FREE ZONE · DUBAI · UAE
Dubai Media City Free Zone (UAE): Licenses, Costs & Activities (2026)
- Activity combinations
- 97 17 of 52 clusters
- Median package
- from AED 20,590* market benchmark
- Price range
- AED 6,192 – 25,590* min–max in snapshot
- Setup time
- 15–33 days fastest → slowest filed
About Dubai Media City
Dubai Media City (Dubai Media City) accounts for 97 license combinations in the September 2026 snapshot, spread over 17 of the 52 activity clusters tracked on the platform. The strongest cluster here is Marketing & Advertising with 24 packages, followed by Media Production & Broadcasting (23 packages).
Entry packages start at AED 6,192*, the median combination runs from AED 20,590*, and the fullest configurations in the catalog reach AED 25,590*. Filed setup timelines range from 15 to 33 days depending on the activity mix, visa quota and office option.
Dubai Media City is the TECOM media cluster hosting regional broadcasters, agencies and publishing houses since 2000. This guide breaks the zone down by activity: the strongest clusters below, then the visa, establishment-card and bank-account steps that come bundled with Dubai Media City licenses — all figures from the same market snapshot.
Fit check
Who is Dubai Media City best for?
- Advertising, PR and marketing agencies - the catalog's largest cluster with 24 packages.
- Media production companies, broadcasters and publishing houses.
- Gaming and esports studios looking for a media-cluster license.
- Event and entertainment producers.
- Freelance media professionals who want a recognised industry address.
Verdict
Pros & cons
Pros
- The region's reference media address: broadcasters, agencies and publishers have been based here since 2000.
- A wide creative catalog - 97 combinations across 17 clusters, from advertising to gaming & esports.
- Near-complete step coverage: establishment-card and employment-visa steps appear in almost every package.
- Adjacent activities - software development, consulting, design - combine well with a media core.
Cons
- Filed timelines are mid-to-long: 15 to 33 days.
- The media focus leaves trading, industrial and logistics activities outside the core profile.
- Space in the Al Sufouh media corridor is positioned above peripheral Dubai locations.
- Production teams with heavy studio requirements should also compare Dubai Studio City next door.
Activities
Top activity clusters at Dubai Media City
| Activity cluster | Packages at Dubai Media City | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing & Advertising | 24 | from AED 15,712* |
| Media Production & Broadcasting | 23 | from AED 15,712* |
| Events & Entertainment | 9 | from AED 15,712* |
| Software Development & IT | 8 | from AED 15,712* |
| General Services & Freelance | 7 | from AED 15,712* |
| Business Consulting | 5 | from AED 20,590* |
| Design Services | 5 | from AED 15,712* |
| Gaming & Esports | 3 | from AED 20,590* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Visas & banking
Visa, establishment-card and bank steps at Dubai Media City
- Establishment card
- 96 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 15,712*
- Employment visa
- 97 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 6,192*
- Scope tagging
- 47% visa / 0% bank share of packages tagging visa / bank steps
- Corporate bank account
- 61% of the catalog 2,840 packages platform-wide include the step
- Investor visa
- 44% of the catalog 2,047 packages platform-wide include the step
- Head office address
- Management Office, Building 2, Dubai Media City, Al Sufouh, Dubai
The typical Dubai Media City sequence files the license, then the establishment card, then residence visas and the corporate bank account — the same order the platform's catalog records across Dubai jurisdictions.
FAQ
Dubai Media City: questions
How much does a Dubai Media City license cost in 2026?
In the September 2026 snapshot, 97 combinations are tracked, starting from AED 6,192*. The median package runs from AED 20,590* and the range stretches to AED 25,590*. The spread reflects activity type, visa quota and office option. Every figure on this page is a market reference; the exact quote is confirmed on request.
How long does company setup at Dubai Media City take?
Filed packages at Dubai Media City complete in 15 to 33 days in the snapshot. License-only setups sit near the fast end; adding establishment card, residence visas and bank account moves the timeline toward the upper bound because banking KYC runs on the bank's schedule.
Which activities can a Dubai Media City license cover?
The catalog maps 97 Dubai Media City combinations onto 17 activity clusters. The strongest are Marketing & Advertising; Media Production & Broadcasting; Events & Entertainment. Each cluster in the table above links to the cross-zone license breakdown for that activity.
Where is Dubai Media City located and who is it for?
Dubai Media City is based in Dubai — the TECOM media cluster hosting regional broadcasters, agencies and publishing houses since 2000. As a free zone jurisdiction it suits founders who need that licensing regime specifically; the free-zone-vs-mainland comparison on this site covers when a free zone beats the mainland and vice versa.
Where is Dubai Media City located?
The authority is headquartered at Management Office, Building 2, Dubai Media City, Al Sufouh, Dubai. License applications are submitted to this authority — online or at its customer service desk, depending on the license type.
Which authority issues licenses in Dubai Media City?
Dubai Media City (Dubai emirate) is the issuing authority. Its September 2026 catalog tracks 97 activity combinations, with entry packages from AED 6,192*.
Related breakdowns
Setting up in Dubai Media City?
We match the license package to your activity and visa plan — priced against the same market snapshot shown above.