The big news for your budget: the CMA has waived licence fees for the first two years — for both FZ-LLC companies and freelancers. Visas, insurance and rent remain payable. Below we cover the terms of the waiver, the registration steps, 2026 rates and taxes.
Why Choose twofour54
twofour54 is not a ‘paper’ free zone but a production cluster: studios, sound stages, edit suites and a whole community of broadcasters and producers on one campus.
- Licence fees waived for the first 2 years — for both FZ-LLCs and freelancer permits (a CMA offer in force for 2026)
- The first three activities on a freelancer licence are free of charge
- Ready-made production infrastructure at Yas Creative Hub: studios, sound stages, editing facilities
- A media cluster community: broadcasters, streaming platforms, game companies and advertising networks
- 100% foreign ownership and unrestricted repatriation of capital
- Rebates of up to 35–50% on content production under Abu Dhabi programmes
Steps to Set Up a Company in twofour54
Applications go through the twofour54 and CMA online portals. The key choice at the start is the format: a full FZ-LLC, a branch, or a freelancer permit for an individual professional.
- Choose the format: FZ-LLC, a branch of an existing company, or a Freelancer Permit
- Define your media activity: production, gaming, advertising, publishing, digital content
- Reserve a name and submit the application to the Creative Media Authority
- Prepare the documents: passports, a portfolio or CV for freelancers, shareholder details for companies
- Receive approval and the licence; for 2026, no licence fee is charged for the first two years
- Arrange residence visas and rent a workspace or studio at Yas Creative Hub
Cost of Setting Up a Company in twofour54 (2026)
Rates are published by the Creative Media Authority on cma.gov.ae. The base FZ-LLC package costs 15,000 AED, but for 2026 this fee is fully waived for new companies for the first two years — so the actual spending shifts to visas, insurance and rent.
| Cost item | Amount, AED | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FZ-LLC or branch licence (CMA package) | 15 000 | Fee fully waived for the first 2 years under the current offer |
| Freelancer Permit | 0 for the first 2 years | First 3 activities free; standard CMA rates apply afterwards |
| Freelancer residence visa (2 years) | 3 538,50 | Express processing — 4,746 |
| Emirates ID (2 years) | 315 | 1-year option — 189 |
| Health insurance | from 1,200 | Plus a 315 service fee |
| Workspace, office or studio | on request | Rent at the Yas Creative Hub campus, depends on the format |
In total, a freelancer effectively pays only for the visa, ID and insurance at the start — around 5,000–5,500 AED for two years. Companies should budget for rent early: it is the rent, not the licence, that drives the main cost in twofour54.
Taxation in twofour54
twofour54 residents fall under the UAE federal regime: 9% Corporate Tax on profit above 375,000 AED and 0% below the threshold, with 5% VAT — including on advertising and media services. Qualifying Free Zone Person status gives 0% on qualifying income — for example, contracts with foreign content clients — provided there is genuine presence in the zone and the cap on other income is respected. Freelancers should also remember VAT registration once turnover exceeds 375,000 AED per year.
Who twofour54 Is Right For
- Production studios, directors and videographers who need sound stages and production rebates
- Media freelancers — journalists, designers, editors, podcasters: entry is currently almost free
- Advertising agencies, publishers and game studios serving the MENA region
“The CMA fee waiver has made twofour54 the cheapest legal entry into the UAE media business: two years of operation with no licence payments” — no Dubai zone offers that right now,’ notes the lead lawyer at Dynasty Business Adviser.
Set Up Your twofour54 Company with Dynasty Business Adviser
We will help you choose between a freelancer permit and an FZ-LLC, prepare your file for the Creative Media Authority, arrange visas and find a workspace at Yas Creative Hub. Get in touch and we will check whether your project qualifies for the current waivers.
Get a consultation
Pricing information is accurate as of the publication date (July 13, 2026) and verified against open sources, including twofour54.com and cma.gov.ae; confirm current fees directly with the zone administration before paying.
