Business Setup

Dubai Studio City Company Setup Guide

Published 26 Jul 2026 · 2 min read

Dubai Studio City is a TECOM free zone built specifically for film, television and broadcast production, offering sound stages, backlots and production-support infrastructure for businesses actually filming or producing broadcast content, distinct from Dubai Media City's broader media and content focus.

What Dubai Studio City is built for

Dubai Studio City licenses film and TV production companies, production-service providers, equipment rental businesses and related crew and production-support services, with physical sound stages and filming infrastructure that a standard media free zone does not offer. It is the natural choice for businesses that genuinely need production infrastructure, not simply a media-sector office address.

Costs and what drives them

Costs vary hugely depending on whether you need sound stage or backlot access versus a standard office for a production-support or equipment-rental business — actual studio and stage use is typically a separate booking cost on top of the base company licence. Model a standard office case with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator and confirm studio access pricing directly.

Is Dubai Studio City the right fit?

If your business genuinely produces film or television content and needs physical studio infrastructure, Dubai Studio City is the natural choice over a general media zone. For content creation, marketing or media consulting without a physical production need, Dubai Media City or SHAMS will likely fit better and cost less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book a sound stage separately from my company licence?

Generally yes — studio and sound stage access is typically booked as a separate production-facility cost on top of your base company licence, similar to how a production company would rent studio time elsewhere.

Is Dubai Studio City suitable for a small video production company?

Yes — alongside large-scale film and TV production, Dubai Studio City supports smaller production-service providers and equipment-rental businesses through standard office and flexi-desk packages.

How is Dubai Studio City different from Dubai Media City?

Dubai Studio City provides physical filming infrastructure — sound stages and backlots — for businesses that actually produce film and TV content, while Dubai Media City has a broader media and broadcasting focus without the same dedicated production-stage infrastructure.

Can an actor or crew member get a freelance permit through Dubai Studio City?

Freelance permits for production-crew and creative roles are available through Dubai Studio City, in addition to full company licences for production businesses.

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