Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launches AED12.8bn expansion of Dubai Silicon Oasis, strengthening Dubai’s knowledge economy and positioning the emirate as a global hub for future technologies and innovation….reports Asian Lite News
Dubai has taken a major step towards accelerating its transition into a future-ready, innovation-led economy, as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched strategic expansion projects worth AED12.8 billion at Dubai Silicon Oasis, one of the emirate’s flagship hubs for knowledge, technology and advanced industries.
The expansion reinforces Dubai Silicon Oasis’s role as a central pillar of Dubai’s knowledge economy ecosystem and aligns with Sheikh Mohammed’s long-term vision to position the emirate as the world’s best city to live, work and invest. The projects are being developed under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and form part of the broader push to embed advanced technologies across all sectors of the economy.
Speaking at the launch, Sheikh Mohammed said the expansion reflects Dubai’s commitment to anticipating and shaping the future by turning innovation into real economic and social value. He emphasised that the emirate will remain an open destination for global talent, entrepreneurs and high-value investment, and a platform for the technologies that will define the next generation of cities.
The launch ceremony was attended by senior members of Dubai’s leadership, including Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DIEZ, and Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, alongside ministers and senior officials.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said the expansion marks a pivotal moment in Dubai’s journey to become a global hub for innovation and the economy of the future. He noted that the projects are embedded in an integrated vision aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, ensuring that economic growth is matched by sustainability, liveability and quality of life.
The expansion includes two major projects: District IO and Block 14, both designed to integrate business, technology and community living into a single smart urban ecosystem.
District IO, the larger of the two developments, represents an AED11 billion investment and is designed as a global engine for research, development and innovation. It will feature 25 LEED-compliant buildings, including 18 commercial structures, residential units, and hospitality facilities such as a conference centre and an innovation and experience hub. Over the next decade, District IO is expected to create more than 70,000 direct and indirect jobs, contribute up to AED103 billion to Dubai’s GDP by 2036, and attract as much as AED30 billion in foreign direct investment.
The district is designed to host more than 6,500 companies, including start-ups, SMEs and multinational firms operating in future sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, smart mobility, 3D printing, Web3 technologies and advanced digital services. Development will take place in two phases, with the first beginning in 2026 and the second in 2027.
Block 14, a AED1.8 billion residential and lifestyle project, will support transit-oriented development and is located near the future Dubai Metro Blue Line station. Scheduled for completion in 2029, it will offer a human-centric living environment designed around connectivity, well-being and sustainability, reinforcing Dubai’s vision for inclusive and vibrant communities.
On the sidelines of the launch, Sheikh Mohammed toured key facilities within Dubai Silicon Oasis, including Fakeeh University Hospital, where he was briefed on advanced digital healthcare systems serving more than 100,000 residents and employees. He also visited the Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai to review the region’s first integrated drone delivery project, developed in partnership with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, DIEZ and the Dubai Future Foundation.
Together, the projects signal Dubai’s intent to build cities that combine innovation, sustainability and quality of life, positioning Dubai Silicon Oasis as a cornerstone of the emirate’s next phase of economic growth.
