The glitz and glam of Dubai extend far beyond the towering skyscrapers and endless luxury. In the span of the past couple of decades, the influx of visionary entrepreneurs has been staggering.
And this includes not just businessmen in various domains, but also people who wish to venture into more creative niches as well- including media. If you’ve ever worked in any creative field, as a solopreneur or in an agency- be it in advertising, print, or mass media, you already know that there is no dearth of growth in this sector.
In fact, the media industry in Dubai, UAE, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% by the end of 2025. So, if you have creative ideas flowing through you and you wish to bring them to life in Dubai, read ahead.
The regulations of Dubai, UAE, provide for the different media activities that can be conducted here. These activities include:
Dubai is a highly competitive market, and for newcomers, it might be very intimidating to get businesses afloat in such busy markets without prior experience. Foreign entities that plan to start their media business must give extra focus to the factors listed below:
These are the main factors that an entity must know before starting a media business in Dubai to get a clear picture of the demography prevailing. The entities can approach business set-up service providers to get their business setup in Dubai.
Depending on the niche you’ve decided to venture into, you need to get all licenses and registrations necessary for the business setup; and if you’re getting employees from overseas, then you also need to acquire visas for them.
Here’s what the registration process may look like:
The first step for you would be to submit a detailed application regarding your business to the concerned authorities. Your application should have details regarding all your business plans and activities.
You might also need to submit necessary documentation like passports, memoranda of association (MOA), etc.
The authority needs to understand your target market, your vision, your terms and plans of expenditure and growth, as well as how your venture can contribute to Dubai’s media landscape.
So, make sure you absolutely nail your vision in that application to get that nod of approval.
Once you get that approval, you need to settle all your registration fees and the payments for all the licenses you will require.
When all is done and dusted, you can get on with assembling that dream team. Dubai offers two ways to do that. You can either opt to sponsor your employees’ visas so that they can relocate to Dubai and work for you for the long term.
Or, if your business mostly deals with short-term projects, you might go for a freelance visa procedure, for attracting skilled professionals on a short-term basis.
There are various documents that might be required by a media company to be furnished to the concerned authorities. Some of the documents include the following:
Globally, Dubai is one of the best launchpads to grow and venture into entrepreneurship, but you definitely have to put in your weight of extra work to make it successful. Media business can be cutthroat competition, but here’s a couple tips that can help you still stand out.
The media business is obviously very competitive, and everyone vies for the next big trend, news, or piece of information.
Embrace technology to stay updated and informed on trends, and hire professionals with experience who know what they’re doing to build around current happenings in the world with your media venture.
There is no other shortcut to growing any business other than consistent networking with the proper channels and collaborating with them in the long run. The key isn’t always to be focused on your sole growth, but to also help others with their ventures too, occasionally.
This is another major focus area that could protect a business from unprecedented circumstances and help the business prosper in the long run. All businesses must try to stay on the same page with regard to the regulations of the authorities.
There are numerous free zones in the region that are well-suited to start your media business, but, generally, Dubai Media City (DMC) can be the best choice. Dubai Media City Authority is a community that is best suited for creative heads to start their business with all the support they need.
With the digital media market projected to result in massive market volume, the community is currently teeming with innovative startups and media giants that can actually offer you plenty of advantages in your creative journey. Here are a few that might stand out to you:
If you are a non-resident of the region and are currently planning to own your business completely, DMC is where you can get that without any major fuss.
It doesn’t matter if it is your freelancing business, a news agency, or a print business; DMC can help you navigate all of that. They also provide office spaces, both fitted and non-fitted, according to your business requirements.
Since DMC is already a free zone, you do not have to worry about the tax implications for your business.
And since that area is taken care of, it simply leaves you with more space to invest more in your business.
DMC operates in a dedicated space to help nurture and support your innovative ideas and more. Trust that your business setup process will be done in no time.
At the same time, they also host and organise networking events and more so that you can grow your business, be it solopreneurship or any new industry talent.
Since it is Dubai after all, you can expect top-notch quality in both infrastructure and quality of technology, connectivity, and co-working spaces.
Other potential locations
Other than Dubai Media City, there are some other potential locations in Dubai, UAE, where you can set up your media company. These might include:
These above-listed locations are some of the best locations that provide significant stimuli to the emerging media companies in Dubai, UAE. The companies can plan to set up their media businesses here based on their requirements, like costs, target market, infrastructure, etc.
Setting up a media company in Dubai may sound like a lot of lifting, but with the right connections and partners, the rewards can be great. As Dubai provides all the nourishment the media business requires, the entities can, with the right guidance, start their media businesses and prosper in this potential market.
With Dubai offering the perfect infrastructure, tax benefits, vibrant media community, and creative minds, it can be the perfect spot to launch your media venture. So, if you have nothing more to wait for, you can start on that business plan right now.
Here’s how you can learn more about our business setup processes:
Any business venture requires you to know your niche to grow it. If you are thinking of venturing into a media business, you have to narrow it down to either a digital media business, print media, or advertising.
The more you narrow it down, the better you know how to grow your business. You can also consult professionals to help narrow it down for you. Business setup consultants in Dubai like CDA are the perfect partner for you during your initial days of setup.
Suppose you currently can only invest in building a digital media company but later wish to branch out into advertising. CDA’s professionals can help you get there with a streamlined process. Leave the acquisition of licences, registrations, and visas for your employees to CDA, and plan out your creative strategies on paper with your creative mind.
