Compare Dubai Silicon Oasis and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park for General Trading & Import/Export setup. Side-by-side comparison of fees, processing times, substance, and bank approval.
Dubai Silicon Oasis vs Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park for General Trading & Import/Export: Dubai Silicon Oasis starts at AED 18,500 (90% bank approval) and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park at AED 5,510 (85%). On Year-1 cost, Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park is the lower-priced option.
| Jurisdiction | Baseline Gov Fee | Processing Speed | Banking | Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 18,500 | 2-4 days | Moderate | Tech-focused free zone with R&D incentives, smart city infrastructure | |
| AED 5,510 | 5-10 days | Moderate | R&D and innovation, technology transfer, university partnerships |
Tech-focused free zone with R&D incentives, smart city infrastructure
General trading is one of the most popular free zone activities and allows import, export, and distribution of a wide range of goods. Certain restricted items such as pharmaceuticals, weapons, and food products require additional approvals from relevant UAE federal authorities. The trade license must list the specific commodity groups the business intends to trade.
General trading qualifies for the 0% free zone rate on qualifying income, provided the goods are not sold to the UAE mainland without appropriate customs clearance. VAT at 5% applies to domestic supplies; re-exports from designated zones are zero-rated.
Trading companies should expect thorough KYC checks, especially for cross-border transactions. Letters of credit and trade finance facilities require established banking relationships. Banks will request trade references and may ask for evidence of existing supplier or buyer contracts.
DSO's general trading licence benefits from the zone's integrated tech park environment, where traders in electronics, components, and technology hardware have direct access to a community of over 10,000 tech professionals and the zone's semiconductor design ecosystem for product development partnerships.
Jan 2026: Dubai leadership launched AED 12.8bn expansion (District IO and Block 14)
Feb 2024: Dubai Metro Blue Line expansion to connect directly to DSO
Oct 2023: DSO recognized in global free zone awards for SMEs and R&D
Dec 2022: MBRIF partnership with Dtec included discounted lease rates and first-year fee waivers
Company setup in Dubai Silicon Oasis starts from AED 18,500 per year.
Dubai Silicon Oasis processes company registrations in 2-4 working days.
Bank account approval probability is 90%. Banking difficulty is rated Moderate.
Most UAE free zones including Dubai Silicon Oasis allow remote company incorporation. Bank account opening may require an in-person visit.
Dubai Silicon Oasis does not require paid-up share capital for most standard license types. Share capital is notional.
Dubai Silicon Oasis wins on 3 of 4 dimensions. We recommend Dubai Silicon Oasis for cost-conscious founders and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park if r&d and innovation, technology transfer, university partnerships.
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