Dubai Free Zone at Mina Rashid (DUQE) (DUQE)
  • Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)
  • Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)
  • Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
  • Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP)
  • Dubai Maritime City (DMC)
  • Dubai Media City (DMC)

Want help setting up in DIC?

Leave your details and an adviser will call you back about setting up in Dubai Internet City. There's no charge to ask.

Dubai Internet City (DIC)Free zone tax status and compliance

Dubai

Dubai Development Authority

The Verdict

Global Tech Powerhouse; The Epicenter of 'Qualifying IP' Audits.

I. Statutory Basis

As a Qualifying Free Zone Person, this jurisdiction requires strict adherence toCore Income-Generating Activities.DIC is a Non-Designated Zone. QFZP status is strictly applied to 'Qualifying Intellectual Property' and authorized 'Headquarter Services.' Compliance requires a granular R&D ledger to satisfy OECD-aligned tax standards.

Compliance Roadmap

01

Forensic R&D Logging: Establishing a localized ledger of software development costs to satisfy the Nexus Ratio

02

Revenue Decoupling: Implementing a billing structure that separates software licensing (0%) from implementation/consulting (9%)

03

CIGA Localization: Documenting that the 'Core Income-Generating Activities' (coding, architecture) occur physically within the DIC perimeter

Audit Hotspots

Treating hardware resale or standard IT support as 'Qualifying' tech income

Failing to localize R&D, leading to a Nexus Ratio of 0 and a resulting 9% tax on all IP profits

Inadequate documentation of 'Copyrighted Software' status for SaaS platforms

Jurisdictional Connectivity

Check your DIC setup

Scout scores Dubai Internet City against your activity, ownership and visa needs, with full setup costs, and compares it with every other free zone and mainland.

See costs and setup options
Global Parent

15%

DIC

0%

Live Node
Dubai Mainland

9%

Forensic Brief

Qualifying Income requires physical CIGA within the zone boundaries. Article 18 mapping is mandatory to maintain 0% status.