When considering setting up a business in the UAE, it pays to looks a little further afield than Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While it’s better-known neighbours often steal most of the limelight, free zones in smaller emirates such as Fujairah are becoming increasingly popular with foreign investors thanks to competitive licensing packages that cater to businesses of all sizes and structures.
Fujairah Creative City is one such free zone. It specializes in media, events, consulting, education, communication and marketing, music and entertainment, and design and technology and offers a competitive alternative to other recognized media hubs such as Dubai’s Media City and Abu Dhabi’s TwoFour54.
About Fujairah Creative City
Launched in 2007 under the administration of Fujairah Culture and Media Authority and occupying an area of 40,000 sq. meters, Fujairah Creative City offers an ideal base for businesses in media, consulting, communications and design and technology fields to operate their businesses locally, regionally and globally from a well-established and well-equipped business centre.
Media is the main focus of Creative City’s offering. There are hundreds of activities available in a wide range of industries and business sectors, but most business registered there operate in the following areas:
- Broadcasting
- Consultancy
- Marketing and Media Services
- Production and Film Making
- Publishing
- IT Services
Fujairah Creative City’s value proposition centres around value, scalability and efficiency. It offers its members a one-stop shop of incorporation services which encompass business licensing, visa and immigration services alongside simple and quick set up procedures and the support needed to help new businesses succeed.
Its operating approach is to acknowledge the different needs of each new company and to find the right solution for each.
What are the main benefits of setting up in Fujairah Creative City?
As with all UAE free zones, Fujairah Creative City offers its members 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and profits and zero corporate and personal income tax.
Its uniqueness lies in how easy it makes the company incorporation process. Licenses are processed quicker than many other free zones, the required documentation is minimal and setup costs are very competitive.
With this in mind, it’s a great option for freelancers who are looking for an affordable way to launch a business in the media domain. There is no requirement for physical office space, which is ideal for anyone whose business is largely remote based, and the variety of licensing packages it offers provide a great deal of flexibility with regards to budget and visa allocation.
There are also no initial capital requirements or ongoing business auditing obligations.
What licensing packages does Creative City offer?
Creative City offers eight types of business packages to suit a variety of different sizes of businesses from an individual sole trader to a medium sized business with 10-15 employees. Visa allowances range from 0 to 15 and pricing of the packages ranges from AED 5,599 to AED 30,700 with most allowing for multiple business registration and all including, licensing and processing fees and a flexi-desk allowance as part of the set-up costs.
How to apply for a business license in Fujairah Creative City
The application process is as follows:
- Complete licence application form
- Complete a KYC form for each shareholder
- Provide all required documents
- Passport copies
- Emirates ID or valid UAE entry permit
- UBO declaration form
- Power of Attorney
- Rules and Regulations and Specimen Signature forms
Issuance of business license
How can Global link help?
Global Link has over 16 years’ experience working with local and global businesses, providing bespoke consultancy services for company incorporation in Dubai and the wider UAE.
We can advise you on setting up a Special Purpose Acquisition Company in the UAE and provide support through the incorporation process and beyond, liaising with all relevant parties on your behalf to ensure a swift and seamless setup.
If you need advice on holding companies or for any other company incorporation, visa or PRO service, please get in touch with us on +971 4 553 9901 or email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.