| Dubai Internet City | |
|---|---|
| Type | Free Economic Zone |
| Founded | Dubai Holding |
| Headquarters | Dubai,  United Arab Emirates |
Dubai Internet City (DIC) is an information technology park created by the Government of Dubai as a free economic zone and a strategic base for companies targeting emerging markets. Here companies can operate without restrictions, such as a 100% foreign ownership, similar to those prevailing in other provincial economic zones in the United Arab Emirates. This freedom has led many global information technology firms to move their regional base and resources to premises in the DIC. DIC is located right next to other industry clusters such as Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village. The economic rules of DIC allow companies to avail themselves of a number of ownership, taxation and custom related benefits which are guaranteed by law for a period of 50 years. Major companies which have established operations at DIC include Microsoft, IBM, Oracle Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Cisco, HP, Nokia and Siemens, as well as UAE based companies such as i-mate, Acette and many others. DIC presently has over one and half million square feet of prime commercial office space, and there are over 850 companies with over 10,000 workers based in it. Unlike most of the UAE, DIC's internet is not routed via the country's censorship proxy which blocks access to any content deemed 'inappropriate', as well as technologies like Skype that provide cheap alternatives to the expensive government-run phone companies. However, the Director of the TRA (Telecoms Regulatory Authority) has stated that DIC and the other free zones will be subject to the same censorship as the rest of the country. So far such censorship has not been enacted, possibly because the authorities are aware of adverse impact it would have on the businesses in the zone.
Contents |
History
Dubai Internet City, a member of Dubai Holding subsidiary TECOM Investments, opened doors in October 2000. Dubai Internet City (DIC) provides a knowledge economy ecosystem designed to facilitate the business development of ICT companies. It is the Middle East's biggest ICT infrastructure, built inside a free trade zone. DIC is a strategic base for companies targeting emerging markets in a vast region extending from the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent, and from Africa to the CIS countries, covering 2 billion people with a GDP of $6.7 trillion. Within a short span of time, a dynamic international community of ICT companies has established itself in Dubai Internet City. The global ICT giants like Microsoft, Oracle, HP, IBM, Dell, Siemens, Canon, Logica, Sony Ericsson, Schlumberger and Cisco, as well as many small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurial ventures are based in DIC. The ICT cluster in Dubai Internet City comprises companies from sectors like software development, business services, e-commerce, consultancy and sales and marketing. The cluster environment of DIC provides most elements of the value chain for an ICT business. In addition, it has developed programmes that can be leveraged by the ICT community to explore and expand channel and business development opportunities. Dubai Internet City, like the whole of Dubai, has seen rapid growth, with the Emirate's GDP rising at double digit rates. However, since 2003 inflation has taken off with various estimates putting it between 7 and 20%. The government has implemented price controls on rent rises as well as fuel and basic commodities such as rice, but these cannot be viewed as effective long term anti-inflation measures in a market economy. The UAE has continued to reiterate the commitment to pegging its currency to a continually weakening dollar, which rules out significant interest rate rises - the accepted inflation-fighting tool in developed countries. Therefore it seems likely that rampant inflation will continue to be the biggest disincentive to business investment in Dubai.
Location
Dubai Internet City is about 25 kilometers south of the center of Dubai city on the Shaikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi city. It is located in an area which is rapidly becoming the new downtown of Dubai, and is located between Dubai Marina and Jumeirah, two of the most exclusive (and expensive) areas of Dubai. It is less than 1 km from the sea coast and is near several five star hotels.
See also
External links
- Dubai Internet City — Official website
- Dubai Internet City image gallery
- Dubai Holding — Official website
- Dubai Internet City article
|
|
|---|
| Al Barsha • Al Garhoud • Al Hamriya • Al Jafilia • Al Karama • Al Mamzar • Al Mankhool • Al Quoz • Al Qusais • Al Safa • Al Satwa • Al Shindagha • Al Sufouh • Al Tawar • Al Wasl • Bastakiya • Bur Dubai • Business Bay • Deira • Dubai Internet City • Dubai Marina • Dubai Media City • Emirates Hills • Hor Al Anz • Jaddaf • Jebel Ali • Jumeirah • Mirdif • Naif • Oud Metha • Port Rashid • Port Saeed • Sheikh Zayed Road • Trade Centre 1 • Trade Centre 2 • Umm Hurair • Umm Suqeim • Zabeel
(Click "show" to view a small explanation of Dubai's divisions)
|
