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The media cluster agencies and publishers already work in

Dubai Media City is the TECOM media cluster: broadcasters, publishers, advertising agencies and production companies license here, alongside the regional offices of international media groups. We file the licence, run KYC and handle the visa.

Why Dubai Media City?

Dubai Media City is the region's established media address: a cluster built for agencies, publishers and production companies rather than a general-purpose licence.

A media cluster

Agencies, broadcasters and publishers sit on one campus, which shortens the distance to clients, freelancers and partners.

Activities written for media

The activity list is built around advertising, publishing, production and communications rather than adapted from a general list.

Access to talent

An established media address makes hiring producers, editors and creative staff a more familiar conversation.

Client proximity

Regional marketing teams and media buyers work from the same cluster, which matters for agency businesses.

100% foreign ownership

Full foreign ownership with no local partner requirement, as across the UAE free zones.

0% QFZP tax

Qualifying Free Zone Person status keeps corporate tax at 0% on qualifying income when the structure and activity support it.

What you get with Dubai Media City

Dubai Media City licenses media, marketing and communications activities from premises inside the TECOM cluster. The office you take is part of the licence and sets the visa allocation, so we scope them together.

Who Dubai Media City is best for

Dubai Media City suits media and communications businesses that want to sit inside the cluster their clients, talent and partners already work in.

Best suited to
  • Advertising and media agencies
  • Publishers and content studios
  • Production and post-production companies
  • PR and corporate communications firms
  • Regional media headquarters
  • Brand and creative consultancies
  • Media businesses hiring teams in Dubai
  • Agencies serving regional client rosters
May need a different route
  • Cost-first licences with no premises
  • Trading, warehousing and physical distribution
  • Regulated financial-services activity
  • Solo operators who need only an address

Activities we can license

Advertising & marketing

Agencies, media buying, brand and communications consultancies.

Publishing & content

Editorial businesses, publishing houses and content studios.

Broadcast & production services

Broadcast operations, production services and post-production businesses.

PR & communications

Public relations, corporate communications and events-adjacent services.

What's included in your Dubai Media City setup package

Company Formation Essentials

  • Trade licence issued by TECOM (Dubai Media City)
  • Company registration and legal entity creation
  • Memorandum & Articles of Association (MOA/AOA)
  • Share certificates and corporate documents
  • Registered office address in the cluster
  • Establishment card & eSignature

Visa & Residency Processing

  • Investor / partner residence visa processing
  • Employee visa processing (up to your allocation)
  • Emirates ID application
  • Medical fitness test coordination
  • Visa stamping and status change

Business Support

  • Corporate bank account introduction (top UAE banks)
  • PRO services for government documentation
  • Ongoing compliance and renewal support
  • Dedicated relationship manager
  • Accounting and bookkeeping services
  • Corporate tax registration and filing

What the timeline looks like

  1. 1

    Day 1–5

    Diagnostic, KYC, activity scoping, Dubai Media City name reservation.

  2. 2

    Week 2–4

    Filing, MOA, initial approval.

  3. 3

    Week 5–6

    Licence issuance, establishment card, eSignature.

  4. 4

    Week 7–9

    Investor visa: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID.

  5. 5

    Week 8–12

    Corporate bank account (varies by bank).

How much does Dubai Media City setup cost?

Priced on request

Final cost depends on the zone, activity and visa count.

What’s included

  • Trade licence
  • Registered address
  • Establishment card + eSignature
  • One investor visa

Price varies by

  • Free zone
  • Visa count
  • Workspace
  • Optional add-ons
Get a tailored estimate →

How Dubai Media City compares

Feature
Legal frameworkUAE Civil LawUAE Civil LawUAE Civil Law
100% foreign ownershipYesYesYes
0% on qualifying incomeYesYesYes
100% profit repatriationYesYesYes
EmirateDubaiDubaiSharjah
FocusAdvertising, publishing, broadcast and communicationsFilm, print and broadcast productionMedia, content and creative licensing
Best forAgencies, publishers and regional media HQsProduction companies and content studiosCreators, small agencies and content businesses

Banks we can help you approach.

Bank suitability depends on your activity, ownership, documents and transaction profile.

See our banking partners

Is a free zone the right route for you?

Tell us the activity and headcount. We shortlist the zones that actually accept it.

  • A dedicated specialist reviews your case.
  • Fixed scope in writing before any work begins.
  • Avg reply 3 minutes on WhatsApp, 24 × 7.

Request a consultation

No obligation. We tell you if it is not the right route.

Talk to a UAE specialist

What clients say

Frequently asked

What is Dubai Media City best suited to?
Dubai Media City is often considered for advertising and media agencies, publishers, production companies and communications firms — media businesses that want to sit inside the cluster their clients and talent work in.
Is Dubai Media City suitable for a solo content creator?
Not usually as a default. The cluster is premises-led, and a solo creator often has a better fit in a packaged media zone. We compare the routes on activity, premises and visa count before recommending one.
Can a Dubai Media City company work with mainland clients?
A free-zone company contracting directly with mainland customers usually needs additional arrangements, and the answer depends on the activity. Where mainland revenue is central to the plan, we compare a mainland licence before recommending a zone.
Can a Dubai Media City company open a UAE bank account?
A Dubai Media City entity can apply, and an agency with premises and documented client contracts is a familiar profile. Approval is still the bank's decision, and we prepare the file before it is submitted.
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