Dubai Economic Zones Hit 96% Occupancy as Company Numbers and AI Startups Surge in H1 2026

Occupancy across the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority’s (DIEZ) three zones—Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity—reached 96% in the first half of 2026 as the number of registered companies rose 13% year‑on‑year and the workforce expanded 24% compared with H1 2025. The period also saw a surge in technology-focused activity: new company registrations at Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus climbed 57%, while the number of firms specialising in artificial intelligence nearly doubled, up 95% year‑on‑year.

"The 96% occupancy rate, alongside the growth in the number of companies and employees, demonstrates strong demand for our economic zones and confidence in the business environment they provide. It also reflects the ability of our zones to provide an advanced and flexible business environment capable of keeping pace with the evolving needs of companies," said Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ.

Investment and infrastructure projects drive expansion

DIEZ advanced several large-scale developments during H1 2026, led by projects at Dubai Silicon Oasis designed to support future technologies and integrated urban living. District IO is backed by an Dh11 billion investment and is positioned to provide research, development and innovation infrastructure. Block 14’s first phase carries an Dh1.8 billion price tag and will include one commercial building, two residential towers, a retail district and direct connections to the Dubai Metro network.

The Block 14 development sits adjacent to the planned Dubai Metro Blue Line station, and its first phase is scheduled for completion in 2029 to align with the Blue Line’s planned opening. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DIEZ, has overseen the authority as it scales both real estate and ecosystem services to accommodate the influx of companies and talent.

Startups, corporate deals and investor activity

• Oraseya Capital, DIEZ’s investment arm, invested in 15 startups during H1 2026 — a 25% increase over the same period in 2025.
• Oraseya ranked as the UAE’s most active investor by number of deals for the third consecutive year and was named the country’s most active early‑stage investor, placing second across the MENA region in both categories in MAGNiTT’s H1 2026 ranking.
• Recent Oraseya investments included Takeem, a proptech platform focused on rent‑guarantee solutions, and Revora, an AI‑powered e‑commerce platform targeting GCC markets.
• Oraseya’s Sandbox programme attracted 771 applications for its eighth cohort; 16 companies were selected following 28 selection‑committee meetings.

The surge in AI company registrations and tech startups was reflected across DIEZ’s ecosystem activity. Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus reported a 57% increase in new company registrations versus H1 2025, while AI‑specialist company registrations rose 95% in the same period, underlining the strong appetite for technology ventures within the zones.

Outlook

With near‑full occupancy, large infrastructure projects in progress and heightened investor activity, DIEZ’s three zones are positioned for continued ecosystem growth through 2029 and beyond. The combination of Dh11 billion and Dh1.8 billion investments at Dubai Silicon Oasis, a pipeline of early‑stage deals through Oraseya, and rapid expansion in AI firm formation point to sustained demand for workspace, talent and funding. How quickly new capacity—particularly the Block 14 developments and District IO facilities—comes online will determine the pace at which the authority can accommodate the next wave of companies and further scale its technology cluster.