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Dubai Internet City

Coordinates: 25°05′42″N 55°09′36″E / 25.095°N 55.160°E / 25.095; 55.160
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Dubai Internet City
Company typeFree Economic Zone
Founded1999
HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
OwnerDubai Holding
The Microsoft sign at the entrance of the Dubai Microsoft campus, Dubai Internet City.
IBM building as seen from the Dubai Internet City amphitheatre.

Dubai Internet City (DIC)[1] (Arabic: مدينة دبي للإنترنت) is a neighborhood and an information technology and business park created by the Government of Dubai as a free economic zone in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Today it is the largest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community in the Middle East. Dubai Internet City was established to foster innovation, partnership, and development within the tech community.[2]

History

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Dubai Internet City, a member of Dubai Holding subsidiary TECOM Investments, was founded in October 1999, and it opened its doors in October 2000.[3][4] It was established by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It housed 100 companies at launch.[5] In August 2000, Siemens Business Services (SBS), Cisco, and Sun Microsystems received Dubai Internet City’s first major infrastructure contracts.[6]

As of 2019, DIC housed over 1,600 companies[5] and has become the regional base of many of the world's news agencies as well as the main digital content generator for Arabic media.[7]

Data center infrastructure provider Khazna announced it was establishing two new data centers in Dubai Internet City in 2022.[8] In the same year, Intel announced the opening of its first artificial intelligence research and development center at Dubai Internet City.[9][10] Visa established its headquarters for the CEMEA region and technology conglomerate Meta Platforms also established its regional headquarters in the UAE at Dubai Internet City in 2022.[11][12] In December 2022, Dubai Internet City broke ground on a new area named Innovation Hub Phase 2.[13]

In 2023, Dubai Internet City signed a strategic partnership with German Entrepreneurship GmbH to provide support to German start-up companies seeking to do business in Dubai.[14] In the same year, technology company Yango expanded its offices into Dubai Internet City.[15]

The economic rules of DIC allow companies to be exempt from all taxes and customs duty for a period of 50 years guaranteed by law.[16] The park’s status as a free economic zone  also allows it to offer 100% foreign ownership, similar to other designated economic zones in the United Arab Emirates.[4]

These freedoms have led many global information technology firms, such as Facebook,[17] LinkedIn,[18] Google,[5] Dell,[19] Intel,[20] Huawei,[21] Samsung,[22] SAP,[23] Microsoft,[24] IBM,[25] Oracle Corporation,[26] Tata Consultancy,[27] 3M,[28] Sun Microsystems,[29] Cisco,[30] HP,[31] Nokia,[32] Cognizant,[33] Accenture,[34] Hisense[35] and as well as UAE-based companies such as Tecom Group,[36] Ducont,[37] to move their regional base to the DIC. DIC is located adjacent to other industrial clusters such as Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Park (formerly Dubai Knowledge Village).

Dubai Internet City is a frequent participant in the GITEX GLOBAL trade show.[10][38][39]

Location

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View of Dubai Marina from Dubai Internet City.

Dubai Internet City is about 25 kilometres south of downtown Dubai city, on Sheikh Zayed Road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is located adjacent to Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence and the well-known Palm Jumeirah, areas which are rapidly becoming three of the most exclusive (and expensive) residential areas of Dubai. DIC is less than 1 km from the sea coast and is near several five-star hotels. The nearest metro station the eponymous Dubai Internet City station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro, located on Sheikh Zayed Road.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Innovation begins here – DIC". DIC. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  2. ^ "Dubai Internet City Free Zone". Commitbiz. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  3. ^ "Dubai Internet City celebrates 20th anniversary - News - Emirates - Emirates24|7". www.emirates247.com. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  4. ^ a b Horovitz, Jacques; Ohlsson, Anne–Valérie (September 2005). "Dubai Internet City". Asian Journal of Management Cases. 2 (2): 163–209. doi:10.1177/097282010500200204.
  5. ^ a b c "Dubai Internet City growth continues on the right track". gulfnews.com. 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  6. ^ "DIC awards infrastructure contracts - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". Arabian Business. 2000-08-03. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  7. ^ "A tale of two cities: Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City turn 20". gulfnews.com. 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  8. ^ "How Dubai Internet City is becoming a hub for tech companies". euronews. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  9. ^ "Intel to open AI research centre at Dubai Internet City". The National News. 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  10. ^ a b "Gitex Global 2022: Dubai Internet City to host Intel's first AI software R&D centre in the GCC". gulfbusiness. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  11. ^ "Facebook's Meta opens new headquarter in Dubai Internet City". Alarabiya.net. March 8, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sheikh Hamdan visits Visa's new regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City". Khaleej Times. May 2, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  13. ^ "TECOM breaks ground on business hub for Dubai Internet City". technologymagazine.com. 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  14. ^ "Dubai Internet City and GmbH collaborate to strengthen the regional start-up ecosystem - ETHRWorldME". economictimes. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  15. ^ "Yango expands its offices to Dubai Internet City". Campaign Middle East. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  16. ^ "Establishing a company in Dubai Internet City". Pinsent Masons. 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  17. ^ "Facebook's Meta opens new headquarter in Dubai Internet City". Al Arabiya – via alarabiya.net.
  18. ^ "Social media giant LinkedIn connects with Dubai bringing jobs". The National. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  19. ^ "Dell's global solution centre to open in Dubai". TahawulTech.com. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  20. ^ "Dubai Internet City to host Intel's AI software R&D hub". gulfnews.com. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  21. ^ "Dubai's smart villa: Huawei, du unveil first 5g-A home". gulfbusiness.com. 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  22. ^ "Dubai Internet City – Seven Consecutive Years Of Robust Growth - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  23. ^ "SAP invests $200 million in UAE, opens new Mena headquarters". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  24. ^ "October 9, 2001: Microsoft opens regional base in Dubai". gulfnews.com. 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  25. ^ "IBM, Intel open HPC centre in Dubai - eb247 - Companies And Markets". emirates247.com. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  26. ^ "Oracle renews lease on Dubai Internet City office, says Emirates NBD REIT". gulfnews.com. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  27. ^ "Tata Group setting up Dubai office to boost growth in West Asia". business-standard.com. June 13, 2014.
  28. ^ "3M expresses regional ambition with stunning new HQ at Dubai Internet City - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". Arabian Business. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  29. ^ "Sun Microsystems Opens $1.5 Million Regional HQ". Arab News. 2004-02-24. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  30. ^ "Cisco plans to invest Dh5.8bn in Dubai". emirates247.com. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  31. ^ "HP opens centre at Dubai Internet City". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  32. ^ "Vendors support GSM450 for emerging markets". Arabian Business. October 12, 2005.
  33. ^ "Cognizant expands ME footprint". khaleejtimes.com. October 20, 2010.
  34. ^ "Accenture Opens its First Innovation Hub in the Middle East for Dubai Tourism". Middle East Campaign. March 23, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23.
  35. ^ Kashyap, Sindhu V (2024-09-19). "Hisense Opens State-of-the-Art R&D Hub in Dubai Internet City to Bolster Regional Innovation". Edge Middle East. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  36. ^ "Dubai Internet City to house additional tech players with new $120m investment". 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  37. ^ "Ducont.com - an m-commerce pioneer | Al Bawaba". www.albawaba.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  38. ^ "Dubai Internet City at Gitex 2019: a catalyst for tech collaboration - Edge Middle East". Edge Middle East. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  39. ^ "Dubai Internet City to highlight its ecosystem at GITEX 2017 - Business - Emirates24|7". emirates247.com. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
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25°05′42″N 55°09′36″E / 25.095°N 55.160°E / 25.095; 55.160

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