Key takeaways
- Dubai Studio City company setup is a Dubai Development Authority (DDA) licence for film, TV and radio production, broadcasting, animation, music and studio businesses. TECOM Group runs the community and its sound stages; DDA registers and licenses the company.
- Broadcasting is priced differently. DDA’s licensing decision sets AED 25,000 a year for a TV or radio station and AED 40,000 for a network, with minimum paid-up capital of AED 1,000,000 for satellite and terrestrial broadcasters and AED 50,000 for IP streaming and OTT.
- Production and support segments (production, post-production, casting, equipment rental, studio operation, animation, music) cost AED 15,000 a year, each with its own activity cap.
- Every channel is registered separately: AED 5,000 per channel, after a proposal to DDA and registration with the federal media regulator, now the National Media Authority.
- Filming outside a studio needs a permit. In Dubai the Dubai Film and TV Commission is “the sole entity” that licenses media filming, including in free zones (Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014).
- Visas: one employee per 80 sq ft of leased space (Dubai Studio City FAQ). Offices run from about 700 to 1,300 sq ft; sound stages from 11,000 to 50,000 sq ft.
- Official timing: 10 + 2 working days on DDA’s cards; 7 working days in the Dubai Studio City FAQ, before any broadcasting or filming approvals.
Dubai Studio City (DSC) is a film, television, broadcasting and entertainment production free zone in Dubailand, launched in 2005, where production houses, broadcasters, post-production, animation and music companies are licensed by the Dubai Development Authority under Dubai Law No. 15 of 2014, and which offers sound stages of 11,000 to 50,000 sq ft, studios, warehouses and offices on one site. TECOM Group owns and runs it. Broadcasting and filming also sit under federal media law and Dubai’s filming rules.
This guide covers Dubai Studio City company setup from segment choice to shooting your first project: the licence segments and their capital, channel registration, filming permits, documents, published fees, offices and stages, crew visas, tax, mainland work and renewals. Conflicting official figures are shown side by side.
DSC is one of the zones compared in our Dubai free zones list; for the national picture see free zones in the UAE. If you are still weighing a free zone against the mainland for your business setup in Dubai, start there.
Once DSC is your choice, our free zone company setup support team can run the licence, visas and permits for you.
Dubai Studio City company setup at a glance
| Point | Dubai Studio City |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Dubai Development Authority (DDA) |
| Other regulators | National Media Authority (broadcast and content); Dubai Film and TV Commission (filming permits in Dubai) |
| Operator | TECOM Group; services on axs, with an axs centre in DSC Commercial Building 1 |
| Legal basis | Dubai Law No. 15 of 2014 on Creative Clusters; Law No. 10 of 2018; DDA Licensing Categories Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| Location | Dubailand, off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, near Motor City |
| Established | 2005 |
| Best for | Film, TV and radio production, post-production, broadcasting, OTT and IP streaming, animation, music, casting, equipment rental, studio operation |
| Legal forms | FZ-LLC; branch of a foreign or UAE company; freelance permit |
| Licence segments | Broadcasting TV, Broadcasting Radio (AED 25,000 to 40,000); eight production and support segments (AED 15,000) |
| Minimum capital | AED 10,000 refundable (DSC FAQ); AED 50,000 for IP streaming and OTT; AED 1,000,000 for satellite and terrestrial broadcasting (DDA decision) |
| Official setup time | 10 + 2 working days (DDA cards); 7 working days (DSC FAQ) |
| Visa allocation | One employee per 80 sq ft of leased space |
| Facilities | Sound stages 11,000 to 50,000 sq ft, boutique studios, offices, warehouses, light industrial units, D/Quarters co-working |
| VAT designated zone | No |
| Mainland work | DET permit or branch (Resolution No. 11 of 2025); broadcasters and publishers may not open UAE branches |
| Website | dubaistudiocity.ae; dda.gov.ae |
Who licenses Dubai Studio City: DDA, DFTC and the National Media Authority
Three bodies touch a DSC business, and each controls a different step.
- Dubai Development Authority (DDA) registers the company and issues the licence. It was created as the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2014, which gave it power over the zone’s companies and, in Article 7, over “media broadcasting and publication rules”, and was renamed by Law No. 10 of 2018. DDA also receives the proposal for every channel before it goes on air.
- Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) licenses filming across the emirate. Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 made it “the sole entity authorised to license all Media Filming operations conducted in the Emirate, including Special Development Zones and free zones”, and affiliated it to the same authority that is now DDA. DDA lists the resolution in its legal database.
- National Media Authority (NMA) is the federal media regulator created by a decree-law announced on 18 December 2025 to replace the UAE Media Council. Its FAQ says it holds “regulatory powers within media free zones”, and it runs broadcasting licences, filming, script and film classification permits.
TECOM Group is the landlord and operator: it leases stages, studios and offices, and its axs portal handles licensing and visa transactions. DDA regulates the other TECOM zones too, so if your business is advertising, PR or digital content, see Dubai Media City company setup; if it is software, see Dubai Internet City company setup.
What Dubai Studio City is known for: a base for every film production company in Dubai
DSC is built around production space rather than office towers. Its site lists sound stages “between 11,000 and 50,000 sq.ft, fully equipped with water tanks, grid and cat-walk systems, elephant doors”, boutique studios with attached production offices, warehouses and light industrial units for set and prop building.
- Productions: the DSC site cites support for Star Trek Beyond and Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol.
- Output: TECOM reported in May 2024 that 358,000 minutes of original content were recorded in DSC in 12 months.
- Community: the DSC site describes a workforce of about 2,800 creative individuals, and a TECOM release in October 2024 reported the talent community grew 12% that year.
- Services on site: the axs service centre in Commercial Building 1 and a DDA customer service centre, where the DSC and DIC FAQs say dual licence applications can be made.
How the DSC free zone compares
- Against twofour54 in Abu Dhabi: the main rival for film and TV, with its own production incentives and studios; DSC is the choice when crew, clients and channels are Dubai-based.
- Against Dubai Media City: same regulator, but DMC licenses agencies, events and news bureaux, not broadcasters or production houses with stages.
- Against Dubai Production City: also DDA, but for printing, publishing and packaging; home to in5 Media.
Dubai Studio City company setup: how MIRDXB PRO helps
Producers usually ask which segment covers production and rental together, how much capital a channel needs, and who issues filming permits. We answer in writing before anything is filed.
What we do
- Match your work to DSC segments and activity caps, and set the right capital.
- Plan the broadcast path: channel proposals to DDA and federal media registration before launch.
- Prepare documents, including attested parent papers for studios and networks from abroad.
- Run the DDA registration and licence, then establishment card, crew visas, medical tests and Emirates ID.
- Handle tax, bank documents and mainland permits.
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp with your projects, equipment and crew numbers.
- We reply in writing with the segment, capital, permits, published fees and our fee.
- You approve; we file on axs and show every invoice before payment.
- We complete visas and filings and hand over the documents and receipts.
What it costs
DDA, TECOM, DFTC and National Media Authority charges are passed on at cost. Our fee is quoted in writing before we start; see our fees page.
Why producers use us
- We work from DDA’s published decisions and show the source for every figure.
- We flag capital and channel registration rules before you commit to a lease.
- One contact covers attestation, crew visas, Emirates ID, tax and bank documents.
- We are an independent consultancy in Al Barsha 1, Dubai (Monday to Thursday and Saturday 09:00 to 18:00, Friday 09:00 to 12:00), not DDA, TECOM, DFTC or the National Media Authority, and we do not issue filming permits ourselves.
See our business setup service and our free zone visa services.
Legal forms in the DSC free zone
The Dubai Studio City FAQ lists three options: a new Free Zone LLC, a branch of an existing company, or a freelance permit.
| Form | Typical DSC user | Capital | Liability |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZ-LLC (1 to 75 shareholders) | Production houses, post houses, animation studios, rental companies, new channels | AED 10,000 refundable per the Dubai Studio City FAQ; higher for broadcasting and some segments under DDA’s decision | Limited to the company |
| Branch of a foreign company | International studios, broadcasters’ regional sales offices, news bureaux of foreign channels | None (DSC FAQ) | Parent liable |
| Branch of a UAE company | UAE production groups adding a stage-side base | None | Parent liable |
| Freelance permit | Individual creatives, such as actors, working in their own name | None | Personal |
Two DSC-specific rules affect structure. First, DDA’s licensing decision says broadcast licensees and publishers “are restricted from opening a branch within the UAE including any other free zones”, so a channel’s whole UAE presence usually sits in DSC. Second, broadcasters must inform DDA “in writing in advance” of any change to the channels they carry. A foreign broadcaster that wants only a sales office or news bureau can use the lighter Broadcast Support Services segment instead of a full broadcasting licence.
Freelancers: DDA’s licensing decision lists freelancer segments under Dubai Media City (45 creative roles, including actor, AED 7,500 for up to three), and TECOM markets GoFreelance at AED 7,520. The Dubai Studio City FAQ confirms freelance permits are available to DSC-based creatives.
Dubai Studio City licence segments, fees and capital
DDA’s Licensing Categories Decision No. 1 of 2021 sets ten DSC segments. The table shows the annual licence fee, how many activities you may choose, and the minimum paid-up capital where the decision states one.
| Segment | Activities | Max | Fee (AED/yr) | Capital stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcasting TV: station, satellite or terrestrial | One station | 1 | 25,000 | AED 1,000,000 |
| Broadcasting TV: network, satellite or terrestrial | One network | 1 | 40,000 | AED 1,000,000 |
| Broadcasting TV: IP streaming / internet TV; OTT video | One service | 1 | 25,000 | AED 50,000 |
| Broadcasting Radio: station / network, satellite or terrestrial | One service | 1 | 25,000 / 40,000 | AED 1,000,000 |
| Broadcasting Radio: IP streaming / internet radio | One service | 1 | 25,000 | AED 50,000 |
| Broadcast Support Services | TV/radio sales and marketing, representative office, news bureau | 1 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Broadcast Service Providers | Satellite operator, teleport operator, broadcasting consultants, equipment providers, system integration | 1 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Digital Content Creation | Video games, animation, content creation | 3 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Film Support Services | Casting agency, talent management | 2 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Production (Film/TV and Radio) | Pre-production, production, corporate and social videos, post-production, transit entertainment, dubbing and subtitling | 3 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Production Support Services | Design and lighting, production services, equipment rental, studio operator, prop shops, costume, set design, production operations, rights management, distribution, content management, still photography, studio consultancy, aerial photography and video | 3 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Music and Entertainment | Music production and recording, distribution, publishing and copyright, label and rights management, film/TV/radio music | 2 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
| Themed Amusement and Recreation | Theme park design, recreational facilities, themed amusement park | 1 | 15,000 | Check with DDA |
The Dubai Studio City FAQ gives a “minimum refundable capital of AED 10,000” for new companies. DDA’s licensing decision sets AED 1,000,000 for satellite and terrestrial broadcasters and AED 50,000 for IP streaming and OTT, and a secondary reading of the same decision suggests AED 50,000 for other DSC segments. For production and support companies, confirm the capital with DDA at provisional approval; for broadcasters, plan on the decision’s figures.
Picking segments for a film production company in Dubai
- Commercials and branded content house: Production (pre-production, production, post-production) is usually enough.
- Rental house or stage operator: Production Support Services, choosing equipment rental, studio operator and production services.
- Full-service producer that also rents kit: Production plus Production Support Services, which means two segments. Each extra standard segment costs AED 10,000 a year.
- Animation or game studio: Digital Content Creation (video games, animation, content creation).
- Drone filming: “Aerial Photography and Video” sits in Production Support Services; flights also need aviation and filming permits.
Broadcasting and filming approvals
Channels and streaming services
DDA’s decision requires each broadcaster, before broadcasting “any TV or radio channel”, to give the Authority “a proposal for such Title or Channel”, and says it “shall not proceed to publish or broadcast any Title or Channel unless and until the Title or Channel is registered with the Authority and the NMC”. Each channel costs AED 5,000 to register, with discounts for large portfolios (10% for 4 to 8 channels, up to 40% for 26 or more). The federal regulator’s functions have passed to the National Media Authority, whose service card for a radio or television broadcasting licence lists AED 100,000, a feasibility study and a broadcast frequency sheet; how that federal licence interacts with a DDA broadcasting licence is not stated on either site, so ask both at the proposal stage.
Filming permits in Dubai
Under Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 the Dubai Film and TV Commission is the only body that licenses media filming in the emirate, including free zones, and its Article 11 sets fines. Press coverage of DFTC’s process (Khaleej Times, October 2024) says only UAE-licensed production houses may apply, lists a non-refundable AED 520 application fee, government location fees of AED 2,500 for most categories, script approval of “up to 25 business days”, and fines of AED 25,000 for filming without a permit. That makes a Dubai Studio City production licence the entry ticket for foreign crews: they shoot in Dubai through a licensed local production house.
Federally, the National Media Authority issues ground, aerial and marine filming permits at AED 500 a day, applied for 15 working days before filming, and approves film scripts and classifies films. Which permit applies depends on where you shoot; for Dubai locations, start with DFTC.
Dubai Studio City business setup: step by step
- Choose the structure, segment and capital. Broadcasters confirm the capital first; production companies confirm activities within the cap.
- Prepare documents and resolutions; corporate shareholders attest parent documents.
- Apply online through TECOM’s “Set up your business” page (axs account) and pay the AED 3,500 registration.
- Provisional approval: 10 working days on DDA’s card, 4 in the Dubai Studio City FAQ.
- Lease: office, studio, warehouse or light industrial unit, sized for crew visas at one per 80 sq ft.
- Registration and licence: 2 working days on DDA’s card, 3 in the FAQ.
- Capital, establishment card and visas on axs; medical tests and Emirates ID.
- Broadcast and filming approvals: channel proposals and registrations, DFTC and federal permits per project.
- Bank, tax and beneficial owners: account, corporate tax within three months, VAT when due, UBO records.
Documents for a Dubai Studio City company
- Application form; passport copies of shareholders, directors and general manager (with UAE visa page if any).
- “Resolution for the Incorporation of an FZ-LLC” or the branch registration resolution.
- “Declaration of Appointment as General Manager” if the manager holds a UAE visa.
- Corporate shareholders and branches: certificate of incorporation, good standing certificate, memorandum and articles of the parent.
- NOCs from outside authorities where DDA’s decision requires them.
- For broadcasters: the channel proposal; for the federal broadcasting licence, the National Media Authority lists a feasibility study and broadcast frequency sheet.
DDA requires corporate resolutions and powers of attorney to be “Notarized by Notary Public & Attested by UAE Embassy”; our attestation service handles the UAE side. Beneficial owners are recorded under Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023; see our UBO register guide.
Dubai Studio City license cost: published fee lines
Only fees published by DDA, TECOM, the National Media Authority or reported for DFTC are listed. Checked 26 September 2026; invoices are final.
| Fee line | AED | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration (FZ-LLC or branch) | 3,500 | DDA service cards; Decision No. 3 of 2017 |
| Production or support segment licence, per year | 15,000 | Licensing Categories Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| TV or radio station licence (satellite, terrestrial, IP or OTT), per year | 25,000 | Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| TV or radio network licence (satellite or terrestrial), per year | 40,000 | Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| Channel registration, per channel | 5,000 (discounts from 4 channels) | Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| Extra standard segment, per year | 10,000 | Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| Knowledge + Innovation Dirham, per transaction | 10 + 10 | DDA service cards |
| Minimum capital (not a fee) | 10,000 (DSC FAQ); 50,000 IP/OTT; 1,000,000 satellite/terrestrial | DSC FAQ; Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| Establishment card | 2,000 | TECOM GoFreelance page |
| Employment visa, 1 year / 2 years | 4,600 / 5,042 | TECOM GoFreelance page (freelancer’s own visa) |
| D/Quarters Open / Desk / Office, per month | 1,000 / 3,000 / 4,500 | D/Quarters page, dubaistudiocity.ae |
| Federal radio or TV broadcasting licence | 100,000 | National Media Authority service card |
| Federal ground or aerial filming permit | 500 per day | National Media Authority service cards |
| DFTC filming permit application | 520 (location fees extra) | Khaleej Times, 9 October 2024 (secondary) |
| Share transfer / name change / good standing | 3,000 / 2,000 / 1,000 | DDA Decision No. 3 of 2017 |
A production company with one segment pays about AED 18,520 in fixed DDA lines in year one (AED 3,500 + AED 15,000 + dirham charges); with a second segment for rentals, about AED 28,520. An OTT service pays AED 3,500 + AED 25,000 + AED 5,000 per registered channel, and must hold AED 50,000 capital. A satellite network pays AED 3,500 + AED 40,000 + channel registrations, with AED 1,000,000 capital. Stage hire, rent, visas, crew insurance and permits come on top; stage rates are quoted by TECOM, not published.
Stages, studios, offices and visa allocation
The Dubai Studio City FAQ says “one employee per 80 sq. ft. of the leased space”, offices of “700sq.ft. to 1,300sq.ft” in fitted and non-fitted form, and that tenants can “design and construct your office according to your requirements”. A 700 sq ft office supports eight visas; a 1,300 sq ft office supports 16.
| Space | What it is for | Visa effect |
|---|---|---|
| D/Quarters desk or office | Small production offices; published from AED 1,000 a month | Set by membership |
| Office, 700 to 1,300 sq ft | Production, post-production, channel operations | 1 per 80 sq ft |
| Boutique studio with production office | Podcasts, small shoots, recording | Confirm with TECOM |
| Sound stage, 11,000 to 50,000 sq ft | Film and TV production; hired per project | Hire is not a lease; does not add visas |
| Warehouse or light industrial unit | Set building, props, equipment storage | Confirm with TECOM |
Hiring a stage for a shoot does not make it your registered office; you still need a leased office or desk for the licence. Confirm in the offer letter how warehouse and light industrial space counts towards visas.
Crew visas and residency in Dubai Studio City
The company files on axs; GDRFA Dubai issues entry permits and residence visas; ICP issues Emirates IDs. The order: establishment card, entry permit or status change, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics, then the residence visa, which Dubai’s portal says is issued within 48 hours of the medical result in standard cases. The Dubai Studio City FAQ confirms family sponsorship is handled through axs.
- Permanent crew (editors, producers, engineers) take residence visas within the 80 sq ft allocation.
- Visiting crew for a single shoot are a different question: they usually enter on visit or mission visas, and their filming falls under the production house’s DFTC permit. Confirm the right visa type with GDRFA before they travel.
- Talent: creative professionals may qualify for the Golden Visa; for employees of DDA-licensed companies, direct-approval applications are filed by the employer on axs (Fragomen, May 2025). See our Golden Visa service and family visa page.
For a comparison with mainland employers see our free zone vs mainland visa guide; our free zone visa service handles DDA files.
Banking for a Dubai Studio City production company
Production money moves in large, irregular amounts: a client advance, a burst of crew and location payments, then a final instalment. Banks want to see that pattern explained. Prepare the licence and registers, lease, passports and Emirates IDs, a slate of confirmed projects or commissioning letters, and how you pay freelancers and suppliers abroad. Broadcasters should add their capital deposit evidence and channel registration. See our corporate bank account guide.
Tax for a Dubai Studio City company
Corporate tax is 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above. The 0% free zone rate needs Qualifying Free Zone Person status and qualifying income (Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023). Film, TV and music production, broadcasting and advertising revenue are not on the qualifying activities list in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, so most production houses and channels pay the standard rate on income from clients outside the free zones. Income from qualifying intellectual property and from transactions with other Free Zone Persons can differ; take tax advice. Register within three months of incorporation (FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024; AED 10,000 penalty if late); see our corporate tax registration guide.
VAT: DSC is not a VAT designated zone. Register above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies (voluntary from AED 187,500). Production services for foreign clients can often be zero-rated as exported services, but services connected with goods or real estate in the UAE, and those used in the UAE, may not be; check each contract.
Working outside the zone: mainland shoots and clients
The Dubai Studio City FAQ says “you can only operate within the free zone”, and federal media law confines free zone media activity to the zone’s borders. Location filming elsewhere in Dubai is handled through DFTC permits for each project. For work beyond filming, such as running a production office on a client’s mainland premises:
- Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit: DET, up to six months, AED 5,000 (Dubai Media Office, 8 October 2025), after DDA approves, under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025.
- DET branch licence: AED 10,000 a year for a branch operating out of the zone.
- Broadcasters and publishers may not open a branch elsewhere in the UAE under DDA’s decision.
Compare with a mainland company formation if most of your work will be on the mainland.
Renewal and compliance
Licences last one year and renew online on axs by the general manager. Each year: renew the licence and lease; prepare audited accounts (DDA requires them of every licensee); keep registers current; notify DDA in advance of channel changes; renew any federal media permits “within the specified dates” (Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023, Art. 6); renew visas; file corporate tax and VAT.
| Breach | Penalty (AED) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Operating without valid registration and licence | 20,000 | DDA Decision No. 2 of 2017 |
| Audited financial statements not filed on time | 10,000 | DDA Decision No. 2 of 2017 |
| No registered office in the zone | 10,000 | DDA Decision No. 2 of 2017 |
| Filming without a DFTC permit | 25,000 | Resolution No. 50 of 2014, Art. 11 (as reported by Khaleej Times) |
| Media law breaches | 1,000 to 1,000,000 | Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023, Art. 23 |
| Beneficial owner breaches | Federal fines | Cabinet Decision No. 132 of 2023 |
Pros and cons of the DSC free zone
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sound stages, studios, workshops and offices on one site | Broadcasting needs AED 1,000,000 capital for satellite or terrestrial channels |
| Clear DDA fees for production segments (AED 15,000) | Capital for production segments is stated differently by DDA’s decision and the Dubai Studio City FAQ |
| A licensed production house can apply for DFTC filming permits | Three regulators to deal with: DDA, DFTC and the National Media Authority |
| Track record with international productions | Location away from the Al Sufouh business district |
| axs and DDA service centres on site | Broadcasters and publishers cannot open branches elsewhere in the UAE |
| Wholly foreign-owned FZ-LLCs | Production income is usually not qualifying for 0% corporate tax |
Who Dubai Studio City suits
- Film, TV and commercial production houses, and post-production studios.
- TV and radio channels, IP streaming and OTT services.
- Equipment rental houses, studio operators, set and prop builders.
- Animation, dubbing and subtitling studios, music producers and labels.
- Foreign productions that need a licensed local production partner.
Who should look elsewhere
- Advertising, PR, events and influencers: Dubai Media City.
- Printing and publishing: Dubai Production City.
- Productions based in Abu Dhabi or chasing its incentives: twofour54.
- Low-budget creative licences: Creative City Fujairah, if you do not need Dubai stages or DFTC access through your own licence.
Worked cases: Dubai Studio City company setup
These cases are built from the situations we see most often. Names and identifying details are left out, and the figures are the published ones.
1. A commercials and film production company in Dubai
Two producers register an FZ-LLC under Production with pre-production, production and post-production (AED 3,500 plus AED 15,000). A 700 sq ft office gives up to eight visas for editors and producers. For each shoot on Dubai streets they apply to DFTC as a UAE-licensed production house; visiting directors are brought in on short visits for the project.
2. A camera and lighting rental house
The founders choose Production Support Services with equipment rental, studio operator and production services, and lease a light industrial unit for the kit. When clients also ask them to produce, they add the Production segment for AED 10,000 a year rather than risk working outside their licence.
3. An Arabic-language OTT platform
A streaming start-up takes the Broadcasting TV segment for Over the Top Video Content (AED 25,000), deposits AED 50,000 capital, and submits a proposal for its channel to DDA before launch. It budgets AED 5,000 per channel for registration and checks with the National Media Authority whether its federal broadcasting licence (AED 100,000 on the Authority’s card) also applies.
4. A foreign broadcaster’s news bureau
A European network needs a Gulf bureau, not a channel. A branch under Broadcast Support Services (news bureau, AED 15,000) avoids the AED 1,000,000 broadcasting capital. Its correspondents’ filming in the UAE is covered by DFTC and federal permits for each story.
5. An animation studio
Animators license Digital Content Creation with animation, content creation and video games (AED 15,000). They take D/Quarters desks at first, then a 1,000 sq ft office for 12 visas. Because they sell series rights to overseas platforms, those sales can often be zero-rated for VAT if the export conditions are met, but their income is still taxed at 9% above AED 375,000.
What circulates online about Dubai Studio City that is not true
| Claim | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| “Every company in the DSC free zone needs only AED 10,000 capital.” | DDA’s decision sets AED 1,000,000 for satellite and terrestrial broadcasting and AED 50,000 for IP streaming and OTT. |
| “A free zone production licence lets you film anywhere in Dubai.” | DFTC is “the sole entity” licensing media filming in Dubai, including free zones; each shoot needs its permit. |
| “You can launch a channel as soon as the licence is issued.” | DDA’s decision bars broadcasting until the channel is registered with DDA and the federal regulator. |
| “Hiring a sound stage gives you visas.” | Visas follow leased space (one per 80 sq ft), not short-term stage hire. |
| “Film production income is tax-free in a free zone.” | Production and broadcasting are not qualifying activities; the standard 9% rate usually applies above AED 375,000. |
| “A broadcaster in the DSC free zone can open a branch in another free zone.” | DDA’s decision restricts broadcast licensees from opening a branch anywhere in the UAE. |
How to verify every figure in this guide
| Figure | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Segment fees, capital, channel registration, branch restriction | DDA Licensing Categories Decision No. 1 of 2021 |
| Registration AED 3,500; 10 + 2 working days; documents | DDA registration service cards |
| AED 10,000 capital; 7 working days; office sizes; 80 sq ft per employee | dubaistudiocity.ae FAQs |
| Sound stage sizes and facilities | dubaistudiocity.ae home page |
| DFTC’s role and fines | Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 (dda.gov.ae legal database); filmdubai.gov.ae |
| Federal broadcasting licence and filming permit fees | nma.gov.ae service cards |
| Mainland permit and branch | Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025; Dubai Media Office, 8 October 2025 |
26 September 2026. Fees and rules were checked on DDA, Dubai Studio City, TECOM and National Media Authority pages and in the legislation listed below on that date. DFTC’s own fee pages did not load for us; its figures are from press coverage and are marked as such.
What we will and will not do
We will match your production or channel to the DSC segments, plan capital and channel registration, prepare documents, run the DDA registration, visas and Emirates ID, coordinate permit paperwork and handle tax and mainland permits, with government fees at cost and our fee in writing first.
We will not act as your production house of record for DFTC permits, present ourselves as DDA, TECOM, DFTC or the National Media Authority, clear scripts or content, act as a nominee, or promise regulator timelines.
Related guides
- Dubai free zones: the full list compared
- Free zones in the UAE
- Dubai Media City company setup
- Dubai Internet City company setup
- Dubai Production City company setup
- twofour54 company setup
- Free zone vs mainland Dubai
- Corporate bank account in the UAE
- Corporate tax registration in the UAE
- Establishment card explained
Dubai Studio City company setup: frequently asked questions
How much does a Dubai Studio City licence cost?
DDA charges AED 3,500 to register a company and AED 15,000 a year for a production or support segment. Broadcasting costs AED 25,000 a year for a station and AED 40,000 for a network, plus AED 5,000 per registered channel. Workspace, the AED 2,000 establishment card, visas and permits are extra.
What capital does a Dubai Studio City company need?
The Dubai Studio City FAQ gives a minimum refundable capital of AED 10,000 for new companies. DDA’s licensing decision sets AED 1,000,000 for satellite and terrestrial TV or radio and AED 50,000 for IP streaming and OTT. Branches need no capital. Confirm the figure for production segments with DDA at provisional approval.
Who issues filming permits for a Dubai Studio City company?
In Dubai, the Dubai Film and TV Commission, which Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 makes the sole body licensing media filming in the emirate, including free zones. Applications are made by UAE-licensed production houses. The National Media Authority also issues federal ground and aerial filming permits at AED 500 a day.
Can I start a TV or streaming channel in Dubai Studio City?
Yes, under the Broadcasting TV segment. You submit a proposal to DDA and register each channel with DDA and the federal media regulator before broadcasting, at AED 5,000 per channel. Capital is AED 50,000 for IP streaming and OTT and AED 1,000,000 for satellite or terrestrial.
How long does Dubai Studio City company setup take?
DDA’s cards give 10 working days for provisional approval and 2 for registration; the Dubai Studio City FAQ says 7 working days in total. Channel registration, filming permits (DFTC script approval can take up to 25 business days, per press reports) and visas follow the licence.
How many visas can a Dubai Studio City company get?
One employee per 80 sq ft of leased space, according to the Dubai Studio City FAQ. Offices of 700 to 1,300 sq ft therefore support about 8 to 16 visas. Short-term sound stage hire does not add visas.
Can foreign film crews work through a Dubai Studio City company?
DFTC permits are applied for by UAE-licensed production houses, so a Dubai Studio City production company can act as the local partner for visiting crews. The crew’s visa type depends on the length and nature of their stay and should be confirmed with GDRFA before travel.
Which segment covers equipment rental and studio hire?
Production Support Services, which includes equipment rental, studio operator, production services, set and costume design, still photography and aerial photography and video. You choose up to three activities for AED 15,000 a year; a second segment costs AED 10,000 more.
Does a Dubai Studio City company pay corporate tax?
Yes, it registers and files. Production and broadcasting are not qualifying activities for the 0% free zone rate, so most companies in the DSC free zone pay 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above. Registration is due within three months of incorporation.
Can a Dubai Studio City company work on the Dubai mainland?
Filming on mainland locations is covered by DFTC permits per project. Other mainland work needs a Department of Economy and Tourism permit (AED 5,000 for up to six months) or a branch licence (AED 10,000 a year) under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025. Broadcasters may not open UAE branches.
Is Dubai Studio City a VAT designated zone?
No. DSC companies charge VAT like other UAE businesses once registered. Production services for overseas clients can often be zero-rated as exported services, but check each contract, especially where services relate to goods or events in the UAE.
Can MIRDXB PRO set up my Dubai Studio City company?
Yes. We match your work to the DSC segments, prepare documents, run the DDA registration and licence on axs, then crew visas, Emirates ID, tax registration, channel registration paperwork and any mainland permit. Government fees are passed on at cost; our fee is quoted in writing before we start.
Do you apply for DFTC filming permits for us?
DFTC permits are applied for by the licensed production house itself. Once your DSC company is licensed, we help prepare the supporting company documents and visa records the application needs; the permit decision and fees are DFTC’s.
Crew visa renewals, Emirates ID, attestation and other government paperwork after setup are what our PRO services in Dubai team handles every day.
- Dubai Development Authority: Laws and Regulations
- Dubai Law No. 15 of 2014 on Creative Clusters (English)
- DDA Licensing Categories Decision No. 1 of 2021
- Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 on the Dubai Film and TV Commission (English)
- DDA Decision No. 3 of 2017 (company fees)
- DDA Decision No. 2 of 2017 (fines)
- DDA: Registration, FZ-LLC with Natural Person
- DDA: Registration, Branch of Foreign Company
- Dubai Studio City: FAQs
- Dubai Studio City: facilities and sound stages
- Dubai Studio City: D/Quarters memberships
- Dubai Studio City: press releases (content minutes, talent growth)
- TECOM: axs service centres
- Dubai Film and TV Commission: How to film in Dubai
- Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 Concerning Media Regulation
- UAE Legislation: decree-law establishing the National Media Authority (18 December 2025)
- National Media Authority: FAQ
- National Media Authority: Radio and television broadcasting licence
- National Media Authority: Ground filming permit
- National Media Authority: Aerial photography permit
- Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025
- Dubai Media Office, 8 October 2025: Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit
- Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 on Qualifying Activities
- FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024 on registration timeframes
- u.ae: Starting a business in a free zone
- Secondary: Khaleej Times, how to apply for a Dubai filming permit (9 October 2024)
Please note. This guide describes Dubai Studio City company setup as published by the Dubai Development Authority, Dubai Studio City, TECOM Group, the National Media Authority, the Government of Dubai, the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority, verified 26 September 2026; DFTC fee figures are from press reports. Invoices and regulators’ decisions are final. The cases are illustrative. MIRDXB PRO is an independent consultancy, not affiliated with the Dubai Development Authority, TECOM Group, the Dubai Film and TV Commission or the National Media Authority. This guide is general information, not legal, media-law or tax advice.
