In the heart of Dubai, a groundbreaking initiative has been transforming the city’s economy. The Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park, known as DuBiotech, is the first-ever free zone in the Middle East that’s dedicated to the life sciences industry. A pivotal component of the Dubai 2010 scheme, DuBiotech was a strategic move to propel the city’s economy into a knowledge-based future with a strong focus on research, development and manufacturing in biotechnology and life sciences. DuBiotech's allure lies in its incentives designed to attract global players in the biotech sector. As one of Dubai's free zones, it provides significant tax advantages, including a 50-year exemption from personal, income and corporate taxes. The perks extend to long-term land leases, full foreign ownership, and cutting-edge IT and telecommunications infrastructure.
This research park goes beyond tax benefits as it offers full repatriation of profits, streamlined incorporation procedures, and expedited immigration and customs processes. The DuBiotech entity operates through two arms. The Foundation for Research and Innovation focuses on government-funded research and development in crucial areas like medicine, genetics, agriculture, and stem cell research. The second arm is a biotech cluster featuring top-notch infrastructure for incubators, research labs, manufacturing facilities, and educational institutions. Crafted by Parsons and CHU2A, this plan ensures a cohesive and specialized environment for the diverse facets of the biotechnology industry.
DuBiotech's physical landscape boasts architectural marvels like the DuBiotech Headquarters (Bio-HQ) and the Nucleotide Lab Complex. The latter, a four-story laboratory complex dedicated to company R&D, commenced operations in December 2009. Meanwhile, the Bio-HQ, completed in 2018, serves as the central hub for DuBiotech's visionary pursuits.
Beyond these milestones, several other prominent companies, including BASF Construction Chemicals, CSL Behring, Boston Scientific, Genesis Healthcare, and pharmaceutical entities like NewBridge Pharmaceuticals, Gabri Labs and Menarini, have expanded their footprint within Dubai Science Park.