Overview
Dubai Media City (DMC) is the Middle East’s primary media and creative industries free zone, established in 2001 as part of the TECOM Group. Located alongside Dubai Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Park, DMC hosts over 1,500 companies spanning broadcasting, publishing, advertising, marketing, music, and film production. The zone provides a dedicated regulatory environment for media operations in the region.
Key Sectors
DMC supports broadcasting and television production, print and digital publishing, advertising and marketing agencies, public relations firms, film and entertainment production, music labels, photography studios, and digital content creation. The zone also accommodates media technology providers and event management companies.
Setup Process
Setting up in DMC requires an application through the TECOM Group portal. Applicants select from permitted media-related activities, choose an office solution, submit company incorporation documents and shareholder details, and obtain a DMC licence. Media-specific activities may require additional approvals from the National Media Council. Setup typically takes five to ten business days.
Costs and Licensing
DMC licence fees start at approximately AED 15,000 per year for a single-activity licence. Flexi-desk solutions begin at around AED 15,000 annually. Office space in DMC’s purpose-built media buildings ranges from AED 80 to AED 150 per square foot per year. Production studios and specialised broadcast facilities are available at negotiated rates depending on specification and duration.
Benefits
DMC offers zero corporate and personal income tax for qualifying activities, 100 percent foreign ownership, full profit repatriation, and a regulatory framework tailored to media operations. The zone provides access to production facilities, broadcast studios, and a concentrated community of media professionals and content creators.
Ownership Rules
Foreign investors may hold 100 percent ownership in DMC entities with no requirement for a local partner or sponsor. Companies can be registered as Free Zone LLCs, branches of parent companies, or freelancer permits for individual practitioners.
Tax Regime
Qualifying DMC entities benefit from zero percent corporate tax under the UAE free zone framework. No personal income tax applies. VAT at five percent is applicable to standard taxable supplies under UAE federal law.
Infrastructure
DMC features a dedicated campus with commercial office buildings, the CNN and BBC regional broadcast centres, production studios, an amphitheatre, retail outlets, and dining facilities. The zone connects to Sheikh Zayed Road and is served by Dubai Metro. Its adjacency to Dubai Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Park creates a broader media and technology corridor.
Ideal Investor Profile
DMC is ideal for media agencies, broadcasting companies, publishing houses, advertising firms, content production studios, PR agencies, and freelance media professionals seeking a purpose-built media environment with regional credibility and access to the Gulf’s largest advertising market.