in5 is TECOM Group's startup incubator in Dubai. Its biggest draw is a subsidised free zone licence costing AED 1,000 a year for the first three years, against a full price of AED 15,000. You also get a desk, up to four subsidised visas and access to labs and studios. in5 takes no equity. To get in, you need at least an MVP, prototype or proof of concept, and you have to pitch to a selection committee.

The AED 1,000 is the headline, but it isn't what your first year costs. This guide shows the real numbers, who qualifies, and how in5 compares with Dtec and Dubai Founders HQ.

Last verified: 8 October 2026.

Key Facts at a Glance

The track record figures come from TECOM's October 2025 announcement. Prices come from in5's business setup page and FAQ.

What in5 Actually Is

in5 is an incubator, not an accelerator. There is no fixed cohort, no demo day deadline and no investment. What you get is a cheap licence, a subsidised workspace and a community, for as long as you keep growing.

That makes it closer to a startup-friendly free zone than a programme. The licence is issued by the Dubai Development Authority, the same authority behind Dubai Internet City and Dubai Design District. Your in5 company is a regular FZ-LLC with the same rights and obligations as any free zone company.

There are four centres, each with its own focus:

in5 Science was launched in June 2023 with Dubai Science Park. Its public pages say less about facilities and pricing than the other three, so ask for details before you apply.

What in5 Really Costs

in5 publishes its prices, which is rare in Dubai. The catch is that they are spread across two pages, and the licence is only one line.

The AED 2,500 personnel sponsorship fee per person is waived for up to four visas in the first three years. Visa prices are set by government agencies (GDRFA, ICP/EIDA and DHA), so they can change. Visas are valid for three years.

A Worked Example (Hypothetical)

Take a two-founder SaaS startup at in5 Tech. Both founders are outside the UAE and share one co-working desk.

Years 2 and 3 add AED 19,000 and AED 22,000 for the licence and desk. Over three years, that's about AED 62,000. If the same team takes a dedicated office, year 1 rises to about AED 46,000.

On Top of That, Budget For

• Public liability insurance. It's mandatory under TECOM's occupancy agreement. in5 doesn't publish a price, so get quotes early.
• Corporate tax registration. Every company must register with the Federal Tax Authority for a tax number. Missing it carries a AED 10,000 penalty.
• Medical insurance for each visa holder, which Dubai requires and in5 doesn't include.
• The year-4 jump. Once the subsidy ends, the licence goes from AED 1,000 to AED 15,000, and the desk moves to commercial rates.

How Long the Subsidy Lasts

The two official pages disagree. The business setup page says full pricing starts after incubation of up to three years. The FAQ says subsidised pricing can last up to five years, subject to management approval and your progress.

Who Can Apply

The official FAQ is more open than most founders expect:

• Any nationality. You can apply from abroad or while visiting on a visit visa. If you're accepted, the team has to be based in Dubai.
• Existing companies. Companies licensed anywhere can apply. A tech company registered for more than a year must explain what it plans to do at in5.
• Solo founders. Allowed. in5 recommends a team with complementary skills, but advisors or part-time staff can fill the gaps.
• Already funded. Prior funding doesn't count against you. in5 sees it as a positive sign.
• No full business plan needed. You do need a clear business model and at least an MVP, prototype or proof of concept. Design and media applicants can submit a portfolio or work samples instead.

The committee scores applications on a five-point scale against four criteria: how innovative the idea is, the team's complementary skills, market potential and competition, and economic impact, including jobs created.

"Innovative" means something different at each centre. For in5 Tech, it means digitising traditional businesses with technologies such as AI, big data, robotics or open APIs. For in5 Design, it covers sustainability, recycled materials and supply-chain improvements. For in5 Media, it's content creation across online channels.

Grey Areas the FAQ Doesn't Settle

• Visas aren't guaranteed. Acceptance by in5 doesn't mean your visa will be approved. That follows normal federal rules.
• Activity limits. The AED 1,000 rate only applies to licence activities that normally cost up to AED 15,000. Some regulated activities cost more and don't qualify. Check the DDA activity list before you apply.
• Trading and services businesses. A consultancy or reseller without a product or technology angle is unlikely to score well on innovation.

Who in5 Is For, and Who It Isn't For

in5 suits founders who:

• Need a real Dubai licence and visas on a small budget
• Have at least a prototype, and a product with a technology, media, design or science angle
• Want to keep 100% of their equity
• Will use the space: labs, studios, events and introductions

It's a weaker fit if you:

• Need investment now, because in5 makes introductions but doesn't invest
• Want a structured programme with a fixed curriculum and demo day
• Have a team bigger than four, because the visa subsidy and access cards cover four people (larger teams can ask about a separate office)
• Run a business with no innovation angle

How to Apply to in5: Step by Step

If you're accepted but not ready to incorporate, you can use the facilities as an in5 member until you register.

in5 vs Dtec vs Dubai Founders HQ

These three get compared most often. They do different jobs.

Which One to Choose

• Choose in5 if you need a licence and visas cheaply, and your product fits one of its four centres.
• Choose Dtec if you want to apply to the Dtec SANDBOX programme, which invests $150,000 in startups that reach its second phase.
• Use Dubai Founders HQ alongside either. It's free and doesn't issue licences, so it doesn't compete with in5. Many founders hold an in5 licence and use Dubai Founders HQ for introductions.

Your Obligations Once You're In

• Six-monthly reports covering progress, funding, jobs created, major customers and impact.
• Credit in5 in media coverage with the phrase "Special Thanks – In5".
• Stay within your approved activity. A pivot to a different, unapproved activity has to go back to the committee.
• Cancel properly if you stop. If the startup closes, you must cancel the licence, lease and visas. Unpaid fees and active visas cause problems later.

Common Mistakes Founders Make

• Budgeting AED 1,000 for the year. The desk alone is AED 15,000. Plan for about AED 20,000–25,000 in year 1 for a small team.
• Forgetting the year-4 jump. The licence rises to AED 15,000 when the subsidy ends. Your financial model should show it.
• Choosing the wrong centre. A media startup that applies to in5 Tech gets scored on tech criteria. Pick the centre whose definition of innovation matches what you do.
• Pitching with no product. The FAQ asks for at least an MVP, prototype or proof of concept. An idea and a deck isn't enough.
• Missing the tax registration. The AED 10,000 penalty is easy to avoid. Register as soon as the licence is issued.
• Treating in5 as a funding source. It connects you with investors but doesn't invest itself. Keep raising separately.

Where in5 Fits in Dubai's Startup Ecosystem

in5 belongs to TECOM Group, which runs Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District and Dubai Science Park. That is where most startups go after in5. TECOM offers discounted leases in its districts for in5 graduates, and the DDA licence moves with you.

For funding, in5's network leads to angel investors and VCs. Its startups also exhibit at GITEX and Expand North Star each year. Early-stage tech founders who want public investment can look at Oraseya Capital, and those wanting government pilots at Dubai Future Accelerators.

Frequently Asked Questions