What is Dubai Studio City for?

Film, television, broadcast and post-production companies. The cluster includes purpose-built sound stages, which is what separates it from an office-only free zone.

Does my licence let me film anywhere in Dubai?

No. A trade licence permits the business activity; filming on location requires separate permits from the relevant authorities. We set out which you will need.

Dubai Studio City Free Zone Company Setup

Fixed price quoted up front

Mainland and every free zone

Licence, visas, banking, one team

Most licences in days, not weeks

The Dubai Studio City free zone suits you if you produce film, television or broadcast content and need production infrastructure rather than only an office. It is a TECOM Group cluster licensed by the Dubai Development Authority, with 100% foreign ownership.

We handle the production activity on the licence, the facility, incorporation and the corporate bank account, and we flag the filming permits that sit outside the licence itself.

What should you know about Dubai Studio City?

Before you commit, these are the facts that decide how a company is licensed here and whether the property route to a Golden Visa is open to you: the ownership status, the licensing authority, where the local stock sits against the AED 2 million threshold, and how the area is reached. We confirm each of them for your exact plan before any fee is paid.

Authority Dubai Development Authority, a TECOM Group cluster

Built for Film and television production, broadcast and post-production companies

Facilities Purpose-built sound stages and production backlots rather than office floors alone

Ownership 100% foreign ownership, no local partner

Permits Filming in Dubai also requires location permits, which sit outside the trade licence

Why set up a company in Dubai Studio City?

The reasons that matter are the practical ones: what the licence lets you do, the visa allocation you get, the cost of the office or address the jurisdiction requires, and how quickly you can open a bank account and start invoicing. Here is where Dubai Studio City is genuinely strong for the kind of company most of our clients build, and where it is not the right fit.

Production infrastructure on site

Sound stages and backlots are part of the cluster, which no generic office free zone provides.

A licence that names production

Film, television and post-production activities are core here, so the licence matches the work.

Permits explained up front

We tell you what the licence covers and what still needs a separate filming permit, before you plan a shoot.

How can we help you set up in Dubai Studio City?

We are one accountable team for every step of setting up in Dubai Studio City: choosing the right licence and jurisdiction, arranging the office or serviced address the licence needs, processing your residence and family visas, opening the corporate bank account, and handling the Golden Visa where your property qualifies. You deal with one advisor, on one fixed quote, from the first question to a live company and a stamped visa.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Dubai Studio City for?

Film, television, broadcast and post-production companies. The cluster includes purpose-built sound stages, which is what separates it from an office-only free zone.
Does my licence let me film anywhere in Dubai?

No. A trade licence permits the business activity; filming on location requires separate permits from the relevant authorities. We set out which you will need.
Is Dubai Studio City a free zone?

Yes, a TECOM Group cluster licensed by the Dubai Development Authority, with 100% foreign ownership.

Nearby and related

Sources

TECOM Group, operator of the Dubai creative and business clusters tecomgroup.ae
Dubai Development Authority dda.gov.ae
UAE Government, free zones u.ae

Figures verified September 2026 against the sources above.

Government fees and rules change. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. We confirm the current position in writing before you commit.

Why founders choose Layerz for Dubai Studio City

1 One advisor, start to finish The same person owns your file from the first call to the licence, the visas and the bank account, so nothing is handed around and dropped.
2 A fixed quote, government fees itemised You get one clear price with the authority fees listed separately, not a low headline number that grows at renewal.
3 The activity list matched to what you sell We pick the exact activities your business needs, so the licence covers what you actually do and no approval stalls later.
4 The bank introduction handled Opening a UAE corporate account is where most setups stall. We prepare the file and introduce you to the bank whose profile fits, which is the hardest step made routine.
5 Visas and Emirates ID managed We run the residence visas, the medical and the Emirates ID for you and your family, so you are resident without chasing each step.
6 Renewal tracked before it lapses A lapsed licence triggers fines and blocks visas and banking. We track the date and renew ahead of it, so the calendar never catches you out.
7 Every figure cited to its authority The numbers on our pages are sourced to the government or the free zone that publishes them, not to a blog, so what you plan on is real.

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