twofour54 Company Setup 2026: CMA Licences, Freelance Permits, Fees, Visas and Who It Suits

twofour54 company setup is the process of registering a free zone limited liability company (FZ-LLC), a branch or a sole proprietor (freelancer) licence in Abu Dhabi’s media free zone, which the Creative Media Authority regulates under Abu Dhabi Law No. 8 of 2022 relating to the Creative Zone. twofour54, part of ADNEC Group, owns and runs the campus, the studios and the tawasol service desk; the CMA incorporates companies, issues licences, sponsors employees and gives content guidance. The zone’s home is Yas Creative Hub on Yas Island, which twofour54 calls the region’s first purpose-built campus for media, gaming and entertainment, with production locations including a 300,000 square metre backlot.

Two names cause most of the confusion. “twofour54” is the brand and operator you deal with day to day. The legal zone is the “Creative Zone” and its regulator is the Creative Media Authority, which replaced the Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi; the CMA’s regulations still say they began life in 2016 as Media Zone Abu Dhabi rules. Our overview of free zones in the UAE and the guide to Abu Dhabi free zones put it in context. Most of our clients are also weighing business setup in Dubai, so this guide compares twofour54 with Dubai’s media zones where that helps.

This twofour54 company setup guide is built from the CMA’s licensing page and fee table, its Companies, Licensing and Employment and Sponsorship Regulations 2016, twofour54’s business setup, tawasol and Yas Creative Hub pages and press releases, and federal tax sources, checked on 26 September 2026. Where the two organisations’ pages disagree, we show both.

twofour54 free zone at a glance

What the twofour54 free zone is known for

twofour54 is Abu Dhabi’s media hub. It is narrower than a general free zone: the CMA licenses media, gaming, entertainment and related creative activities only. What you get in return is an industry cluster and production infrastructure that no general zone in Abu Dhabi offers:

• Yas Creative Hub, with flexible workspaces, a dedicated gaming hub, The Community Hub for events, the Pod24 podcast facility and the Studios, which twofour54 said on 11 December 2024 were fully operational with two 600 square metre sound stages.
• Production locations, including the 300,000 square metre backlot and Soundstage 1 at KEZAD, used for film and series work alongside the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s production incentive.
• tawasol, twofour54’s service desk for company registration, visas, Emirates ID, Golden Visa applications, customs clearance, document authentication, health insurance and copyright registration.
• A creative community: twofour54’s Yas Creative Hub page cites 800-plus companies and 1,000-plus freelancers; the CMA’s own page says 700-plus media companies and 1,000-plus freelancers. Community partner listings include studios such as MBC Studios, Image Nation Studios and Rotana Studios, gaming firms and the accelerator Flat6Labs.

twofour54 has run talent programmes for years. Its Creative Lab gave grants and space to Emirati creators in the early 2010s (press releases from 2010 to 2014), and in 2021 twofour54 and the Media Zone Authority added 57 licence categories for gaming businesses and freelancers under the AD Gaming initiative.

twofour54 free zone vs rival zones

In Dubai, the direct rivals are Dubai Media City for agencies and broadcasters and Dubai Studio City for production, both licensed by the Dubai Development Authority; in Sharjah, SHAMS is the budget media and freelancer option. Inside Abu Dhabi, ADGM suits finance and holding structures, KEZAD industry and logistics, and Masdar City Free Zone technology and general services. What sets twofour54 apart is the fee waiver, Authority sponsorship of staff and direct access to studios, the backlot and Abu Dhabi production work.

twofour54 legal forms: FZ-LLC, branch and sole proprietor

The CMA’s licensing page says it manages “all entities (FZ-LLC and branches) and sole proprietors (freelancers)”. Its Companies Regulations 2016 set the rules for companies and branches.

twofour54 company setup rules in the Companies Regulations

Any individual or corporate or government entity can apply to incorporate. The application names at least two proposed directors, the proposed secretary and the first shareholders (reg. 4.1), and the Registrar may refuse at its discretion. The secretary keeps the company’s administration: notifications to the Registrar, share certificates, meetings and minutes. The general manager is “empowered to manage the day to day operations” and is the company’s “primary representative in all matters with the Authority”; under the Licensing Regulations he or she must be sponsored by the Authority unless a GCC national (reg. 4.4.2). Ordinary resolutions need more than 50% of votes and special resolutions 75%.

twofour54’s business setup page says “no minimum capital required” and “100% ownership”. Two directors plus a secretary is more than many zones ask of a single founder, so a solo owner usually needs a second director and a secretary (who can be a trusted individual) or the freelancer route instead.

Branch of a UAE or foreign company

twofour54 lists “branch expansion” as one of its three setup routes. A branch has no separate legal personality, so the parent carries its liabilities, and it pays the AED 3,500 establishment fee in place of the FZ-LLC registration fee (both waived for new partners). The CMA does not publish a branch checklist online; expect to provide certified parent documents (often legalised) and ask tawasol for the current list. See our guide to a branch of a foreign company in Dubai for how the mainland equivalent works.

Sole proprietor: the twofour54 freelance licence

The freelance licence lets an individual “work on your own as a freelancer, a sole practitioner, or an independent contractor within the media, production, and entertainment industries in the UAE”. The CMA lists 88 general roles, from actor, animator and art director to boom operator, camera operator, casting director and colourist, and 33 gaming roles. It comes as a 12-month or a 6-month package with three activities, more at AED 1,000 each.

twofour54 licence types and the activities list

The CMA’s Licensing Regulations 2016 define a “License” as a Business License and, where relevant, a Dissemination License. In practice there are three licences:

• Business licence: for an FZ-LLC or branch. The fee covers up to five activities; each extra activity costs AED 1,000. The CMA groups business activities into General Media (48), Gaming and E-Sports (25) and Broadcast and Publishing (11).
• Freelance (sole proprietor) licence: for individuals, covering three activities, from the 88 general and 33 gaming roles.
• Dissemination licence: an additional licence, under Annex 1 of the Licensing Regulations, for companies or branches that broadcast or publish: TV and radio channels, books, magazines and newspapers.

What the twofour54 free zone activity list covers

The general media list is broader than film and TV. It includes advertising (PR, marketing, media planning and buying, production of advertising material), animation, arts and cultural development, branding, business incubator and accelerator programmes, content management and archive services, and several types of content portal: e-learning portals, content apps, online booking platforms, online comparison platforms and online marketplaces, each with a definition and example. The CMA notes that comparison tools for higher-risk products such as medical products, insurance or loans “would generally not be acceptable” because advice on them may be regulated elsewhere.

That matters for founders: an e-commerce or booking platform can sometimes be licensed as a media “content portal” in twofour54, but only if the platform itself is the business. A shop that sells its own goods online is a trading activity and belongs in a trading zone or on the mainland.

Content rules and federal media law

Every licensee is bound by the CMA’s Content Code 2016, with ten rules covering the protection of children, harm and offence, crime, religion, accuracy and impartiality, fairness, privacy, interactivity, funding arrangements and advertising. Federal media law also applies: the CMA’s media services page cites Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 on Media Regulation, overseen by the National Media Authority, which replaced the UAE Media Council after a federal decree-law announced on 18 December 2025. Advertisers and influencers who publish paid content may also need the National Media Authority’s advertiser permit, a separate federal requirement from the twofour54 licence.

Regulated activities outside the CMA

Some activities need another permit or approval alongside the CMA licence: filming in Abu Dhabi needs a filming permit (issued through the CMA’s media services), and content touching education, health or financial products may need the relevant regulator’s approval. Ask tawasol at the start whether your activity list triggers an external approval.

twofour54 company setup process, step by step

The CMA publishes its twofour54 freelance licence process in five steps; companies follow the same pattern with more documents and the general manager’s approval. Here is the sequence with the official clock where one exists.

1. Enquire and choose the route. Submit twofour54’s online business form (company, general manager, contact details) or the CMA freelance application. A tawasol or CMA team member contacts you and, for freelancers, gives portal access.
2. Pick activities and a name. Choose from the CMA activity list and check the name against the CMA’s Guidance on Company and Branch Names 2022.
3. Choose space. Companies and branches must “at all times maintain appropriate premises within the Zone” unless the Authority waives it (Licensing Regulations, reg. 4.4.1).
4. Upload documents and sign. Articles, director, secretary and general manager details, shareholder documents; for freelancers a CV, references and a letter of intent or business plan.
5. Pay. Registration and licence fees are waived for new partners and freelancers for two years; other charges (space, deposits, visas) are not.
6. Incorporation and licence. The Registrar issues the certificate of incorporation and the CMA the licence. For freelancers the CMA estimates “within 14 working days (not including visa issuance)”; no company timeline is published.
7. Facilitation agreement and visas. The company signs the Authority’s facilitation agreement before engaging staff; the CMA then sponsors each twofour54 visa through the immigration system (ICP in Abu Dhabi).
8. Bank, tax, compliance. Open the bank account, register for corporate tax, and diarise the licence renewal (apply two months before expiry) and annual return.

The u.ae portal says free zone approvals generally come “within 14 working days”, which matches the CMA’s freelancer estimate. For a company with a corporate shareholder, allow extra time for certified and legalised parent documents.

Documents required for twofour54 company setup

The CMA does not publish a full twofour54 company setup checklist online; tawasol sends it with the application. From the regulations and twofour54’s published freelancer guidance, expect the following.

twofour54 company setup documents: FZ-LLC and branch

• Shareholders: passport copies for individuals; for a corporate shareholder, its certificate of incorporation, articles, a board resolution approving the investment and naming signatories, and a good-standing certificate, normally certified and legalised for use in the UAE.
• Two directors and a secretary: passports and details; each must be 18 or over, and a director cannot be disqualified in any jurisdiction or an undischarged bankrupt (reg. 28.2).
• General manager: passport, CV and photo; the Authority approves the appointment and sponsors the GM unless a GCC national.
• Beneficial owners: a declaration under Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023, which the CMA publishes on its regulatory page.
• Branch: the parent’s certificate of incorporation, articles, board resolution to open the branch and the branch manager’s appointment.

twofour54 freelance licence documents

twofour54’s freelance guidance lists a colour passport copy, a digital passport photo, an up-to-date CV, two professional references with contact details, and a work offer or letter of intent from a twofour54 partner, or, if you have none, a business plan with a short profile, past work and the work you plan to do in the zone.

Degree and marriage or birth certificates for visas and family sponsorship usually need attestation; our document attestation service handles those chains.

twofour54 licence cost: the official fee lines

Unlike most media zones, the CMA publishes the twofour54 licence cost in a fee table. The figures are in AED, from the CMA’s licensing page as checked on 26 September 2026:

How the waiver changes twofour54 licence cost

The CMA says that “as part of a Government resolution” it is “waiving the licencing and registration fees, starting December 2018, to new partners and freelancers for their first two years”. In the fee table that means the new business licence (AED 15,000), the registration or branch fee (AED 3,500) and the first renewal (AED 12,500) are shown as waived. So a new FZ-LLC with up to five activities pays no CMA licence or registration fee in years one and two, and AED 12,500 a year from the second renewal. Extra activities and dissemination licences are not marked as waived.

What the twofour54 licence cost table does not show

• Space: desks and offices at Yas Creative Hub are priced by twofour54 and not published.
• Visa and sponsorship costs: charged through tawasol and the immigration system; not in the CMA table.
• Studio and production costs: sound stages, the backlot and equipment are booked separately.
• Audit: required unless the company qualifies as small (below).

Office options in the twofour54 free zone and twofour54 visa slots

In the twofour54 free zone, twofour54 offers “hot-desks, co-working spaces to fully private offices”, marketed as four packages: Co-lab, Co-create, Co-quip and Co-customize. The Licensing Regulations require companies and branches to keep “appropriate premises within the Zone” unless the Authority waives it, so a business licence always comes with some form of space. Freelancers work from the community spaces rather than their own office.

Unlike DMCC or JAFZA, twofour54 does not publish a visa-per-square-metre ratio. The Employment and Sponsorship Regulations instead let the Authority “limit the number of individuals to whom it may provide Sponsorship” for each licensee (reg. 9.5). In practice the number of twofour54 visa slots is agreed with twofour54 based on your space and business plan; get it in writing before you sign a lease.

twofour54 visa and residency: how sponsorship works

The biggest structural difference in a twofour54 company setup is who sponsors your staff: every twofour54 visa is an Authority visa. Under the CMA’s Employment and Sponsorship Regulations 2016, “a Licensee must obtain Sponsorship in respect of each Employee who is not a GCC National” (reg. 9.1), and the Authority provides that sponsorship at its discretion (reg. 9.2). “Sponsorship” means authorisation by the Authority to work in the zone plus authorisation by the federal immigration authorities to reside in the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, residence visas are issued through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and residence files start with the digit 1, the Abu Dhabi code.

What that means for your company

• A facilitation agreement comes first. The CMA’s administration department requires a licensee to sign one before engaging any employee (reg. 9.4).
• You still pay everything. The licensee pays salaries and all employment payments; “the Authority shall not be responsible for any remuneration” (reg. 9.3).
• The Authority can end a twofour54 visa. With 30 days’ notice if the licensee breaches the facilitation agreement, stops trading or breaks the law, and immediately in cases such as false documents or seven consecutive days of unauthorised absence (regs. 10.1 and 10.2).
• Staff can move within the zone. An employee may work for more than one licensee (reg. 5.3) and may transfer to another licensee without the former employer’s consent if there is no active labour dispute (reg. 5.4).
• Numbers can be capped. The Authority may limit how many people it sponsors for a licensee (reg. 9.5).

The twofour54 visa process, step by step

tawasol handles the paperwork: entry permit or change of status, medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics and residence visa, plus Abu Dhabi health insurance, which the regulations make compulsory under Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005 (reg. 4.5). The CMA does not publish visa fees or a visa timeline online; its freelance timeline of 14 working days explicitly excludes “visa issuance”. For the medical and Emirates ID steps see our medical fitness test and Emirates ID pages (Abu Dhabi uses its own screening centres), and for how free zone sponsorship compares with mainland sponsorship, see free zone vs mainland visas.

twofour54 visa for owners, general managers and freelancers

The general manager must be sponsored by the Authority unless a GCC national (Licensing Regulations, reg. 4.4.2), so a founder who runs the company usually takes the twofour54 visa as its general manager. Freelancers are sponsored through their sole proprietor licence; twofour54’s freelance guidance says its team helps with “residency applications” as well as the permit.

Family sponsorship and Golden Visa for twofour54 visa holders

tawasol lists sponsorship of family and dependants among its services, subject to the federal salary and accommodation rules. It also runs a Golden Visa service; its October 2025 article describes end-to-end help from eligibility advice to medical screening and issuance. Creative professionals, investors and entrepreneurs each have their own federal criteria, decided by ICP. Our Golden Visa service covers the Dubai routes.

Employment law for twofour54 visa holders

Unlike ADGM or DIFC, the twofour54 free zone has no labour law of its own. The regulations state: “The Federal Labour Law shall apply within the Zone” (reg. 4.1), together with the federal immigration law. Contracts must be in writing (reg. 5.1) and no less favourable than the federal law and the regulations (reg. 4.2). Leave, notice and end-of-service entitlements follow the federal labour law, calculated on calendar days (reg. 6.1). If a dispute arises, the Authority issues a referral notice so the parties can take it to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (reg. 8.3). For the federal rules, see our guides to end-of-service gratuity and WPS.

Bank account for a twofour54 free zone company

Banks will ask for the certificate of incorporation, CMA licence, articles, register of shareholders and directors, passports and Emirates IDs of signatories, the office agreement, a business plan and proof of expected income: client contracts, agency retainers or platform payout statements for content businesses. Freelancers often start with a personal account and add a business account later. See our corporate bank account guide.

twofour54 tax: corporate tax, VAT and beneficial ownership

Corporate tax. A company in the twofour54 free zone is within Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022: 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above. The 0% free zone rate applies only to a Qualifying Free Zone Person with qualifying income, adequate substance, audited financial statements and transfer pricing compliance (Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023). Qualifying activities are listed in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, which replaced Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023 with effect from 1 June 2023; advertising, production, content and most other media services to third parties are not on it, so most twofour54 companies pay the standard rate on profits. Income earned from other free zone persons can in some cases be qualifying; take advice. Register within the FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024 deadline or face an AED 10,000 penalty; see our corporate tax registration guide. A freelancer is a natural person, and corporate tax applies to individuals only once business turnover passes AED 1 million in a calendar year.

VAT. twofour54 is not a VAT designated zone. The Abu Dhabi entries on the Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017 list (as amended by Cabinet Decision No. 35 of 2018) are the Free Trade Zone of Khalifa Port, the Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone, Khalifa Industrial Zone and the Al Ain and Al Bateen international airport free zones. We used the FTA-published list because the FTA page could not be read automatically; check the current list. Register above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies.

Beneficial ownership. The CMA publishes Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 and the penalties in Cabinet Resolution No. 132 of 2023 on its regulatory page: file beneficial owner details within 60 days of incorporation and changes within 15 days. See our UBO register guide. The CMA also lists Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 on anti-money laundering.

Trading on the Abu Dhabi mainland from the twofour54 free zone

A CMA licence covers activity from the twofour54 free zone. For work on the Abu Dhabi mainland, twofour54 announced on 18 February 2018 an agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development (now ADDED) that lets firms licensed by the Media Zone Authority “apply for a DED branch licence in addition to their existing free zone licence, without the need to have a second additional onshore office or premises”. The regulator said the licence helps firms “take part in more tenders for government and semi-government entities”. ADDED’s own free zone page (updated 24 September 2026) still lists “dual licensing options” among the benefits of Abu Dhabi’s free zones, and names twofour54. We did not find a current ADDED service card for this route, so confirm the fee and documents with ADDED or tawasol.

Dubai’s Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 applies to Dubai free zones, not twofour54. A twofour54 company that wants to operate from Dubai needs a Dubai licence or branch; compare mainland company formation.

Filming and production incentives in the twofour54 free zone

Production companies often choose twofour54 company setup for its studios and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s cash rebate. When twofour54 announced an express process for short-form work on 6 November 2019, the rebate was 30% of qualifying production and post-production spend, with storyboards approved within two days and interim certificates within five. The Film Commission’s website blocked automated reading when we checked, so confirm the current rate and rules with the Commission. Filming permits and media material permits in Abu Dhabi are issued through the CMA’s media services.

twofour54 licence cost at renewal and ongoing compliance

Small company audit exemption. The CMA’s Small Companies Criteria 2016 treat a company as small for a year if it meets all of these: financial thresholds of AED 20 million and AED 10 million (net), an average of no more than 15 employees, and not being part of a group that includes a listed company. Shareholders can still require an audit (reg. 54.5), and a company claiming Qualifying Free Zone Person status needs audited statements for corporate tax anyway.

twofour54 free zone pros and cons

Who twofour54 company setup suits

• Production houses, post-production and animation studios that want studios and Abu Dhabi production work nearby.
• Gaming and e-sports companies joining the Yas Creative Hub gaming cluster.
• Advertising, branding and content agencies serving Abu Dhabi government and corporate clients (with the dual licence).
• Broadcasters and publishers that need a dissemination licence.
• Media freelancers who want a twofour54 freelance licence, a twofour54 visa and access to partner briefs.

Who should look elsewhere

• Traders and e-commerce sellers of their own goods: KEZAD or a mainland licence.
• Tech and software companies that are not content-led: Masdar City Free Zone or ADGM’s Tech Start-up licence.
• Media businesses whose clients are in Dubai: Dubai Media City.
• Aviation-linked businesses: the Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone.

twofour54 company setup: worked cases

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.

Case 1: a video producer going freelance

A camera operator and editor wants an Abu Dhabi residence visa and freedom to work for several production houses. She applies for the twofour54 freelance licence (12 months, three activities: camera operator, editor, director), listed at AED 4,500 but waived for two years. She uploads her passport, photo, CV, two references and a letter of intent from a twofour54 production company. The CMA estimates the licence within 14 working days; the visa, medical, Emirates ID and health insurance follow.

Case 2: a two-founder gaming studio

Two founders set up an FZ-LLC with game development and e-sports activities. They need two directors (themselves), a secretary and a general manager approved and sponsored by the Authority. CMA licence and registration fees are waived for two years; from the second renewal they budget AED 12,500 a year. They ask twofour54 in writing how many twofour54 visa slots their space supports before signing.

Case 3: an agency that wants government work

A branding agency in twofour54 wins interest from Abu Dhabi semi-government clients whose tenders require a mainland licence. It applies for an ADDED branch licence under the dual licence arrangement from its existing twofour54 office rather than renting a second office.

Case 4: a regional broadcaster

A broadcaster opens a branch (AED 3,500 establishment fee, waived) and needs a dissemination licence for two TV channels: AED 20,000 each, not marked as waived in the CMA table. Content must follow the CMA Content Code and federal media law.

What circulates online about the twofour54 free zone that is not true

How to verify every figure in this guide

twofour54 company setup: how MIRDXB PRO helps

We are an independent PRO and business-setup consultancy in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, and an Amer and Tasheel partner. We are not the Creative Media Authority, twofour54 or tawasol, and neither lists us as a partner. What we give you is a clear route, a written quote with official fees separated from ours, and the practical work around a twofour54 file. It is part of our free zone company setup support, which covers Abu Dhabi as well as Dubai.

What we do

• Route check before you pay: twofour54 free zone, Dubai Media City, SHAMS or the mainland; company or freelance licence; which CMA activities fit.
• Document pack: shareholder and parent-company documents, legalisation and attestation, director and secretary details, business plan or letter of intent for freelancers.
• Application support: we prepare the information for the CMA and tawasol forms so the file goes in complete.
• After the licence: twofour54 visa documents, medical, Emirates ID, family sponsorship and Golden Visa files.
• Tax, bank and mainland: corporate tax registration, the bank pack, a compliance calendar and the ADDED branch licence.

How it works

1. Message us on WhatsApp with your activities, owners, residence and hiring plans.
2. We send a written plan: route, documents, the published twofour54 licence cost, costs twofour54 does not publish and our fee.
3. You approve; we prepare the pack and coordinate with tawasol.
4. We finish the chain: visas, dependants, bank, tax and a compliance calendar.

What it costs

CMA, twofour54 and government fees are paid at cost against official invoices. Our fee depends on the route, the number of owners and visas, and is quoted in writing before we start; see our fees page.

Why founders use us

• We publish our sources and show where official pages disagree.
• We tell you when twofour54 is not the answer, for example when your activity is not on the CMA list.
• We cover the whole chain from documents to visas, dependants, bank and tax, for Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
• We are easy to reach: Al Barsha 1, Monday to Thursday and Saturday 09:00 to 18:00, Friday 09:00 to 12:00; we act under power of attorney where a step allows.

What we will and will not do

We will check your route before you pay, prepare the documents the CMA and tawasol ask for, coordinate twofour54 visa, family, Golden Visa, bank and tax steps, separate official fees from ours in writing, and tell you when a lawyer or another authority’s approval is needed.

We will not give legal or tax advice, act as your director, secretary or nominee shareholder, describe an activity as media when it is not, or promise a licence, visa, bank account or timeline that the CMA, ICP or a bank decides.

Related guides

• Abu Dhabi free zones
• Free zones in the UAE
• ADGM company setup
• KEZAD company setup
• Masdar City Free Zone company setup
• Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
• DIFC company setup
• Dubai Media City company setup
• Free zone vs mainland visas
• Free zone visa services

Visas, Emirates ID, attestation and government filings for free zone and mainland companies are what our PRO services in Dubai team handles every day.