New Freezone Incentives—Up to 30% Fee Reduction for Startup
Start a twofour54 Company in Abu Dhabi
3,539AED
From
2008
Established
800
Companies
6
Max Visas
Moderate
Banking
Business Overview
twofour54 in Brief
About twofour54
- Set up in 2008, Abu Dhabi's dedicated free zone for media and entertainment, located in Yas Creative Hub
- Excellent facilities for TV and film production, content creation and gaming
- A specialist media regulator, not a budget mass-market zone; expect costs to climb when you add offices and visas
Who Should Consider It?
- Film and media production firms
- Esports and gaming companies
- Freelancers and creative agencies
Visa Details
- Quota: roughly 6 visas at most on typical SME packages; a hot desk normally permits 2
- Timing: roughly 10 working days for visas (5 urgent), with licences aimed at 14 working days
- Renewal: AED 4,070, due every 2 years
- Available visas: Investor, Employment, Partner and Dependent
- AED 4,070 each for investor and employee visas · Visas for dependants start near AED 3,000
- Medical test: AED 450 standard or AED 850 VIP · Emirates ID typing: AED 390
Banking
- Level of difficulty: Moderate
- Works with RAKBANK, Mashreq, Emirates NBD, ADCB and FAB
- Allow 3-8+ weeks; freelancers may need to show contracts or evidence of work in the pipeline
Key Features
- Office needed: Yes for business entities, with freelancers handled under a separate setup
- Mainland access and dual licence: Yes, through the ADDED/TAMM dual-licence option
- Multiple shareholders: Yes, corporate or individual; branches are permitted
- Digital portal: Yes, The Circle, offering over 40 online services
- Co-working space: Yes
- Audit needed: Yes, though very small companies should check
- Crypto and mainland trading: No
Capital and Payments
- There is no set minimum share capital, yet whatever capital you declare has to go into a newly opened bank account
- Depending on the package, office rent, desks and consulting packages may be paid in instalments
Specialist Ecosystems
- Yas Creative Hub
- Production studios at twofour54
- Film rebate scheme in Abu Dhabi: 35%+ and as much as 50% for qualified productions
Latest News
- May 2026: A CMA-supported production linked to HOKUM highlighted Abu Dhabi's production capabilities and gave Emirati interns on-set roles
- Feb 2026: CMA introduced Family in Frame, a year-long programme for creatives
- Sep 2025: At The Circle showcase, an upgraded digital talent platform and a creative-talent register were unveiled
- Jun 2025: CMA agreed an AED 55 million deal with NG9 Group covering a TV series and two films
- Mar 2025: Sherborne Media was the first TV and film financing firm to register with CMA
Freezone Cost Calculator
Estimate Your Setup Cost
Why twofour54?
Why twofour54 Stands Out
Fees Waived for Two Years
Under the present offer, new FZ-LLCs save AED 18,500 in licence and registration charges across their first two years.
Free Freelancer Package
A full discount also covers the freelancer package, which runs 12 months and normally lists at AED 3,500.
True Media Specialist
Permitted activities span TV and film, esports and gaming, publishing, design, broadcasting and digital content.
Strong Creative Network
More than 800 businesses and 1,000 freelancers work from Yas Creative Hub, a campus built for media.
Predictable Timelines
The target for licences is 14 working days, with visas taking 10 (or 5 on the urgent track).
The Circle Portal
Over 40 services are available online, and business renewals now take just 24 hours.
Onshore Reach
Via ADDED/TAMM, companies can hold a dual licence and operate onshore across the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Film Incentives
Qualified productions can claim Abu Dhabi's film rebate, which begins at 35% and can reach 50%.
Packages & Pricing
twofour54 Pricing and Packages
12-Month Freelancer, No Visa
No licence or registration fees in Years 1-2, though government and admin charges remain. Expect renewal of roughly AED 3,500, as the usual AED 3,500 licence fee returns in Year 3.
0 visas
FZ-LLC Hot Desk, 1 Visa
No licence or registration fees in Years 1-2 · Flexible desk · Renewal of roughly AED 34,770 after the AED 12,500 licence fee returns.
1 visa
FZ-LLC Hot Desk, 2 Visas
No licence or registration fees in Years 1-2 · Flexible desk · Renewal of roughly AED 36,285.
2 visas
FZ-LLC Private Office, 3 Visas
No licence or registration fees in Years 1-2 · Dedicated private office · Renewal of roughly AED 72,064.
3 visas
Watch Out For
Points to Weigh Up Before Picking twofour54
Have Questions?
Common Questions
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