Dubai Media City (DMC) is the only global media hub in the region where all media-related businesses thrive together. Strategically located in Dubai at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, your business can profitably operate in the local and international markets from DMC.

DMC creates a world-class environment for every kind of media business, which broadly includes media and marketing services, printing and publishing, music, film, new media, leisure and entertainment, broadcasting and information agencies. In this open and flexible environment, you and your company can operate with collective synergy and individual freedom.

Being a dedicated media zone, DMC ensures that all media businesses are given the “Freedom to Create”. That’s why, with advanced infrastructure, support services, freedom of capital movement, tax-free income and easy access to markets rich with untapped opportunities, Dubai and DMC is the ideal location to base your productive media business.

Licensed Activities

The following is a list of core business activities that the Dubai Media City Authority can license:

Publishing: News Papers, Magazines, Educational & Books, Consumer Books & Magazines, Promotional Content, Online & Electronic Content, e-books, Directories & Guides

Broadcasting: TV & Radio

Film: Film Production & Distribution, Media Content Management & Provider, Film Content Rights Management, Production, Post Production and Animation.

Media & Marketing Services: Direct Marketing, Promotional Services, Advertising / Communication & Public Relations Agency, Intellectual Property Rights Management, Media Placement, Buying & Selling, Media Representation, Corporate Identity & Branding

Information Agencies: News Agencies, Media Research and Information Services

Music & Entertainment: Music Production & Recordings, Music Distribution, Music Publishing, Music Label & Rights Management, Music Promotion & Management, Event Management, Theme Parks Management, Live Entertainment & Promotion, Sports Management & Promotion, Conference Organisers & Management, Performing Arts, Choreography, Hospitality Management Consultancy

New Media & Media Support Service: Web Designing & Management, Interactive Services (Webcasting / Streaming), Media Software Development & Integration, Access Spending, Multimedia Software Development , Video Games, Internet Gaming Broadcasting Hardware & Equipment, Satellite Services & Equipment Provider, GSM & Electronic Media, Media Equipment Rentals, Digital Media Management, Media Archiving & Distribution and Systems Integration Services

Service Provider: Restaurant, Stationery, Medical Clinic, Beauty Salon, Book Store, Kiosk, Banking Services, Music & Video, Travel Agency, Laundry, Insurance Service Provider.

Consultancy: Legal Consultancy, Accounting/Auditing Consultancy, Human Resources Consultancy, Marketing, Management, Project Management, Marketing Research

Setting up at Dubai Media City

SECTORS:

• Broadcasting (TV and Radio Broadcast) Entitles the Company to broadcast their channels from Dubai Media City – activities under this sector are; TV Station – Terrestrial, TV Network – Terrestrial, Radio Station – Terrestrial, Radio Network – Terrestrial, TV Station – Satellite, TV Network – Satellite – (Direct to Home and Cable Head End), Radio Station – Satellite, Radio Network – Satellite
• Broadcast Management TV & Radio Entitles the Company to run administration operations only, broadcasting of the channel/s is not possible with this license- activities under this sector are; TV / Radio – Marketing and Sales, TV / Radio – Production Services, TV / Radio – Representative Office, TV./ Radio – News Bureau
• Broadcaster (Non Resident)- Broadcasters that have no physical presence in the Zone but use SamaCom remote play-out and uplinking services.)
  Value Propositions

BROADCAST SERVICES : Dubai Media City offers professional satellite broadcast solutions to both Dubai-based companies and regional and international customers through Samacom (link to Samacom), Samcom is a vertically integrated satellite services provider that owns and operates its own communication infrastructure, enabling it to act as a strategic partner to its customers. The City owns and operates a sophisticated communications infrastructure that includes a world-class Teleport and Master Control Room (MCR) facilities. The use of these shared facilities and infrastructure allows broadcasters to leverage considerable operating cost savings. Current broadcast customers of Dubai Media City include the BBC, MTV, BSkyB, MBC, TEN Sports, Asianet Global and LBC.

BROADBAND ACCESS/ISP : Scalable leased lines and access to ISP services at preferential rates.

PRODUCTION & POST-PRODUCTION FACILITIES : Access to a range of television production and post-production services and facilities at competitive rates.

WEB-ENABLING SERVICES : Infrastructure that supports webcasting and Internet streaming.

TELEPORT : Scalable uplinking and dowlinking facilities, which allow broadcasters to achieve simplified, cost-effective, global distribution

IDEAL GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION : Dubai (55.28 longitude and 25.22 latitude) is an ideal location for satellite visibility. This geographical advantage enables broadcasters to achieve simplified and cost-effective global distribution from Dubai.

SATELLITES : Dubai Media City offers satellite connectivity through a number of satellites including: Telstar 12, Atlantic Bird 2, Nilesat 102, Arabsat, PAS 10, Thaicom 3 and Asiasat 2. These satellites provide coverage across an arc from 130 E to 342 E (18 W) -- a region extending from East Asia and Australia to the east coast of North and South America.

TELEPORT SERVICES : Dubai Media City provides analogue and digital uplink/downlink services tailored to the needs of the broadcasting industry. The services are complemented by a 24 X 7, fully-automated support service. The service availability is further enhanced by full redundancy deployed equipment and diverse fiber optic routes operating from customer premises to the Teleport site.

UPLINKING/DOWNLINKING SERVICES : Dubai Media City provides full-time services with customer-defined interfaces:

• Analogue Uplink
• Digital Uplink
• Downlink
• Turnaround
• Occasional Interfaces supported: SDI, DVB/ASI, AES/EBU (for audio), 70/140 MHz IF.

As part of its immediate expansion, the Teleport is negotiating a landing station for international cable routes and Direct-To-Home (DTH) platforms to enhance the value of its services to customers.

VIDEO/AUDIO SERVICES : Dubai Media City provides a range of content-edit services:

• Playouts for different formats
• Betacam, Betacam SP
• Betacam SX, Digital Betacam
• DVC Pro
• DV CAM
• Digital-S
• Digital Storage
• Format Conversion
• Analog: PAL, NTSC
• Digital: SDI, AES/EBU
• MPEG, DVB ASI
• Multiplexing/Demultiplexing
• Signal routing, switching and distribution
• Recording, dubbing, compiling and character generation
• Linear / nonlinear editing
• Quality Monitoring

SERVICE SUPPORT : Dubai Media City has total control of all of its end-to-end services running through the Teleport, enabling it to provide customers with full support and back-up, remote monitoring and network management.

Dubai Media City has a dedicated team of trained personnel to offer round-the-clock support from its Customer Care Centre.

Dubai Media City has also implemented a trouble ticketing system with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) to track its customers’ complaints. This ensures speedy resolution of all problems.

Availability of Talent & Training Academies : Access to a talent pool of over 75 freelance media professionals (based in the City) with expertise in diverse media fields.

Availability of training institutes at Knowledge Village (a third initiative of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone).

Media Legal Framework : Broadcasting and Publication Standards Tribunal (BPST), a new independent body will adjudicate issues related to freedom of expression and the appropriateness of media content produced by companies in the Free Zone.

Dynamism & Quality of Life : Formal and informal networking opportunities with global brands/customers.

Easy to access the industry : Access to other media companies in the Free Zone.

Scalability : Different scales of operations can be accommodated within the City ranging from a one-person operation to a large corporate team.

Broadband Access : Dubai Media City’s hi-tech infrastructure enables companies to offer integrated and interactive services.

BUSINESS & INFORMATION SERVICES :

Information Agency Sectors:

• News Agencies
• Media Research & Information Services

Freedom of Expression : Freedom of Expression for media is guaranteed in Dubai Media City.

Access to other media companies in the Free Zone.

Optimum Geographic Location for Satellite Coverage. Dubai (55.28 longitude and 25.22 latitude) is an ideal location for satellite visibility.

This geographical advantage enables broadcasters to achieve simplified and cost effective global distribution from Dubai.

Broadband Access : Dubai Media City’s hi-tech infrastructure enables companies to offer integrated and interactive services.

Web-enabling Services : Infrastructure that supports web-casting and internet streaming.

Production and Post- Production Facilities : Availability of shooting floors and post-production studios within Dubai Media City.
Licensing Authority

Companies can obtain broadcast licenses from Ministry of Information through Dubai Media City, eliminating the hassle of applying directly.

Stable Political Environment.

Music Sectors:

• Music Production and Recording
• Music Distribution
• Music Publishing
• Music Label and Rights Management

Leisure & Entertainment Sectors:

• Event Management
• Sports Management and Promotion
• Conference Organisers and Management
• Performing Arts Management
• Choreography

Publishing Sectors:

• Newspapers (Regional and National)
• Magazines
• Books
• Online and Electronic Content
• e-Books
• Directories, Guides, Manuals and Catalogues
• Publishing Representatives

Customer Care Services : Customer Care service facilities on a shared or sole-use basis.

Financial Incentives : Guaranteed 50-year exemption from personal income and corporate taxes. 100% foreign ownership.

One-Stop- Shop for Government Services : Hassle-free completion of formalities can be done in no time, without the need to visit individual government departments.

Availability of Talent &Training Academies : Access to a talent pool of over 75 freelance media professionals (based in the City) with expertise in diverse media fields.

Availability of training institutes at Knowledge Village (a third initiative of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone).

Media Legal Framework : Broadcasting and Publication Standards Tribunal (BPST), a new independent body will adjudicate issues related to freedom of expression and the appropriateness of media content produced by companies in the Free Zone.

Dynamism & Quality of Life : Formal and informal networking opportunities with global brands/customers

Easy to access the industry : Access to other media companies in the Free Zone.

Availability of printing facility : World class high-quality printing facilities available

General (Consultancy & Retail) to follow details : Set amidst an exquisitely designed landscape with lush grounds, lakes and fountains, Dubai Media City offers you a diverse range of real estate options to select from. In fact, all DMC buildings contain fully wired office space that is specially designed to provide a creative work environment for media professionals.