RIYADH: The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority reported 96 percent occupancy throughout its three economic zones in the first half of 2026, with the number of enterprises operating within them increasing 13 percent year on year.
The workforce in Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity expanded by 24 percent, with DIEZ crediting the faster growth in employment to existing companies extending their operations and staffing levels.
Dubai’s economic zones are expanding as the emirate expands its overall economy and strengthens its status as a global commercial and investment destination. Dubai’s GDP increased 5.4 percent in 2025 to 937 billion Emirati dirhams ($255.1 billion), while the economy rose 2.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, according to Dubai government figures.
Mohammed Al-Zarooni, CEO of DIEZ, said: “In the next phase, we are focused on enhancing competitiveness of our network by developing service providers and institutional facilitators, accelerating digitization and deploying artificial intelligence solutions to improve operational efficiency and the customer experience, and enhancing the capacity of our zones to attract businesses and high-value investment in future sectors.”
The 11 billion dirham District IO project will provide infrastructure to enable future technologies, R&D, and innovation. The 1.8 billion-dirham first phase of Block 14 will feature business, residential, and retail properties near a planned Dubai Metro Blue Line station, with completion set for 2029.
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