DCCA: Is It The Perfect Business Location For Creatives?

This article was updated on April 15th, 2024

This article has been researched and written by Dastan Nurmanbetov and the team at Creation Business Consultants and has not used AI in generating this article.

There are many companies that use creativity as their main tool in the marketplace. Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA) serves as a business hub that encourages creativity among entrepreneurs.

DCCA focuses on the efficiency of doing business and is constantly seeking to set new standards in three main streams:

• Real estate planning and development control.
• Regulatory and licensing services governing all strategic projects and industries within its jurisdiction.
• Develop new industries and sectors to further diversify the economy.

WHAT IS DUBAI CREATIVE CLUSTERS AUTHORITY?

DCCA was established to promote the growth of creative industries with the aim of turning Dubai into the largest business platform for creative minds. In line with this, here are more of DCCA’s objectives:

• Discover talents and nurture their skills.
• Foster new and innovative entrepreneurial ideas.
• Establish a dynamic business ecosystem.
• Promote structural effectiveness.
• Grow businesses internationally.

THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE IN DCCA

The creative industries in Dubai are governed by the DCCA. The Dubai Creative Clusters offer the following 7 industries:

• Media and Entertainment: Advertising, marketing, public relations, media creation, and all media and marketing sector.
• Design and Fashion: This industry focuses on tasks related to design, such as product design, fashion design, graphic design, interior design, and architecture.
• Film and TV Production: Dubai is home to a booming film and television production sector. It entails animation studios, post-production facilities.
• Music and Performing Arts: Entertainment agencies, concert halls, theatres, dance companies, and music studios.
• Technology and Innovation: This industry concentrates on technologically based creative endeavours like software development, digital innovation, virtual reality.
• Publishing and Printing: It covers a broad spectrum of media, including print media like books and periodicals.
• Broadcasting and Digital Media: Digital media production, online streaming services, content distribution, radio and television broadcasting.

CLUSTERS IN DCCA

DCCA free zone is divided into 4 clusters:

• The science cluster
• The education cluster
• The information and communication cluster
• The media cluster

WHAT ARE DCCA’S BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES?

Operating under Dubai’s free zone, following are the 9 legal structures and their corresponding suitable industries:

• Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, and Dubai Production City for Media and Entertainment.
• Dubai Design District for Design.
• Dubai International Academic City for Higher Education.
• Dubai Science Park for Life Sciences.
• Dubai Internet City for Information and Technology.
• Dubai Outsource City for Outsourcing.
• Dubai Knowledge Park for Human Capital Development.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ESTABLISHING YOUR BUSINESS IN DCCA?

There are multiple benefits that foreign investors could get as DCCA is a free trade zone. The following are some of the advantages you could get:

1. It allows you 100% ownership.
   • Free zones provide foreign investors 100% ownership.
2. It offers top-notch business infrastructure.
   • For business owners who are looking for world-class facilities and infrastructure, DCCA offers the ideal hub for creative entrepreneurs.
3. It provides a pleasing lifestyle.
   • Dubai is not only known for being a multicultural business hub, but there is also a great opportunity to interact with people from different cultures.
4. It gives easy access to business deals and interactions.
   • As DCCA is a clustered environment, it serves as home to different SMEs and start-ups. This provides an ease of access to other businesses and entrepreneurs.
5. It provides international exposure to SMEs and start-ups.
   • Establishing your business in DCCA provides you international exposure and it also serves as a great platform for creative business corporations.

WHAT ARE THE COMPANY TYPES THAT CAN BE FORMED IN DCCA?

1. FREE ZONE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (FZ LLC)

   • Also provides options for ownership type:
     • Individual ownership.
     • Corporate shareholders.
     • Joint individual and corporate ownership.

2. COMPANY BRANCH

   • Foreign company branch.
   • Local company branch.

3. FREELANCE

   • Freelancing is also possible in DCCA.

WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN DCCA’S BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES?

• Approving landing fields.
• Issuing landing permits.
• Issuing permits for aviation safety operations.
• Permits for aviation-related activities.
• Approvals for dangerous items and firearms.
• Permits for building construction or elevation.

The DCCA proves to be an ideal business hub for creative industries in the UAE. If you are looking for business setup services, it is advisable to seek professional advice from consultants in Dubai. The Corporate Structuring Department at Creation Business Consultants provides complete company formation for multinational corporations, Small to Medium Enterprises, Medium to Large Enterprises, and entrepreneurs.

We will handle all aspects of documentation, bureaucracy, rules, and regulations for a quick, efficient, and affordable company setup. Contact the corporate structuring experts at Creation Business Consultants for a free consultation call on forming a company in DCCA, email [email protected], or call UAE at +971 4 878 6240.

Scott Cairns,
Managing Director