Last updated
The best free zone for media is the one that matches your output. A content creator or a small agency needs a licence and a desk, and Sharjah and Ajman publish those at AED 4,999 to AED 5,760 a year. A film, TV or production house needs studios and space, and that points to Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City or twofour54 in Abu Dhabi. Dubai Media City sits in between.
The eight zones are compared in the table above. Below, each one in turn: who it is for, the published price, and the catch.
Dubai's three media zones
Dubai Media City
Dubai Media City licenses media and marketing services, event management and media support work. Most segments cost AED 15,000 a year, some AED 20,000, plus a one time AED 3,500 registration fee. Visas follow space at 1 visa per 80 sq ft. The low cost way in is the Open Quarters desk in D/Quarters at AED 1,200 a month with 1 visa. Share capital is AED 10,000 and setup takes 7 working days. Five agencies quote AED 15,000 to AED 60,000 for a first year. Some media activities need National Media Council registration on top of the licence. The Dubai Media City page has the detail.
Dubai Studio City
Built for film, TV, music and digital content production, Dubai Studio City has sound stages, studios, a backlot and offices of 700 to 1,300 sq ft. Licence fees run from AED 15,000 to AED 40,000 a year by segment. Capital is AED 50,000 for most firms, or AED 1,000,000 for a TV or radio station or network. Three agencies publish AED 14,999 to AED 48,000. See Dubai Studio City.
Dubai Production City
Many people looking for a media production zone in Dubai mean this TECOM zone. It licenses publishing, printing and packaging work. Most segments are AED 15,000 a year, publishing AED 20,000, and signage and packaging manufacture AED 25,000. Capital runs from AED 50,000 to AED 500,000. It has offices, warehouses and the in5 Media centre, where accepted early stage firms pay AED 1,000 a year for the licence for 3 years.
Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates
twofour54, Abu Dhabi
twofour54's licences are issued by the Creative Media Authority. The FZ-LLC licence is AED 15,000 and registration AED 3,500, and both are waived for the first 2 years. Offices and visas are extra: a Co-Lab office gives 1 visa, Co-Create 2. There is no minimum capital, and the CMA estimates 14 working days to set up. Two agencies quote AED 15,000 to AED 35,000. The renewal cost after the waiver is the figure to get in writing. More on twofour54.
Shams, Sharjah Media City
Shams is Sharjah Media City, and its Media Package fits small media firms. It costs AED 5,760 a year, VAT included, or AED 480 a month over 12 months on a UAE credit card. You get up to 5 media activities, an LLC with no NOC needed, a flexi desk and a lease agreement. No visa is included; each visa needs an AED 1,600 allocation. See Shams.
Ajman Media City
Ajman Media City lists Media next to E-commerce, Tech and Consultancy, and its office types include creative studios. The Business Club licence is AED 4,999 a year with co-working and no visa; the 1, 2 and 3 visa tiers are AED 12,999, AED 17,999 and AED 22,999. Setup is digital. Details on the Ajman Media City page.
Creative City Fujairah
Fujairah's media free zone lists more than 2,000 activities and licenses fully remotely. Its spaces include flexi desks, coworking, offices and a podcast studio. An offer page on its site prices a Media Package at AED 3,999 a year with a flexi desk and no visa, and an Elite Package with 1 visa at AED 9,999. The setup page does not link to that offer, and a new fee schedule has been approved, so ask whether those prices still stand. More on the Creative City page.
SPC Free Zone, Sharjah
SPC, Sharjah Publishing City, is run by a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority. For publishers it has two entry tiers: E-Publishing at AED 4,999 for online publishing only, and Publishing and E-commerce at AED 5,750 with up to 5 activities.
What decides the cost of a media licence
- Space. A desk at Shams or Ajman is a small fraction of a studio lease in Dubai. We found no published studio or stage rents, so ask.
- Segment. In the Dubai zones each media segment carries its own fee, and broadcasting segments need more capital.
- Visas. Most entry packages include none. In Dubai Media City visas depend on how many square feet you lease.
- Approvals. Some media activities need National Media Council registration. Factor in the time.
Choose by what you make
- Choose Dubai Media City if you run an agency, a marketing firm or an events business and want a Dubai media address.
- Choose Dubai Studio City if you shoot film or TV and need stages.
- Choose Dubai Production City if you publish, print or package.
- Choose twofour54 if you want a media company in Abu Dhabi and the 2 year fee waiver.
- Choose Shams if you want a media licence with up to 5 activities for AED 5,760.
- Choose Ajman Media City or Creative City if you work remotely and want a low entry price or a podcast studio.
Freelancers in media have their own options, compared on our best free zone for freelancers page. For all six zones in Sharjah, see Sharjah free zones.
Say what you produce, how many visas you want and whether you need a studio, using the form on this page. Our site lists free zones; it does not license anyone and acts for no authority. Your details go to the zone or a licensed setup partner, who prices the setup for you.
Sources
- DDA licence categories decision (PDF): segment fees for Dubai Media City, Studio City and Production City, NMC rule and in5 terms
- Dubai Media City coworking: Open Quarters desk
- Creative Media Authority business package: twofour54 fee waiver and visas per office
- Creative Media Authority regulation and licence: licence and registration fees
- Shams packages: Media Package price and inclusions
- Ajman Media City services: licence categories and office types
- Creative City company set-up: Smart Package
- SPC Free Zone licence blog: SPC tiers
