ZONE · UAE
Dubai Design District Free Zone: Licenses, Costs & Activities (2026)
Dubai Design District (d3) accounts for 81 license combinations in the September 2026 snapshot, spread over 14 of the 52 activity clusters tracked on the platform. The strongest cluster here is Marketing & Advertising with 16 packages, followed by Design Services (16 packages).
Entry packages start at AED 6,192*, the median combination runs from AED 20,590*, and the fullest configurations in the catalog reach AED 25,590*. Filed setup timelines range from 15 to 33 days depending on the activity mix, visa quota and office option.
d3 is Dubai Design District, the TECOM cluster for design, fashion and luxury businesses. This guide breaks the zone down by activity: the strongest clusters below, then the visa, establishment-card and bank-account steps that come bundled with Dubai Design District licenses — all figures from the same market snapshot.
- Activity combinations
- 81 14 of 52 clusters
- Median package
- from AED 20,590* market benchmark
- Price range
- AED 6,192 – 25,590* min–max in snapshot
- Setup time
- 15–33 days fastest → slowest filed
Activities
Top activity clusters at d3
| Activity cluster | Packages at d3 | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing & Advertising | 16 | from AED 15,712* |
| Design Services | 16 | from AED 15,712* |
| Events & Entertainment | 11 | from AED 15,712* |
| Manufacturing & Production | 9 | from AED 20,590* |
| Beauty & Personal Care | 7 | from AED 15,712* |
| Business Consulting | 5 | from AED 20,590* |
| Visa & Immigration | 5 | from AED 6,192* |
| General Trading | 4 | from AED 20,590* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Visas & banking
Visa, establishment-card and bank steps at d3
- Employment visa
- 81 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 6,192*
- Scope tagging
- 23% visa / 0% bank share of packages tagging visa / bank steps
- Establishment card
- 68% of the catalog 3,161 packages platform-wide include the step
- Corporate bank account
- 61% of the catalog 2,840 packages platform-wide include the step
- Investor visa
- 44% of the catalog 2,047 packages platform-wide include the step
The typical d3 sequence files the license, then the establishment card, then residence visas and the corporate bank account — the same order the platform's catalog records across Dubai jurisdictions.
FAQ
d3: questions
How much does a d3 license cost in 2026?
In the September 2026 snapshot, 81 combinations are tracked, starting from AED 6,192*. The median package runs from AED 20,590* and the range stretches to AED 25,590*. The spread reflects activity type, visa quota and office option. Every figure on this page is a market reference; the exact quote is confirmed on request.
How long does company setup at d3 take?
Filed packages at d3 complete in 15 to 33 days in the snapshot. License-only setups sit near the fast end; adding establishment card, residence visas and bank account moves the timeline toward the upper bound because banking KYC runs on the bank's schedule.
Which activities can a d3 license cover?
The catalog maps 81 d3 combinations onto 14 activity clusters. The strongest are Marketing & Advertising; Design Services; Events & Entertainment. Each cluster in the table above links to the cross-zone license breakdown for that activity.
Where is d3 located and who is it for?
Dubai Design District is based in Dubai — Dubai Design District, the TECOM cluster for design, fashion and luxury businesses. As a free zone jurisdiction it suits founders who need that licensing regime specifically; the free-zone-vs-mainland comparison on this site covers when a free zone beats the mainland and vice versa.
Related breakdowns
Setting up in d3?
We match the license package to your activity and visa plan — priced against the same market snapshot shown above.