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Dubai Knowledge Park free zone is the TECOM district for training, HR and learning businesses. Each company segment costs AED 15,000 a year, and a new company pays AED 3,500 once to register. Capital is the default AED 10,000. Freelance trainers and consultants can take a permit at AED 7,500. Two approvals make DKP different: a KHDA NOC for training, and an AED 100,000 guarantee for executive search.
DKP was earlier called Dubai Knowledge Village, and it is licensed by the Dubai Development Authority under the fee decision we break down on the Dubai Internet City page. Below is what applies to education and people businesses.
Dubai Knowledge Park licence costs
| Fee or rule | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | AED 3,500 once | New FZ-LLC or branch |
| Licence per segment | AED 15,000 a year | All 13 DKP company segments |
| Second segment | AED 10,000 a year | When you add a standard segment |
| Freelancer permit | AED 7,500 a year | One activity |
| Minimum capital | AED 10,000 | FZ-LLC |
| Executive search guarantee | AED 100,000 | Deposit or bank guarantee |
Source: DDA Licence Categories Decision (Art. 3.7, Art. 5.5, Art. 14.1, Art. 15) and the DDA registration page, read .
The flat fee keeps DKP simple. No segment sits above AED 15,000 and no segment needs extra capital, which is not true of the media and production districts.
The 13 DKP segments
The DDA table groups DKP activities under these headings:
- Training (the segments that need KHDA)
- HR consultancy
- Research and development
- Content
- Assessment
- Executive search
- Associations
- Freelancers
A corporate training firm that also runs psychometric assessments would hold two segments: AED 15,000 plus AED 10,000 a year.
KHDA approval for training
Article 5.5 of the DDA decision says the DKP training segments need a No Objection Certificate from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority before the DDA issues the licence. KHDA sets its own requirements for course content, trainers and premises. Ask for its timeline when you request a quote, because the DDA timing below does not include it.
The DDA table puts universities, schools and nurseries under the segments of Dubai International Academic City, which has its own education segments and capital rules.
Executive search and recruitment
Executive search firms carry one extra cost: a deposit or bank guarantee of AED 100,000 kept with the Authority, under Article 3.7. The licence fee itself is the standard AED 15,000. The guarantee is tied to the Executive Search segment, not to HR consultancy in general.
What agencies quote for DKP
Setup agencies publish Dubai Knowledge Park prices of about AED 14,999 to AED 50,000 (published prices of 2 agencies, checked ). The lower one is a "starts at" licence with no inclusions listed. The upper one is a typical FZ-LLC with the licence, registration, establishment card and a basic office. Neither is our price, and neither includes a KHDA NOC or the search guarantee.
Freelancers in DKP
DKP is one of four districts in TECOM's GoFreelance scheme, with Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Design District. The package costs AED 7,520 a year and gives the permit, a hot desk, Wi-Fi and meeting rooms. It is issued in about 2 working days.
The DKP FAQ allows one visa per freelancer on a hot desk. The visa is not in the package. TECOM lists it at AED 4,600 for one year or AED 5,042 for two, with an establishment card at AED 2,000, all subject to change. A freelancer cannot employ staff or trade under a brand. Compare permits on our freelance license UAE page.
How do visas work in DKP?
DKP leases commercial offices and offers built-to-suit space. Freelancers use hot desks. Office rents are not published.
For companies, the DKP FAQ allows one visa per 80 sq ft leased. A 400 sq ft training office would cover five visas.
What does a DKP visa cost?
A training centre or HR firm hiring trainers will want the per-visa price, and DKP does not print it. TECOM handles company immigration work through axs, and the axs fee list opens only once you have a client login. The DDA service cards stop at licensing and send visa work to axs. We also tried axs.ae and archived copies of its pages. So the official side of this table covers freelancers only, and the company side comes from setup agents.
| Item | Freelancer on GoFreelance | Company staff |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | AED 4,600 (1 year) or AED 5,042 (2 years), official TECOM fee | About AED 2,500 to AED 7,500 each, published by 6 setup agencies |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000, official TECOM fee | AED 1,000 to AED 2,500, published by 5 setup agencies |
| Deposit | Not listed | AED 2,500 per visa, refundable, published by 2 setup agencies |
Source: TECOM GoFreelance page and agency visa pages for the TECOM districts, checked .
The company figures are not DKP specific. No agent we found prices a DKP visa on its own, so these are the figures agents give for all TECOM districts. They also disagree: the cheaper quotes often leave out the medical test and Emirates ID, and the dearer ones may add a service fee. If a quote gives one number per visa, ask what sits inside it. There is no figure we trust for an investor visa.
How to register in Dubai Knowledge Park
- Choose your segments. If you train, start the KHDA NOC request early.
- Lease an office, or take a hot desk if you go freelance.
- Apply through axs online, any time, or see a Partner Relationship Manager on a weekday.
- Pay AED 3,500 registration and the segment fee. Executive search firms lodge the AED 100,000 guarantee.
- Receive the Commercial Licence, Certificate of Incorporation, Register of Directors and Articles of Association.
- Apply for the establishment card and visas.
The DKP FAQ says 7 working days in total after documents and payment. The DDA service page shows 10 working days for provisional approval and 2 for registration. KHDA time comes on top for training.
Paperwork for an FZ-LLC:
- DDA application form
- Passport copies of members, directors and general manager
- Incorporation resolution
- Attested power of attorney if an agent signs
What does DKP license renewal cost?
The licence lasts one year. Renew through axs and pay the segment fee again. Late renewal adds AED 2,500, then AED 5,000, then AED 10,000 the longer you wait past 30 days.
Pros and cons of Dubai Knowledge Park
Pros:
- One flat AED 15,000 fee for every company segment
- Default AED 10,000 capital, with no higher segment
- GoFreelance permit with a visa for solo trainers and consultants
- Clear published rules for KHDA and executive search
Cons:
- KHDA NOC adds a second approval and time for training
- AED 100,000 guarantee for executive search
- No official package, office rents are not published, and staff visa fees sit inside axs
- One visa per 80 sq ft, against 60 sq ft in Dubai Internet City
For consulting work outside training, see our best free zone for consultancy guide, or the Dubai free zones hub for every zone in the emirate. Media trainers may also look at Dubai Media City.
Reach DKP through us
Tell us in the form what you plan to teach, consult on or recruit for, and how many people need visas. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is independent and does not act for DKP, TECOM or KHDA. We pass your details to the zone or a licensed setup partner, who quotes you directly.
Setup consultants that work with DKP
Setup consultants that list DKP among their zones include Elevate Business Solutions DMCC, Al Taresh Businessmen Services and Black Swan Business Setup Services LLC, the three highest ranked by weighted Google score. Elevate Business Solutions DMCC is based in JLT. Ask each for a quote with government fees and service fees on separate lines, then compare it with the price above. More firms are in the directory of Dubai setup consultants.
Sources
- https://dda.gov.ae/-/media/67662280247F46F2B94A853943F014C4.pdf : DKP segments and fees, capital, KHDA rule, executive search guarantee, freelancer fee, late penalties
- https://dda.gov.ae/registration-licensing/setting-up-a-business/free-zone-limited-liability-company/registration-fz-llc-with-natural-person : registration, documents, timing
- https://dda.gov.ae/en/registration-licensing/setting-up-a-business/freelancer/freelancer-license-registration-sole-professional-license : freelancer permit and delivery time
- https://dkp.ae/connect/faqs : visa ratios, licence term, 7 day setup
- https://dkp.ae/discover/about-us : location
- https://dic.ae/offerings/gofreelance : GoFreelance package and freelancer visa fees
- https://www.tecomgroup.ae/ : district list, DKP opened in
- Agency prices: two setup agency pages, checked
- https://dda.gov.ae/ service cards and https://axs.ae/ : looked for company visa and card fees, none shown without a login
- Staff visa, deposit and card figures across the TECOM districts: Emirabiz, Pro Deskk, Dubai Business Zone visa guide, Noble Core Ventures, Business Setup Consultants, UAE Consultants, Dubai Business Zone, UAE Free Zone Finder, FZVS, Creative Zone
