Twofour54 Free Zone

Twofour54 is a media freezone set up by the Media Zone Authority (MZA) to position Abu Dhabi as a regional centre of excellence and a prominent player in the Arabic media content creation industry. MZA aims to create a platform for the inclusive development of Arabic media and entertainment content in all spheres (Events, Film, Digital Media, Publishing, Music, Broadcast, Gaming, etc.). 

Additionally, Twofour54 supervises the implementation of the operational policies and strategies in the free zone. Prominent media houses like Thomson Reuters Foundation, CNN, Financial Times, BBC, etc., have set up their operations in Twofour54. 

It also has a talent pool of nearly 4,000 professionals, including 600 freelancers.

Twofour54 Free Zone Abu Dhabi

There are 3 major key pillars through which twofour54 delivers its advanced infrastructure are

• Twofour54 Tadreeb (the training academy)
• Twofour54 Ibtikar (innovation and support)
• Twofour54 Intaj (state-of-art production facilities).

It is supported by business enabler twofour54 Tawasol (one-stop-shop).

Types of Business Setup

The business structures in the free zones of Abu Dhabi are generally four in number, though it varies a little. The entities in this free zone are as follows:

1. Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC)

It is an independent legal entity that includes independent shareholder(s), corporate shareholder(s), or a mixture of both.

2. Freelancer

This allows individuals to operate as freelance professionals in the twofour54 media zone and entertainment hub.

3. Branch of a Company

A branch represents an existing company in the UAE or a foreign company operating in one of the jurisdictions in the UAE.

4. Start-Up

A start-up can be chosen by an entrepreneur wanting to start a business in digital content creation and/or content production for TV, web, and cinema.

Business Licensing Segments

Twofour54 focuses on media and entertainment organizations and issues licenses primarily for the following segments:

• Mobile
• Gaming/Animation
• Production
• TV/Film
• Online
• Publishing.

How to Set Up a Business in Twofour54 Media Zone?

Foreign investors seeking opportunities to establish a company would be interested to know that opening a business in the twofour54 free zone is quite simple. The first step is to select a business structure available for registration. 

Freelancers may also apply for a license granting them the right to operate as freelance media professionals. Additionally, the Media Zone Authority issues a special license to foreign enterprises that want to start a digital content creation and audio/video production company. 

To set up a business in twofour54, you can follow the steps given below:

Application Form

Fill out the application form mentioning the company's proposed name, share capital, names, and shareholding of each shareholder.

Documents Submission

Provide the following supporting documents:

• Copy of business plan
• Passport copies of the shareholders
• Your photograph on a white background
• Name and activity approval
• Bank reference letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) summarises one's professional history for a freelance license.

All the documents must be signed in front of the free zone authority.

Payment

Pay the licensing fee at the counter. Here is a comparison chart for you to decide on the type of business setup you want to start:

Setup Type	License Fee (in AED)	Registration Fee	Office Space
FZ-LLC	15,000	3,500	Starting from 50,000 per annum
Branch	15,000	3,500	Starting from 50,000 per annum
Serviced Desk	15,000	3,500	30,000 per annum (+2500 as security deposit)
Freelancer	6 months- 2,250 12 months- 4500	N/A	Virtual (free access to hot desk)

*Prices are subject to change. Please connect with us for inquiry.

Free Zone Business Bank Account

Open a free zone company bank account after obtaining the business license. The license is valid for a year and is renewable annually.

Foreign investors will also benefit from the one-stop shop for company registration and licensing with the MZA. Business setup is not easy; therefore, it is advised to have assistance from business experts who will guide you through every part of the application, ultimately ensuring the entire process requires little more than a few hours of your time.  

If you are looking for a reliable partner for a hassle-free company set up in twofour54, do contact our specialized team of business advisors for assistance.