Dubai Production City: TECOM's print, packaging & production cluster
Dubai Production City (DPC, formerly IMPZ) is the TECOM cluster dedicated to physical content production: commercial printing, luxury packaging, publishing, light manufacturing and audiovisual production. Regulated by the Dubai Development Authority (DDA), it hosts 220+ active companies and ~6,800 professionals, keeps 100% foreign ownership, and supports QFZP 0% tax on qualifying income. License setup from AED 15,000, with a physical facility (flexi-desk, office, workshop or warehouse) required on incorporation.
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Why Dubai Production City anchors the UAE print & packaging industry
Dubai Production City (DPC) is one of the free zones in the TECOM Group portfolio. It sits at the junction of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Al Khail Road, in the Me'aisem 1 district of western Dubai. The campus is adjacent to Dubai Sports City and Jumeirah Village, and a short drive from the other TECOM clusters (Studio City, Media City, Internet City).
DPC was launched in 2003 under the name International Media Production Zone (IMPZ) and was rebranded Dubai Production City in March 2016 to broaden its catalogue from pure media production to publishing, packaging and light manufacturing. It is operated by TECOM Group (listed on the Dubai Financial Market since 2022) and regulated by the Dubai Development Authority under DDA Decision N°1 of 2021. It is distinct from Dubai Media City, which focuses on broadcast and digital.
Unlike service-only generalist zones, DPC is engineered for printers, publishers, packaging houses and production studios that need real industrial substance: offset presses, finishing lines, sound stages, props storage and integrated warehousing. It also accepts freelancers and service providers that orbit the production ecosystem (pre-press, post-production, IT, marketing).
What you can run under a Dubai Production City license
DPC's catalogue centres on the media-industry value chain. Real-world tenants cluster into five archetypes. We'll match yours during the consultation.
Commercial printing
Offset and digital presses, large-format printing, screen printing and binding. DPC hosts some of the largest print capacity in the Emirates, with technical sign-off from the DDA on workshop and equipment.
Luxury packaging & finishing
Coated board, foil stamping, embossing and bespoke boxes for cosmetics, perfumery, jewellery and spirits. Finishing lines tuned to premium short and medium runs.
Publishing & press
Newspaper, magazine and book publishing, plus regional editions of international titles. Several of the UAE's heritage publishers are headquartered on the campus.
Audiovisual production
Sound stages, TV studios, event capture, post-production and technical services. The industrial counterpart to Dubai Studio City when a project needs physical sets, props and logistics.
Media-tech & support services
Pre-press, colour management, IT services, packaging design, consulting and marketing, plus distribution of paper, inks, consumables and graphic equipment. A freelance permit is available for individual contractors.
What you actually get with a DPC license
The practical entitlements behind every DPC license. What the brochure rarely spells out.
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, no currency restrictions.
Dedicated industrial license covering offset printing, packaging and light manufacturing.
Five license families under one DDA jurisdiction: Commercial, Service, Industrial, Media, Freelance.
QFZP regime: 0% on qualifying income, 9% on non-qualifying income above AED 375,000.
Mainland access since 2025 (Resolution N°11): temporary permit AED 5,000 / 6 months or onshore branch from AED 10,000.
On-site offices, workshops and warehouses; visa quota indexed on leased area (~1 visa per 9 m²).
Direct adjacency to Dubai Studio City and Dubai Media City for cluster synergies.
Logistics position: E311 + Al Khail Road, ~30 km to DXB and ~25 km to DWC cargo airports, direct access to Jebel Ali ports.
Annual license renewal handled with the same TECOM partner.
Pick the license that matches your production model
DPC issues five license families under the DDA Decision N°1 of 2021 framework. The three most-picked options for foreign founders are summarised below.
Commercial
For trading, distribution and import/export tied to the production ecosystem.
- Import / export, no sector restriction inside the cluster
- Distribution of paper, inks, consumables, graphic equipment
- Multi-product trading and wholesale
- Up to several commodity groups under one entity
Most picked
Industrial
The signature DPC license: offset, packaging and light manufacturing.
- Offset and digital printing, large-format and screen printing
- Luxury packaging, finishing, binding and converting
- Light manufacturing, assembly and conditioning
- TV studios, sound stages and physical production
- Subject to DDA technical sign-off on workshop and equipment
Service & Freelance
For value-added services orbiting production, and individual contractors.
- Pre-press, post-production and colour management
- Consulting, marketing, IT and packaging design
- Media licenses (publishing, broadcast support)
- Freelance permit for individual practitioners
Notable names established at Dubai Production City
DPC hosts 220+ active companies in print, publishing, packaging and audiovisual production. Here are representative tenants from the ecosystem.
Printing
Emirates Printing Press
Commercial printer of the Al Shirawi Group, founded in 1974. One of the largest print capacities in the UAE.
Publishing
Galadari Printing
Heritage printer of the Khaleej Times, newspaper and book publishing operations.
Press
Masar Printing
Subsidiary of Dubai Media Incorporated, daily press production.
Packaging
Al Ghurair Printing
Printing and packaging, among the largest binding capacities in the Emirates.
Printing
Atlas Printing Press
Offset and digital commercial printer serving regional B2B clients.
Production
Pyramedia
Film and TV studio, regional audiovisual production house.
Luxury Pkg
Printmasters
Luxury packaging specialist: premium boxes, sleeves and gift cases.
Audiovisual
Seven Production
Audiovisual production and event capture for the regional broadcast market.
Me'aisem 1: DPC's home in western Dubai
DPC sits at the junction of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Al Khail Road, inside the Dubai South corridor. Position is engineered for logistics, equidistant from both cargo airports and the Jebel Ali ports.
- ~30 km to DXB International Airport
- ~25 km to DWC Al Maktoum cargo airport
- Direct access to Jebel Ali ports via E311
- Adjacent to Dubai Studio City, Dubai Sports City and Jumeirah Village
Offices & workshops
Flexi-desk to dedicated workshops on site
Warehousing
Light-industrial units adjacent to print floors
Studio adjacency
Walk-to Dubai Studio City sound stages
Visa quota
Indexed on leased area (~1 visa per 9 m²)
How we incorporate your DPC company in 4 to 6 weeks
Six steps from first call to issued license. We handle four of them; you only act on two.
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Scope activities with us
30-minute call to confirm your production model and pick the right DDA license family. Industrial activities require a technical brief on workshop and equipment.
Pick the legal form
Free Zone LLC (FZCO) with one or several shareholders, or branch of an existing company (FZ Branch). We recommend based on shareholder structure and substance plans.
Reserve trade name & submit file
Trade name check against DDA rules, plus the initial application: passport copies, CVs, corporate resolutions and the technical sheet for industrial activities.
Lease office, workshop or warehouse
A physical address is mandatory at DPC. We shortlist flexi-desk, fitted office, workshop or warehouse depending on activity. Visa quota scales with leased area.
Sign the MoA
Memorandum of Association signed electronically via TECOM. No notary visit required.
Pay & receive license
Once fees clear, DDA issues the trade license and Establishment Card. Residence visas, bank account opening and Corporate Tax registration follow.
Four realities first-time DPC founders miss
Setup timeline
License in 4 to 6 weeks once the file is complete. Industrial activities can take longer because DDA technical sign-off on the workshop and equipment is required. Budget 6 to 8 weeks end-to-end if visa is in scope.
Physical presence is mandatory
A flexi-desk starts around AED 12,000 to 15,000/year, a fitted office from AED 25,000/year, workshops and warehouses priced on surface. Visa quota is indexed on leased area (~1 visa per 9 m²). The lease is annual and renewable.
Corporate tax 9% trigger
UAE corporate tax kicks in at 9% on net profit above AED 375,000. DPC tenants can hold the 0% rate on qualifying income under the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime, provided substance and audited financials are in order. Mainland revenue is treated as non-qualifying.
Mainland access since 2025
Under Resolution N°11 of 2025, DPC companies can serve the mainland market via a temporary permit (~AED 5,000 / 6 months) or an onshore branch (from AED 10,000) while keeping the free-zone HQ. Activity-level approvals still apply.
What's inside our DPC all-in-one package
One transparent fee covers company formation, residence visa and UAE banking. From AED 28,000: 1 year, 1 visa, flexi-desk address at Dubai Production City.
Company formation
- Trade name reservation with DDA
- License issuance (Commercial, Service, Industrial, Media or Freelance)
- Memorandum of Association drafting + e-signature
- Flexi-desk address at Dubai Production City
- Establishment Card
- Technical sign-off coordination for industrial activities
- Corporate Tax registration & initial compliance filing
Residence visa
- Entry permit issuance
- Medical fitness test coordination
- Emirates ID application & biometrics
- Visa stamping inside passport
- Status change inside the UAE
- Valid 2 years, renewable
Banking
- Business and personal account introductions
- Document pack prepared to bank-ready standard
- Follow-up support until account is opened
- Backup option with a UAE digital bank
DIY vs working with us
On your own
Compare 45+ providers
Rules, prices and procedures all over the place
Check trade-name availability
Submit the request and wait for approval
Fill admin forms & files
Errors = delays or fines
Gather supporting documents
Missing or incorrect = rejection or fines
Chase extra approvals
Miss one and you trigger penalties or delays
Shop prices and locations
Hidden costs likely
Handle the payments
Procedural errors = fines or delays
Run the visa process
Strict steps and timelines, fine risk
Shop UAE banks cold
High rejection risk
Track compliance yourself
VAT & renewals → penalties if missed
Time sink
Stress, errors, financial risk
Recommended
With us
An optimal structure
Tailored to your goals
Trade name reserved
Fast and approved
Dedicated personal support
By your side at every step
Compliant, validated file
Optimised to pass first time
Easier networking
Targeted introductions
Optimised investment
No unnecessary costs
End-to-end support
Fast and stress-free
Single point of contact
Clear, personalised follow-up
Bank account opening
Fast and simplified
Zero stress, total peace of mind
We look after everything
100% business focus
We handle the rest
Teams we've set up at Dubai Production City
"Thank you so much for your support; the process was smooth and the assistance from all the local organizations was a great help. Everything went perfectly! Thank you to the whole team!"
"The service was incredible. No hidden fees like with many agencies I'd heard about. The service was truly top-notch. I didn't have to manage a single thing. I highly recommend them!"
"Thank you for quick service! It was a pleasure to work with Malic, Ga Nui and Frank :) Definitely I will recommend you to anyone who wants to start a business in Dubai!"
Dubai Production City: frequently asked questions
Year-one cost depends on license family, premises (flexi-desk, office, workshop) and visa count. Typical ranges:
- Entry: AED 15,000 to 18,000 for a freelance or service license without visa
- Median: AED 25,000 to 40,000 for a service or commercial license with flexi-desk and 1 to 2 visas
- Industrial: AED 50,000+ for an industrial license with workshop and 3 to 6 visas
Typical Y1 total: AED 25,000 to 60,000. Tax is 0% on qualifying income under QFZP and 9% above AED 375,000 on non-qualifying income.
Both sit inside the TECOM / DDA portfolio, but they serve different value-chain layers:
- DPC (Production): physical content production: printing, publishing, packaging, light manufacturing, TV studios. Workshops, machines and warehouses on site.
- DMC (Media): broadcast, digital, agencies, online press, media freelancers. Largely tertiary and digital.
A TV channel typically registers at DMC while its print runs and event packaging flow to DPC.
DPC was launched in 2003 as the International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), focused on media-adjacent production. It was rebranded Dubai Production City in March 2016 to reflect a broader catalogue: publishing, luxury packaging and light manufacturing were added to the original media-production scope. The DDA regulatory framework and TECOM operator stayed the same.
Yes. The Industrial license explicitly covers offset printing, large-format digital printing, screen printing, packaging and finishing. Industrial activities are subject to DDA technical sign-off on the workshop layout and equipment specifications. Plan a few extra weeks for that step.
Primarily DPC is structured for free-zone and international sales. Since Resolution N°11 of 2025, a free-zone company can access the mainland via a temporary permit (~AED 5,000 / 6 months) or an onshore branch (from AED 10,000), subject to activity-level approvals. Mainland revenue is treated as non-qualifying under QFZP and taxed at 9% above AED 375,000.
Yes. Unlike pure-services generalist zones, DPC requires a physical presence. A flexi-desk starts at AED 12,000 to 15,000/year, a fitted office from AED 25,000/year, with workshops and warehouses priced on surface. The visa quota is indexed on leased area (~1 visa per 9 m²). Leases are annual and renewable.
Other free zones worth considering
Each free zone serves a different model. If Dubai Production City isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.
Book your free 30-minute consultation
We'll tell you within 30 minutes whether Dubai Production City fits your model, and if it doesn't, which TECOM cluster (Studio City, Media City) does.
