Dubai Silicon Oasis Expansion: Dh12.8bn Plan to Boost GDP

Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, announces an ambitious Dubai Silicon Oasis expansion plan for the popular residential district and leading business hub, Dubai Silicon Oasis. The AED 12.8 billion expansion aims to create 70,000 jobs and boost the Emirate’s gross domestic product by AED 103 billion by 2036.

As a result, Dubai Silicon Oasis is slated to attract billions of dirhams of foreign investment over the next decade. Sheikh Mohammed believes this plan will allow Dubai Silicon Oasis to support efforts towards building an “advanced, technology-driven business environment for emerging economic sectors”, strengthening the UAE knowledge economy and making the district a global centre for innovation.

The large-scale scheme will also provide a business ecosystem for 6,500 new companies, hosting 75,000 specialized talents. Furthermore, the initiative will lie in focus of two new projects, District 10 and Block 14, both designed to act as catalysts for boosting greater economic growth, rivaling global economic hubs across the Dubai technology ecosystem

District 10: Research, Business, and Innovation Central

Powered by an AED 11 billion investment, District 10 will be built with strong infrastructure supporting future technologies to bolster Dubai’s status as a global hub for development, innovation, and research. Dubai Silicon Oasis District 10 will comprise 25 energy-efficient buildings, of which 18 will become commercial facilities, leaving four residential properties.

The final three buildings will feature a conference centre, an innovation centre, and an experience centre. This setup will welcome over 70,000 jobs over the next 10 years. What’s more, the district will offer the opportunity to house more than 6,500 global companies, including small and medium businesses, and start-up enterprises, all working in future sectors, supporting the wider Dubai innovation hub expansion.

This would mean a focus on sectors like Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, smart mobility, robotics, Quantum Computing, Web3 technologies, and X-Tech. This exciting rise in future technologies will emerge as District 10 develops in two phases, aligned with wider Dubai future industries investment priorities The first would include building offices, research and development labs, and dedicated retail areas, supporting the ongoing Dubai business hubs expansion

Following closely is the second phase, where development is set to kick off in 2027. This phase includes building hospitality centres, which will unveil the final three buildings in District 10: the conference, innovation, and experience centre. Lastly, this area will also offer a range of incentives, aligned with Dubai GDP growth projects, to attract top companies.

These include access to academic and research networks, advanced facilitation services, end-to-end business set-up solutions, flexible leasing and payment solutions, funding support through dedicated capital investments, product testing laboratories without the need for operational licenses in the UAE under RegLab, and sector-specific laboratories supported by the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority and linked to workstreams within Dubai Silicon Oasis Block 14

Block 14: A Residential Haven of Convenience and Comfort

In contrast, an AED 1.8 billion investment will ensure that Block 14 will meet the growing standards of an ideal residential and lifestyle district. This area will be developed near the Dubai Metro Blue Link station in Dubai Silicon Oasis, which is expected to reach completion in 2029, along with the rest of the major public transport scheme.

What makes Dubai Silicon Oasis the perfect spot for this expansion is the fact that the district is already a special economic zone for knowledge and innovation. In fact, it has been a part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, and is home to around 28,000 companies, allowing 90,000 people to live and work in the community.

Dubai Leaders Welcome a Brighter Future

Joining Sheikh Mohammed at the launch ceremony were Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ); Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee; and several ministers and senior officials.

Sheikh Ahmed said:

“The launch of Dubai Silicon Oasis’ expansion projects marks a pivotal advancement in our strategy to amplify the knowledge economy’s impact on inclusive and sustainable growth, establishing an enabling ecosystem that empowers global enterprises, regional investors, and next-generation innovators in advanced technology, AI, and future industries. We view these projects as an integrated platform to strengthen public-private partnerships, develop new business models that anticipate the future, and provide distinctive investment, professional, and educational opportunities for young talent and innovators worldwide.”

Similarly, Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ, said that the expansion strategy would further advance Dubai's growing business ecosystem. He also stated, “We are confident that this new strategic expansion will represent a qualitative leap in attracting more investments, particularly in future sectors, and in reinforcing Dubai’s position as a smart and sustainable urban economy.”

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