Dubai
Dubai Studio City: real costs, licences and review
Sound stages and production infrastructure for film and television.
FromAED 24,000
Typical, 1 visaAED 46,000
Timeline10–25 days
Our rating7.6/10
Our view
A TECOM cluster built around physical production: sound stages, backlots, equipment rental and post-production facilities. It is the right address for a production house that actually shoots in the UAE.
If you produce digital content remotely and need nothing more than a media licence and an invoice, a cheaper media zone will serve you identically.
Key facts
| Emirate | Dubai |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 24,000 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 46,000 |
| Issuance time | 10–25 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | Yes |
| Remote setup | No |
| Licence types | Media, Professional / service |
| Established | 2005 |
Official source: dsc.ae
Honestly
What works
- Real production infrastructure
- Established crew network
- TECOM ecosystem access
- Credible for broadcast clients
What doesn't
- Only worthwhile if you shoot locally
- Expensive versus SHAMS
- Office expected
- Narrow activity scope
Who this suits
- Film and TV production
- Post-production houses
- Equipment rental
- Commercial production
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.