Dubai Science Park and Al Barsha South: quiet living between Arjan and Al Barsha

In short: Dubai Science Park is a free zone for companies in science, healthcare and energy in Al Barsha South. Several residential projects have sprung up around the offices. The location between Arjan, Al Barsha and Dubai Hills is quiet and well connected – a small, lesser-known market for apartments.

Location and access

Dubai Science Park lies in Al Barsha South, between Arjan, Al Barsha and Dubai Hills Estate. Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Street are quickly reached; the Marina is about 20 minutes away, Downtown about 20 to 25 minutes. There is no metro.

What Dubai Science Park is

The free zone is operated by TECOM, the same group that developed Internet City and Media City. Companies from pharma, biotechnology, medical technology, energy and environment are based here – with offices, laboratories and storage space. Around it, Al Barsha South has grown into a residential area where several apartment projects have been built.

Living in the area

• Peace and quiet: Less bustle than in the big residential districts.
• Neighbours: Arjan with the Miracle Garden, Dubai Hills with its park and mall.
• Healthcare: Hospitals and clinics in Arjan and Dubai Hills.
• Everyday life: Supermarkets in the buildings, larger shopping centres nearby.

Buying an apartment in Dubai Science Park

The residential offer consists of apartment buildings with studios and one- to three-bedroom units, some ready, some new. Because the market is small, there’s less choice than in neighbouring Arjan.

What matters

• Freehold status: Have it confirmed for every building.
• Developer: Check experience and quality.
• Surroundings: Proximity to completed neighbouring buildings, greenery and main roads.

How buying in Dubai Science Park works

In Dubai Science Park there are ready properties as well as projects under construction. The process differs:

• Ready property: sale agreement in line with RERA (Form F) with a deposit of usually 10 percent, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer, then payment and transfer at a Registration Trustee of the Dubai Land Department. Details in our guide Buying a ready property.
• Off-plan: reservation, purchase agreement with the developer (Sale and Purchase Agreement), registration in the interim register Oqood and payments according to construction progress into an escrow account. On handover you receive the title deed. Details in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.

For ready properties, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs; for off-plan mainly the 4 percent registration fee. Both can be done from abroad – with video viewings and a power of attorney.

Running costs as an owner in Dubai Science Park

After buying an apartment, these are the main ongoing costs:

• Service charges: for maintenance, security, pools and common areas, calculated by the size of your unit. The approved rates for each building are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via the utility DEWA; many buildings add a separate charge for district cooling.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value, billed through the DEWA account. It is paid by whoever lives in the home – so by your tenant if you let it.
• Ejari: every tenancy contract is registered; via the Dubai REST app this costs AED 177.75.
• Management: if you aren’t on site, a property manager handles letting and upkeep for a fee.

Unlike in many countries, there is no annual property tax in Dubai. All items are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in Dubai Science Park you may also be able to get a residence visa:

• Golden Visa: ten years of residence if your properties in Dubai are worth at least AED 2 million in total – also with a mortgage or, under certain conditions, off-plan.
• Investor visa: a shorter visa for owners who don’t reach the Golden Visa threshold.

The detailed requirements are explained in our guide Golden Visa with property.

Typical mistakes when buying

• Comparing only with Arjan: Also check rents in Dubai Hills and Al Barsha to place the location correctly.
• Assuming freehold: Not every area in a free zone is intended for apartment purchases by foreigners.
• Overestimating access: Without a metro, tenants depend on a car – which narrows the target group.

Renting out

Tenants are professionals from the free zone and nearby hospitals, and couples who want a quiet, central home. Check the numbers with our rental yield calculator.

Compared

Pros and cons

Who the area suits

Dubai Science Park suits the tactician looking for a quiet, well-located rental apartment, and the entrepreneur with a company in the free zone.

Our verdict

Dubai Science Park is a small niche with a good location between Arjan and Dubai Hills. If you find a solid building with confirmed freehold status, you can invest here quietly and with less competition.

Frequently asked questions

Updated: October 2026. This article describes the district in general terms. Prices, rents and service charges change all the time; for a specific property we check the current figures with you.