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DubaiMedia✓ Checked 2026-10-24

Dubai Studio City (DSC)

مدينة دبي للاستديوهات

DSC publishes a licence fee from AED 15,000 but no full package price and states incorporation in 7 days (checked 2026-10-24).

Dubai Studio City (DSC) is a media free zone in Dubai, licensed by Dubai Development Authority (DDA).

Official sources onlyOfficial site ↗Online portal ↗

Key facts

Solo, no visa · year 1
Not published
No package prices published. One founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity.
Founder + 1 visa · year 1
Not published
No package prices published. One founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office.
Team, 3 visas · year 1
Not published
No package prices published. Three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
Lowest package, any size
—
Licence fee from
AED 15,000
Largest visa quota
Not published
No package states a quota
Minimum office
Not published
Incorporation
7 days
As stated by the zone
Min. share capital
AED 10,000
General trading
No
VAT Designated Zone
No
FTA list
Annual audit
Yes

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae, dubaistudiocity.ae, tax.gov.ae.

Figures as published by the zone. “Not published” means no official source states it. Scenario prices are the published package closest to each set-up: solo, no visa = one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity; founder + 1 visa = one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office; team, 3 visas = three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.

Identity and legal basis

Official name (Arabic)
مدينة دبي للاستديوهات ↗
Licensing / regulating authority
Dubai Development Authority (DDA) ↗
Parent group / government body
TECOM Group PJSC (district operator); licensing by Dubai Development Authority ↗
Zone type
Media ↗
Official website
dubaistudiocity.ae ↗
Online application portal
axs2.my.site.com/axslogin ↗
Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
Yes ↗
  • Physical locations / campuses: Dubai Studio City, Dubai (commercial offices close to Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, next to Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club); management office Commercial Building, 5th floor. [1]
  • Public contact email: info@dubaistudiocity.ae. [2]
  • Public contact phone: +971 4 391 4664. [3]
  1. [1] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dubaistudiocity.ae, moet.gov.ae, dda.gov.ae.

Business activities

Official approved activity list
dda.gov.ae/-/media/67662280247F46F2B94A853943F01 ↗
Licence types offered
Media ↗
General trading licence available
No ↗
  • Total number of approved activities: 52. [1]
  • Activity categories offered: Broadcasting TV; Broadcasting Radio; Broadcast Support Services; Broadcast Service Providers; Digital Content Creation; Film Support Services; Production (Film, TV and Radio); Production Support Services; Music and Entertainment; Themed Amusement and Recreation Activities. [1]
  • Activities included in base licence: 1. [1]
  • Activities needing another authority's approval: Aerial Photography and Video (Activity 20.8.14) - Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Broadcasting TV / Broadcasting Radio (Segments 20.1, 20.2) - registration with the National Media Council (now federal media regulator) and channel registration; Terrestrial TV/Radio stations and networks - broadcast frequency licence from the designated UAE authority; Studio Consultancy (Activity 20.8.13) events with ticketing - DTCM event e-licensing (Decree 25 of 2013). [1]
  • Restricted activities: Broadcasters and Publishers may not open a branch elsewhere in the UAE, including other free zones (LCD Art. 4.1); Broadcasting TV/Radio and Publishing: FZ-LLC only (Art. 4.2); Broadcast Licensees may not uplink or resell uplink services except as authorised; must use the Authority-designated uplink provider (Arts. 4.3, 4.6, 4.7); Representative office (20.3.2) may not carry out production, transmission or trade on its own account; DSC licence holders may operate only within the free zone (DSC FAQ). [1]
  1. [1] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae.

Cost - year one

Lowest licence fee (zero-visa)
AED 15,000 ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae.

Cost - ongoing

  • Renewal costs more than the first-year price: no. [1]
  • Late renewal penalty: LCD 2021 Schedule 4: renewal more than 30 and up to 60 days after expiry AED 2,500; 60-90 days AED 5,000; more than 90 days AED 10,000; Authority may refuse renewal and withhold government/sponsorship services. [1]
  • Renewal grace period: 30 days. [1]
  • Fee to add activity: AED 500. [2]
  • Fee for shareholder change: AED 3,000. [3]
  • Fee for name change: AED 2,000. [4]
  • Deregistration / liquidation fee: AED 1,500. [5]
  • Typical liquidation time: 4 days. [5]
  1. [1] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  4. [4] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  5. [5] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae.

Visas and residency

  • Visa quota rule: One employee may be sponsored for every 80 sq ft of leased space. [1]
  • How to increase quota and cost: Quota follows leased area (1 employee per 80 sq ft), so it increases by leasing more space. [1]
  • Employee visa available: yes. [1]
  • Dependant / family visa sponsorship allowed: yes. [1]
  1. [1] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dubaistudiocity.ae.

Office and facilities

Office / facility types
Private office, Warehouse, Light industrial unit, Retail unit ↗
Warehouse available
Yes ↗
  • Minimum sqm per visa: 7.43 sqm. [1]
  • Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: Sound stages (3, more than 65,000 sq ft) and 6 multipurpose studios (more than 96,000 sq ft); Auditorium booking; Retail, cafes and restaurants; Fitness centres, running tracks, healthcare; Banks on site (unnamed); 24-hour security; Studio One Hotel nearby. [2]
  1. [1] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dubaistudiocity.ae.

Market access and customs

Physical operations on the mainland allowed without an extra licence
No ↗
  • Customs duty in the zone: Licensee may choose: (i) free zone customs code from Dubai Customs allowing import and re-export with goods stored within the Zone bounded area; (ii) local customs code, paying customs duty on arrival; or (iii) no customs code (no imports). [1]
  • Customs duty exemption details: Free zone customs code (Dubai Customs) allows import and re-export with goods kept inside the Zone bounded area; goods brought in on a local customs code pay duty on arrival. [1]
  1. [1] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dubaistudiocity.ae, dda.gov.ae.

Tax status

VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
No ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae.

Compliance and reporting

Annual audited financial statements required by the zone
Yes ↗
Beneficial-owner register filing required
Yes ↗
  • Audit submission deadline: Audited accounts supplied to the Authority on demand (LCD Art. 2.8); financial statements laid before the general meeting within six months after financial year end (PCR Reg. 65.1). [1]
  • Substance requirements enforced by zone: Registered Office (physical location in the Zone) required; a General Manager must be appointed. [1]
  • Annual return and renewal documents: Online licence renewal via axs (fee per LCD tariff + AED 20 dirham fees); NOC from external authorities for licensed activities, if applicable; Certificate of continuity/good standing or current trade licence for branches of onshore UAE companies, if applicable. [2]
  1. [1] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae.

Setup process and speed

Typical incorporation time stated by the zone
7 days ↗
Direct application without an agent
Yes ↗
  • Documents for an individual shareholder: Application form; Valid passport copies of member(s), director(s) and General Manager (with residence visa page if any); Resolution for the incorporation of an FZ-LLC; Declaration of appointment as General Manager (if holding a valid visa); Power of attorney for legal representative/negotiator, notarised and attested to UAE Embassy level (if any). [1]
  • Attestation requirements for corporate shareholders: Corporate member: certificate of incorporation, certificate of good standing/continuity, parent MoA/AoA, external NOC per LCD Art. 8 if applicable; the incorporation resolution and any power of attorney must be notarised by a notary public and attested by the UAE Embassy. [2]
  • Trade name rules: Name must end with 'FZ-LLC'; without Registrar approval may not be identical/similar to an existing name or contain words such as Dubai, Emirates, UAE, TECOM, Media City, 'Dubai Studio City', authority, district, etc. [3]
  1. [1] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae, dubaistudiocity.ae.

Operations, ecosystem and flexibility

  • Adding shareholders: New member via share transfer or new shares: AED 3,000 per transaction + AED 500 AoA amendment + AED 20 dirham fees, 5 working days; needs UBO form, resolutions (notarised/attested for corporate members) and proof of paid-up capital. [1]
  • Moving a company in or out (re-domiciliation): yes. [2]
  • Multiple licences under one group: yes. [3]
  1. [1] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dda.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] dubaistudiocity.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae, dubaistudiocity.ae.

Industry-specific regulation

  • Media content licensing / filming permits: Company licences for DSC broadcasting, production and related activities are issued by the Dubai Development Authority under LCD 2021. Broadcasters (TV/radio) must register each channel with the Authority and the federal media regulator before broadcasting (AED 5,000 per TV channel, volume discounts), use the Authority-designated uplink provider, operate as an FZ-LLC and may not branch elsewhere in the UAE; terrestrial broadcasters need a frequency licence; content disputes go to the DCCA Broadcasting and Publication Standards Tribunal. Under Federal Decree-Law 55/2023 the competent authority licenses media activities in free zones, activity must stay inside the zone, and other required approvals still apply. Filming: Executive Council Resolution 50/2014 makes the Dubai Film and TV Commission the sole issuer of media filming permits in Dubai, including free zones (application AED 500 + permit AED 2,500 for UAE-licensed production companies; fines up to AED 25,000 for filming without a permit). The National Media Authority also lists a federal ground filming permit (AED 500/day, apply 15 working days ahead). Aerial photography/video needs Dubai Civil Aviation Authority approval. [1]
  1. [1] dlp.dubai.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dlp.dubai.gov.ae.

Activity fit (our view)

Likely possible

Needs a regulator's approval

  • None

Not offered

Our assessment from the zone's published licence types. Always confirm your exact activity on the zone's official activity list. Official activity list ↗ Licence types the zone publishes: Media.

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae.

Notes and history

  1. Legal basis · 2014-10-27

    Dubai Studio City (DSC) is one of the business districts of the free zone run by the Dubai Development Authority (DDA). The zone was created as the Dubai Technology & Media Free Zone under Law No. 1 of 2000 and is now governed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2014, issued on 27 October 2014, which renamed it the Dubai Creative Clusters and gave its authority the power to license and register businesses there. [source 1][source 2]

  2. Good to know · 2014-12-07

    Dubai Studio City is one of the entities represented on the Dubai Film and TV Commission, which Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 (7 December 2014) set up to issue filming permits in Dubai, with support from the authority now called DDA. [source 1][source 2][source 3]

  3. History · 2018

    The authority set up under Law No. 15 of 2014 was first called the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority; Law No. 10 of 2018 changed its name to the Dubai Development Authority. Several DDA rules still in force carry the older names, including the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Licensing Regulations 2003 and the Dubai Creative Clusters Private Companies Regulations 2016. [source 1][source 2]

  4. History · 2021-04-07

    DDA Decision No. 1 of 2021 on licence categories, issued on 7 April 2021, replaced Decision No. 1 of 2018. It lists the activity segments that can be licensed in each DDA district (DSC's are in Part Five), plus a General segment available in all of them. [source]

  5. Good to know

    Companies in DSC are licensed and registered by DDA, not by the district itself or by TECOM Group, which operates the district (the district's website describes it as a member of TECOM Group). The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism's list of free-zone company registrars (updated 23 October 2026) names DDA as the registrar for DSC. [source 1][source 2][source 3]

  6. Good to know

    DSC is part of TECOM Group's Media Cluster together with Dubai Media City and Dubai Production City. [source 1][source 2]

  7. Good to know

    The GoFreelance freelance permit shown on the DSC website is a TECOM Group offer that covers Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Design District and Dubai Knowledge Park; DSC is not one of the listed districts. [source]

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dda.gov.ae, dubaistudiocity.ae, moet.gov.ae and 2 more official sources.

Questions worth asking

How much does a DSC licence cost?

DSC publishes a licence fee from AED 15,000. Visa, office and registration costs are extra.

How long does DSC company setup take?

DSC states about 7 days for incorporation. Visas take extra time after the licence is issued.

Can I get a general trading licence in DSC?

DSC does not offer a general trading licence.

Is DSC a VAT Designated Zone?

DSC does not appear on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones.

What is the minimum share capital in DSC?

DSC states a minimum share capital of AED 10,000.

About this data

Every fact comes from DSC's own channels or a UAE government source, linked next to it. Last checked 2026-10-24. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

Rules for every zone

Explained in the guides on corporate tax, VAT Designated Zones and mainland access.

How we check

Prices are re-checked every 90 days and other facts on a schedule. How we verify →