Dubai Media City - DMC free zone company formation

Company setup from 58,800 AED 

Registration - 4-6 weeks

Bank account Guaranteed

Residence visas for 2 years

Emirabiz experts’ opinion

Is DMC suitable for your business?

Yes

• If you are engaged in the media industry, in advertising, marketing, event management, or media consulting, the free zone is called Dubai Media City, which makes it clear which types of activities are predominant there. You will have the opportunity to present your products, services and interact with some of the best international marketing, entertainment, and advertising companies and many regional media companies.
• If your nationality is considered as high risk (Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Turkey, etc), it is advisable for you to opt for a Dubai free zone company formation as you will not encounter difficulties in obtaining resident visas or opening a bank account.
• If you are a freelancer or an independent media professional, the DMC free zone offers the advantage of registering a freelance permit through Go freelance here with a 1 visa package. You get to enjoy many business facilities as well as a prestigious office address and location.

No

• If you would like to have your set-up done remotely, Dubai Media City is not the best option as your personal presence is required at the final stage when you need to come to the free zone to sign the documents and collect office keys. In this case the alternative option would be Ajman Media City or Sharjah Media City FreeZone.

DMC company formation process

The registration process for DMC begins with an initial approval, which determines if your business model qualifies for the free zone. Usually it takes about 5-7 days. After the initial approval the registration process can be completed, making the total of 4-6 weeks. Visiting in person is not required in the initial stages of the company formation. The registration can be done remotely, however, you have to be present physically to sign the company documents and collect the keys for the office. Keep in mind that to open a company in DMC, you need to rent a premise within this free zone, whether it is a co-working space or a standard office,  depending on your company’s business activity and size.  

Step 1. Determine which type of license and legal entity offered by the DMC free zone suits you. 

It is crucial to approach this question carefully, as choosing the wrong activity, registration authority, or location can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or getting a residence visa. 

In DMC you can form the following legal entities:

• Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC)
• Branch of a local company
• Branch of a foreign company
• Freelance permit

Step 2. Prepare the necessary documents. DMC requires a minimal documentation package.

• passport with a 6-month validity
• business plan
• personal bank statement for the last 3 months (required for Lebanese and Syrian nationals)

Step 3. Receive the license and registration documents for the company, namely

• Certificate of incorporation
• License
• Lease agreement
• MoA and Articles of Association

Step 4. Receive an establishment card that contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residence visas.

Step 5. Apply for an entry permit. 

If you apply from inside the UAE, after the entry permit is issued you have to change your visa status from the previous visa to a residence visa. If you are outside the UAE, then arrive in the country, get your entry permit stamped and then proceed with the rest of the residence visa process, submitting the necessary documents.

Step 6. Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residency visa.

Step 7. Apply for an Emirates ID.

Step 8. Complete biometrics procedure in one of the Emirates ID centers.

Step 9. Once you have the results of your medical test and biometrics you can submit all the details for a visa approval. Your electronic visa will be sent to you by email. You can also find it in the UAE ICP app.

Step 10. Receive your Emirates ID. After the residence visa is issued, the Government prepares a plastic identity card which is an important document that is required to open a bank account, rent an apartment, pay bills or fines, etc. It also entitles you to many local services and discounts.

Step 11. Open a bank account. Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. The approval may take a few weeks. 

After receiving the account details, you can start running your business in the UAE.

DMC licenses and cost

Below is an estimated cost of registering a license in the DMC free zone with a dedicated desk facility.

The cost of registering a company with a large executive office of 190 sqm will be around 203,000 AED.

DMC business activities

Dubai Media City offers a wide range of business activities, catering to the diverse needs of the media and communication industry. Whether you are involved in advertising, marketing, event management, or media consultancy, Dubai Media City provides the ideal platform to thrive and grow your business.

The main groups of business activities permitted in Dubai Media City include:

• Advertising & Communication
• Media and Marketing Services
• Event Management
• Media and Marketing Consultancy
• New Media
• Media Association (Non-Profit) and others.

Freelance permit

In addition to these exciting business opportunities, Dubai Media City also offers freelance permit options. Freelancers can operate under the TECOM authority within Dubai Media City, enabling them to work independently and establish their professional identity.

GoFreelance - this platform unites the freelancer community from the free zones of Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Design District, and Dubai Knowledge Park. It is managed by the TECOM Group. Here, you can obtain a freelancer license, apply for a visa, find like-minded individuals, and discover suitable projects. The entire process is conducted within a single platform. 

Freelance activities available in the Dubai Media City include, but not limited to:

• Actor
• Artist
• Choreographer
• Content Provider
• Copywriter
• Graphic Designer
• Journalist
• Market Analyst
• Musician
• Social Media Specialist
• Translator
• Web Developer

The freelance permit allows you to operate under your birth name rather than a brand name, positioning you as a sole practitioner in your field. Furthermore, Dubai Media City freelance visa permits you to reside in the UAE and sponsor your family, providing a comprehensive solution for freelancers seeking stability and growth.

DMC facilities

Office facility rental is required during the registration process. The smallest facility is the hot desk which is eligible for 1 visa allocation.

Dubai Media City free zone offers a variety of facilities that you can choose from to satisfy your needs, including:

Keep in mind that to open a company in DMC, you need to rent a premise within this free zone, whether it is a co-working space or a warehouse depending on your company’s business activity and size.

DMC visa costs

Opening a company in the DMC free zone entitles you, your personnel, and your dependents for residence visas.

In the table below, you can find the DMC residence visa fees.

Sponsorship of dependents

To sponsor dependents under your visa, you will need the following documents:

1. Marriage certificate (attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE and legally translated to Arabic)
2. Birth certificate (for your child) - (attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE and legally translated to Arabic)
3. Tenancy contract for an apartment in UAE

DMC company license renewal

If you are not present in Dubai, your representative can handle the company renewal process. The procedure includes:

1. Renewal of the office lease
2. Renewal of the license

After the company renewal, it is important to inform your bank about the license extension. You need to bring the license to any branch of your bank. Business consultants in Dubai can assist you in this process.

DMC company amendments

DMC allows company owners to make as many changes as required. The costs vary depending on the type of amendment. Amendments can be categorized as Registry Amendments or License Amendments.

• Registry Amendment

This includes Company name change, operating name change, parent company name change, adding or removal of Directors, Financial year change.

• License Amendment

This includes Manager name change, Location/Address on License change, Change of business activity/addition of activity within the same segment, removal of an existing segment, removal of activity within the segment, adding new publishing segment, adding new channels.

DMC company liquidation

Dubai Media City has simplified the liquidation procedure. The current fee for company closure stands at approximately AED 2,000. The process takes about 1 month. It consists of these major steps:

1. Visa cancellation  (7-10 working days) - if there is a visa in the company.
2. Establishment card cancellation (7-10 working days) - if it was a visa eligible company.
3. License cancellation.

If any business registered with Dubai Media City wishes to cancel their license and deregister the company, they have to approach the authority to complete the de-registration procedures.

In case you do not renew and do not cancel your license either, it becomes non-operational. Then the Dubai Media City authority will initiate company liquidation by itself.

If you made any refundable deposits to the authority, the refunds will be made upon company deregistration.

About Dubai Media City

Dubai Media City (DMC)  was launched in January 2001 to establish Dubai as the region’s leading media hub including news agencies, publishing, online media, advertising, production and broadcast facilities.

It is managed by Technology Electronic Commerce and Media group (TECOM), which is a part of Dubai Holding.

TECOM free zone authority manages 11 free zones, referred to as “business communities”. Dubai Media City is one of them.

It provides an advanced infrastructure and supportive environment for media-related businesses to operate globally out of Dubai. It is one of the most prestigious places of company registration in Dubai.