New Freezone Incentives—Up to 30% Fee Reduction for Startup
Start a Company in Dubai Media City
12,542AED
From
2001
Established
2,050
Companies
6
Max Visas
Moderate
Banking
Business Overview
Dubai Media City in Brief
About Dubai Media City
- Founded in 2001, the region's top free zone for broadcasting, media, advertising, publishing and entertainment
- Belongs to TECOM Group, as do Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai Internet City
- Base for international media names such as Sony, Reuters, MBC, BBC and CNN
Who Should Consider It?
- Broadcasters and media firms
- Journalism and publishing companies
- TV and film producers and advertising agencies
Visa Details
- Quota: up to 6 visas; 2-3 on a flexi desk, with private offices growing by size
- Timing: roughly 14 days, or about 2 weeks in total covering the medical, stamping and Emirates ID
- Available visas: Investor, Employment, Partner and Dependent
- Investor AED 5,042 · Employee AED 3,500 · Dependants handled via GDRFA
- Medical test: AED 450 standard or AED 850 VIP · Emirates ID typing: AED 390
Banking
- Level of difficulty: Moderate
- Works with RAKBANK, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Mashreq Bank and Emirates NBD
- A corporate account normally takes 2-4 weeks using the usual KYC paperwork
Key Features
- Office needed: Yes for FZ-LLCs (private office or flexi desk); no office is needed for GoFreelance permits
- Dual licensing: Yes
- Multiple shareholders: Yes, with 100% foreign ownership allowed
- Digital portal: Yes, DCCA handles visas, renewals and licensing
- Co-working space: Yes
- Audit needed: Yes, audited financial statements each year at renewal
- Not available: crypto, mainland trading or a free zone to mainland route
Capital
- Not needed for the majority of licence types
Specialist Ecosystems
- in5 Media, the TECOM Innovation Centre
- Production facilities at nearby Dubai Studio City
Latest News
- 2025: More flexi desk and co-working space was added by TECOM Group throughout DMC buildings
- 2025: The DCCA online licensing portal was simplified to speed up processing
- 2024: More GoFreelance permit choices became available to media professionals
- 2024: In the wake of the Dubai Media Strategy, new digital media and content creation firms moved in
Freezone Cost Calculator
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Why DMC?
Why Dubai Media City Stands Out
Leading Media Cluster
More than 3,000 companies are based here, among them Sony, Reuters, MBC, BBC and CNN.
Respected Address
Broadcasters and clients take a DMC address seriously.
Flexi Desk Options
Licences start at AED 15,000 annually, with workspace adding another AED 15,000.
Smoother Banking
Long-standing ties with leading banks in the UAE.
TECOM Network
Links to Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Internet City and further clusters.
Online Licensing
Licences are issued via the DCCA portal within 5-7 business days.
Ownership and Capital
Foreign investors can own 100%, and most licence types need no minimum capital.
GoFreelance Option
Individual media professionals can start from AED 7,500 annually.
Packages & Pricing
Dubai Media City Pricing and Packages
GoFreelance Permit with 1-Year Visa
AED 7,500 licence · Office not needed · AED 12,542 to renew, visa renewal included.
1 visa
No-Visa Package
AED 15,000 licence · Shared flexi desk · AED 30,000 to renew.
0 visas
Package with 1 Visa
AED 15,000 licence · Shared flexi desk · Roughly AED 33,000 to renew, covering insurance and the establishment card.
1 visa
Package with 2 Visas
AED 15,000 licence · Shared flexi desk · Roughly AED 34,000 to renew.
2 visas
Private Office with 3 Visas
AED 15,000 licence · Dedicated private office · Roughly AED 60,000 to renew.
3 visas
Private Office with 6 Visas
AED 15,000 licence · Dedicated private office · Roughly AED 104,000 to renew.
6 visas
Watch Out For
Points to Weigh Up Before Picking Dubai Media City
Have Questions?
Common Questions
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