Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) is Dubai’s dedicated business district for learning, training and human resource development. Part of TECOM Group, it marked 20 years in December 2023 and is home to more than 700 customers, including higher education institutes, vocational academies and training centres, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office.
If your business teaches, trains or develops people, DKP puts you in the middle of your market. But setting up here involves one step many founders overlook.
What is Dubai Knowledge Park?
DKP is one of TECOM Group’s 10 business districts. Together with Dubai International Academic City, it forms TECOM’s education cluster.
The community is substantial. Institutions such as the University of Manchester, Middlesex University, Heriot-Watt University and Murdoch University operate in the district. Talent and skills specialists such as SHL, City and Guilds and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) are based there too.
Who should consider Dubai Knowledge Park?
DKP is built for businesses whose product is learning or talent. It is a natural fit for:
- Training institutes and professional development providers
- Higher education and vocational institutions
- HR consultancies, talent assessment and executive search firms
- Coding bootcamps and skills academies
- Freelancers in education, through TECOM’s GoFreelance package
If your activity sits outside learning and talent, another TECOM district or free zone may suit you better.
Who licenses your company?
TECOM Group develops and operates the district. Company licensing for DKP businesses is handled by the Dubai Development Authority (DDA), the regulator for TECOM’s free zone districts. Your trade licence, activities and company registration all sit with the DDA.
The KHDA permit: the step most founders miss
A trade licence alone does not allow you to deliver training programmes in Dubai. Training institutes, including those in free zones, also need an Educational Services Permit from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
According to KHDA’s service page, the process works like this:
- Obtain a Trade Name Reservation and Initial Approval from the free zone licensing authority.
- Apply to KHDA with your course names and descriptions, plus any approvals from certifying bodies or other regulators. Medical and cosmetic courses, for example, need Dubai Health Authority approval.
- Pay the fee and receive KHDA’s Initial Approval, which is valid for six months. If the permit and licence are not completed within that window, the Initial Approval becomes void.
- Submit your commercial licence details so KHDA can issue the permit.
KHDA currently lists these fees:
- AED 15,000 for one or two activities
- AED 18,000 for three or four
- AED 20,000 for five or six
- AED 25,000 for more than seven
Processing takes eight working days once all documents are received. The permit is valid for one year and must be renewed at least 30 days before it expires.
Corporate Tax for DKP companies
According to the Ministry of Finance, free zone companies are within the scope of UAE Corporate Tax and must register with the Federal Tax Authority. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can benefit from a 0% rate on Qualifying Income, but not every type of income qualifies. Training and education businesses should check how their revenue is treated before assuming the 0% rate applies.
Your DKP setup checklist
- Confirm your activities and whether KHDA approval applies
- Choose a space that suits your model, from offices to training facilities
- Secure Initial Approval from the DDA, then from KHDA
- Finalise your licence and KHDA permit within the six-month window
- Arrange visas, a corporate bank account and Corporate Tax registration
How Bexford can help
Running two approval tracks at once is where most delays happen. Bexford helps founders map their activities, prepare DDA and KHDA documentation in the right order, and keep both timelines on track. We then support the next steps, including visas, corporate banking and Corporate Tax registration. Final approvals rest with the DDA and KHDA, and our role is to make sure your application is complete when it reaches them.
Learn more about our free zone company formation services or book a free consultation.
