What is the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority – and how can you set up your Business there?

September 14, 2023

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The UAE is known throughout the world for its free zones. The entrepreneurs from every corner of the world prefer to set up a business in Dubai because of the many benefits like 100% company ownership, no currency restrictions, zero corporation, income and personal tax, and 100% import and export tax exemption.

Each of the forty-five plus free zones –situated in Dubai and the rest of the UAE– are explicitly designed for a particular sector. If you opt for the economic zone that befits your business activities, then you can hugely profit from it.

For businesses in the creative industries or those businesses that generate their revenues from using their intellectual capital as their primary input, they can increase their profits immensely by starting a business in the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA).

The DCAA is Dubai’s premier free zone that is the root of Dubai Plan 2021, the Dubai Innovation Strategy, and World Expo 2020. Dubai Creative Clusters Authority’s primary aim is to establish Dubai around the world as a leader in creativity, and as a hub for initiating and promoting innovation in business.

DCCA – Everything Creative Under One Roof

If you have chosen DCCA as your desired location for starting your business in Dubai, then you should get all the knowledge about this free zone.

The first thing that you should know about DCCA is that it consists of multiple free zones. Each of these free trade zones focuses on specific creative industries.

Including:

Dubai Internet City: The largest Information and Communications Technologies capital of the entire Middle East region. DIC is home to some of the world’s largest technology giants, including Facebook, Google, Dell, Microsoft, Nokia, and Cisco.

Dubai Outsource City: As the name suggests, this zone is dedicated to local and international outsourcing companies, DOC free trade zone caters explicitly for business process outsourcing (BPO), HR outsourcing, IT outsourcing, back office, and call centers.

Dubai Media City: DMC houses thousands of organizations from a broad range of sub-sectors, including advertising and media support services, media and marketing services, communication, event management, event support services, media consultancy, new media, and freelancers, etc.

Dubai Production City: It is a center for the global and local production industries, DPC is home to highly-skilled and top-tier business professionals hailing from all the corners of the world. These companies trade among one another in a variety of industries, including media production, printing, publishing, graphic designing, and packaging.

Dubai Knowledge Park: The world’s first and only free zone devoted to human resource management and learning excellence. DKP features a variety of institutions that cater to increasing the skills of an individual, including NGOs, academic service providers, assessment, coaching centers and testing centers, and numerous freelancers.

Dubai International Academic City: The world’s biggest free zone committed to the noble art of imparting higher education and the pursuit of intellectual growth. DIAC houses multiple local and international high schools, colleges and universities, educating students arriving from around the globe.

Dubai Studio City: This free zone is open to entrepreneurs who are in the entertainment business i.e,TV, broadcasting, and film production, and music production. DSC is equipped with the largest sound stages of not only the country but the region as well, along with film studios, production offices, sets, recording studios, and water tanks for underwater film shoots.

Dubai Science Park: Designed specifically to cater to the needs of businesses and professionals who work in life sciences. DSP is home to state of the art laboratories and strives to nurture businesses business owners, and entrepreneurs within the science community.

Dubai Design District: This Free Zone offers is ideal for budding entrepreneurs as it provides office space for lease at affordable prices. D3 is aimed primarily at design and fashion industries, and is home to several renowned international global brands

Want to Set up Your Company in Dubai Creative Clusters Authority?

If you want to set up in any of the many free zones of DCCA you are sure to find an amazing environment for your business to take off. For your consideration we have compiled a guideline that you can follow while setting up in Dubai Creative Clusters Authority.

1. Straightforward Setup

Whether you decide to establish your business in Dubai Internet City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Design District or almost anywhere else you choose to setup, you will surely find the incorporation process to be incredibly easy and straightforward.

In most of the DCCA free zones, you submit your application, provide necessary documentation such as passport and ID copies, pay your license fees and viola the company formation process is complete. The whole process often only takes a fortnight to a matter of weeks.

2. Work Among the Best:

The DCCA has made a name for itself and is now synonymous with high quality – that is why some of the world’s biggest companies have flocked to do business here. DIC is home to Facebook, Google and Microsoft; DMC boasts Bloomberg, CNN and Dow Jones; while Adidas, Chanel and Christian Louboutin all are located in Dubai Design District.

However, while DCCA free zones are home to some of the established and world-famous names in the business, they still welcome smaller businesses as well – which gives you an incredible opportunity to work alongside industry giants and learn from them.

3. Flexible Setup:

With so many free zones to choose from, you are sure to find a location to suit your needs perfectly. From office space and warehousing space, to production facilities to sound stages and fully equipped laboratories, DCCA has everything.

4. Set up with Multiple Shareholders:

Another major draw for businesses of all sizes to Dubai Creative Clusters Authority is that it allows for setup with multiple shareholders. These can be individuals, corporate entities or a combination of the two.

5. Multiple Visa Options:

Whether you’re setting up a business alone or with your business partners or with a team of employees, you will find DCCA to be very accommodating. All DCCA free zones are on hand to assist with visa applications for both you and your staff

6. Simple to Open Your Corporate Bank Account:

Once you have received your license and set up your business in a DCCA free zone of your choice, you are now ready to open your corporate bank account. The application process is quick, easy and simple.

Free zone regulatory authority’s staff can advise on the best bank to suit your needs.. A business setup consultants can also provide the same service and can guide you effectively.

Setting up Your Company in a Dubai Creative Clusters Authority Free Zone

So you sold yet on the benefits of setting up your business within Dubai Creative Clusters Authority or not? If yes then how will you go about setting up your company in DCCA? There are a number of steps that you will have to take some complex, some less so to achieve your end goal here. The first thing that you will have to do is choose your business activity. Then you will have to decide your company name, then complete and file your registration paperwork with the required documents attached to the concerned authorities, open a bank account, and apply for any visas that may be required.

However, the above mentioned process is the gist of this process and its specifics will depend largely on the type of license you are applying for and the kind of business you wish to run.

That’s why before starting a business in Dubai, the first course of action should always be to contact a business setup consultant who will guide you every step of the way.

In case of any queries, feel free to talk with us. At KWS Middle East, we give utmost care to all our clients and provide premier business setup services.

Contact us and book your commitment-free call with our team today!

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