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Region's Dedicated Production Free Zone

Business Setup in Dubai Studio City

Dubai Studio City is the region’s dedicated free zone for film, television, broadcast and music production. Part of the TECOM Group, it provides purpose-built production infrastructure — sound stages, studios and backlots — alongside company licensing, making it the natural home for production houses, broadcasters, studios and content creators.

We manage your Dubai Studio City setup end to end — company structure, license activities, facility selection, registration, visas and corporate bank account introduction — working directly with the free zone.
[ PHYSICAL PRODUCTION HUB ]
TECOM Group Infrastructure

Established in 2005, Dubai Studio City focuses on physical production, including filming, broadcasting, recording, and post-production services.

[1.0 / MEDIA PRODUCTION ECONOMY]

About Dubai Studio City

Dubai Studio City was built to support the production side of the media industry. It offers sound stages, recording studios, production facilities, and backlots, while also supporting media and production startups through TECOM’s In5 Media innovation centre.

Why Choose Dubai Studio City

[1.1]
  • Purpose-built for production — sound stages, studios, backlots and production facilities on site.
  • 100% foreign ownership — full ownership with no local partner required.
  • Built for film, TV and music — tailored to production, broadcast, recording and post-production.
  • Freelancer-friendly — a dedicated freelancer permit for individual production professionals.
  • Media cluster connectivity — part of TECOM’s media ecosystem alongside Dubai Media City.
  • Tax efficiency — 0% corporate tax on qualifying income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person, and full repatriation.

License & Activity Groups

[1.2]

Dubai Studio City licenses are structured around key production and broadcasting activities:

Film and TV production — filming, production and content creation.
Broadcasting — TV, radio and channel operations.
Music and audio — recording, music production and sound services.
Post-production and animation — editing, visual effects, animation and gaming content.
[1.3 / REGULATORY LICENSING FRAMEWORK]

Legal Entities & Ownership

Dubai Studio City offers structures and permits suited to both companies and individual creative professionals.

Free Zone LLC (FZ-LLC / FZCO) For one or more shareholders, individual or corporate.
Branch Company A branch of an existing UAE or foreign company.
Freelancer Permit For individual production and creative professionals operating under their own name.

All companies enjoy 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital and profits. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can benefit from 0% corporate tax on qualifying income.

[1.4 / PRODUCTION FACILITIES]
Available Infrastructure

Dubai Studio City provides production-grade infrastructure not found in standard free zones:

  • Sound stages: Purpose-built stages for filming and television production.
  • Recording/production studios: Facilities for audio, music and content production.
  • Backlots/production space: Outdoor and large-format space for sets and shoots.
  • Offices/co-working: From In5 desks to fitted offices for production companies.
[1.5 / VISA ALLOCATION]
Visa Frameworks

Visa quotas are linked to your office, permit, and package. Available visa types include:

Investor & Partner Visas
Freelancer Visas
Employment Visas
Family & Golden Visas
[1.6 / PROCEDURAL PIPELINE]

Dubai Studio City Setup Process

We manage each stage with the free zone authority on your behalf.

01. Consultation
We confirm your production activities, structure and license or permit.
02. Name Reservation
We secure your company name and preliminary approval.
03. Facility Selection
We match you to a stage, studio, office or freelancer permit.
04. Documentation
We prepare and submit the application and incorporation documents.
05. License Issuance
Dubai Studio City issues your trade license or freelancer permit.
06. Immigration
We process the establishment card, visas, Emirates ID and medicals.
07. CORPORATE BANK ACCOUNT INTRODUCTION — We introduce you to our banking partners and assist with the application.
[1.7 / COMPLIANCE DOSSIER]

Documents Required for Setup

A tailored checklist is provided following your consultation.

Individual / Freelancer Corporate Shareholder Branch Company
  • Passport copy of each shareholder/freelancer.
  • UAE visa and Emirates ID copy.
  • Recent passport-size photograph.
  • Proof of address.
  • CV and portfolio/showreel.
  • Certificate of incorporation.
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association.
  • Board resolution for incorporation.
  • Register of directors/shareholders.
  • Attested/legalised documents.
  • Parent company trade license/docs.
  • Board resolution to open branch.
  • Power of attorney for manager.
  • Audited financial statements (if requested).
  • Attested/legalised corporate documents.
[TIMELINES]
Licensing & Visas
A company or freelancer permit is typically issued within 5 to 7 business days once documents are in order. Visa and Emirates ID processing usually takes an additional 2 to 3 weeks.
[COSTS]
Personalized Packages
Costs vary based on production facility needs, license, and visa quota. Contact us for a personalized, all-inclusive quote with no hidden charges.
Why Choose Legacy Partners
Direct Experience
We manage Dubai Studio City and TECOM registrations daily.
End-to-End Service
Licensing, facilities, visas and bank-account introductions.
Transparent Pricing
Clear, all-inclusive packages with no surprise invoices.
Dedicated Support
A single multilingual point of contact throughout your setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

The region’s dedicated free zone for film, television, broadcast and music production.

Dubai Media City serves media/advertising, whereas Studio City focuses on physical production (filming, recording, broadcasting).

Yes, it offers a dedicated freelancer permit for individual directors, producers, technicians and creative professionals.

Sound stages, recording/production studios, backlots, and production space.

Compare options on our Company Formation in UAE hub, or explore other free zones like Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District, or Dubai Internet City.

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