Compare Dubai CommerCity vs Dubai Studio City

Dubai CommerCity
VerifiedDubaiFree Zone

Dubai CommerCity

The Verdict

Starts from AED 21,995 (Premium) — best for E-commerce businesses seeking a specialized ecosystem with integrated logistics, warehousing, and proximity to Dubai International Airport..

Starting From
AED 21,995
Setup Time
3 days
Dubai Studio City
More Affordable
VerifiedDubaiFree Zone

Dubai Studio City

The Verdict

Starts from AED 7,500 (Mid-Range) — best for Film, TV, broadcast, and media production companies seeking specialized infrastructure and a dedicated industry ecosystem..

Starting From
AED 7,500
Setup Time
2 days

Feature Comparison

A comprehensive side-by-side analysis of key metrics.

Starting From
AED 21,995
Starting From
AED 7,500
Price Positioning
Premium
Price Positioning
Mid-Range
Visa Cost (All-in)
AED 5,570
Visa Cost (All-in)
AED 5,620
Health Insurance/yr
AED 800
Health Insurance/yr
AED 800
Setup Time
3 days
Setup Time
2 days
Remote Setup
Yes
Remote Setup
Yes
Bank Account Help
Yes
Bank Account Help
Yes
UAE Pass
Yes
UAE Pass
Yes
Max Visas (No Office)
0
Max Visas (No Office)
0
Golden Visa
Yes
Golden Visa
Yes
Dependent Sponsorship
Yes
Dependent Sponsorship
Yes
QFZP (0% Tax)
Yes
QFZP (0% Tax)
Yes
Corporate Tax 9%
Yes
Corporate Tax 9%
Yes
Audit Required
Required upon renewal
Audit Required
Required upon renewal
VAT Designated Zone
Yes
VAT Designated Zone
No
Total Activities
21
Total Activities
49

Cost Scenarios

Pre-computed year 1 and renewal costs for common business setups

Dubai CommerCity

Year 1 Total

AED 21,995

Annual Renewal

AED 21,995

Dubai Studio City

Year 1 Total

AED 7,500

Save AED 14,495

Annual Renewal

AED 7,500

Detailed Breakdown

license and registrationAED 21,995
facilityAED 0
government feesAED 0
third party servicesAED 0

Detailed Breakdown

license and registrationAED 7,500
facilityAED 0
government feesAED 0
third party servicesAED 0

License Packages

Pre-bundled business packages offered by each zone

Dubai CommerCity

2 Packages
Most Popular

E-commerce/Service Smart Desk Package

Starter Tier

Annual Cost

AED 21,995

2 Visas Included
20 Activities
Flexi Desk
Registration Fee P.O. Box Knowledge & Innovation Fees

NoteCost is an estimate for a service license; e-commerce licenses may be slightly higher. Total cost cited as approximately AED 21,995.

Fitted Office Package

Standard Tier

Annual Cost

AED 61,870

3 Visas Included
20 Activities
Private Office
Office Rent License Fee Registration Fee P.O. Box Knowledge & Innovation Fees

NoteTotal cost cited as approximately AED 61,870 for a 25 sq. m. office.

Dubai Studio City

2 Packages
Most Popular

GoFreelance Package

Starter Tier

Annual Cost

AED 7,500

0 Visas Included
3 Activities
Flexi Desk
Access to co-working spaces Access to industry networking events

NoteThis is a permit for individual freelancers. To get a visa, an Establishment Card (AED 2000) and visa fees must be paid separately.

SME / FZ-LLC Package (Estimated)

Standard Tier

Annual Cost

Custom

2 Visas Included
1 Activities
Private Office

NoteDubai Studio City does not publicly advertise bundled company packages with fixed prices. Costs are calculated based on individual fees for license, registration, and office lease. This is an illustrative example.

Who Wins Where?

A definitive category-by-category verdict based on real-time data and specific business priorities.

Dubai Studio City

Budget Priorities

Dubai Studio City offers a lower starting price point at AED 7,500

Dubai Studio City

Setup Speed

Dubai Studio City typically processes new licenses in ~2 days

Dubai Studio City

Visa Capacity

Dubai Studio City allows up to ? visas without requiring a physical office space

Tie

Tax Optimization

Both jurisdictions are eligible for QFZP (0% tax on qualifying income)

Dubai CommerCity

Brand Prestige

Dubai CommerCity carries a premium market perception and positioning

Dubai Studio City

Lean Startups

Dubai Studio City wins for being both notably cheaper and consistently faster

Detailed Feature Breakdown

Expand each category for an exhaustive side-by-side comparison

Agricultural License
No
Agricultural License
No
Commercial Trade License
Yes
Commercial Trade License
Yes
Crypto Virtual Assets License
No
Crypto Virtual Assets License
No
E Commerce E Trader License
Yes
E Commerce E Trader License
Yes
Freelance Permit
Yes
Freelance Permit
Yes
General Trading License
No
General Trading License
No
Holding Company License
No
Holding Company License
Yes
Industrial Manufacturing License
No
Industrial Manufacturing License
Yes
Innovation And Tech License
Yes
Innovation And Tech License
Yes
Professional Services Consultancy License
Yes
Professional Services Consultancy License
Yes
Tourism Hospitality License
No
Tourism Hospitality License
No

About Each Zone

Executive summaries and competitive positioning

Dubai CommerCity

Dubai CommerCity targets regional and international e-commerce businesses, including online retailers, e-commerce service providers, and logistics companies. The primary investor profile ranges from startups and SMEs to large multinational corporations looking to establish or expand their e-commerce operations in the MENA region. It offers a complete turnkey solution covering all aspects of the e-commerce value chain.

Key Advantages

MENA's First & Only E-commerce Hub: Operate within an ecosystem purpose-built for online retail success.
Turnkey Logistics & Fulfillment: Launch faster with pre-integrated partners and scalable, pay-as-you-go warehousing.
Strategic Airport Proximity: Leverage unparalleled connectivity for import and export, located directly next to DXB.
0% Tax & 100% Ownership: Maximize profitability with zero corporate tax and full repatriation of capital and profits.
Ideal Target

E-commerce businesses seeking a specialized ecosystem with integrated logistics, warehousing, and proximity to Dubai International Airport.

Dubai Studio City

Dubai Studio City targets companies and professionals in the broadcasting, film production, television, music, and entertainment industries. Its primary investor profile includes major international production houses, local filmmakers, sound and post-production studios, and industry freelancers. The zone is known for having the largest sound stages in the region, attracting large-scale film and TV productions.

Key Advantages

Home to the region's largest sound stages and backlots, purpose-built for major Hollywood and Bollywood productions.
A complete, clustered ecosystem providing the entire content creation value chain, from production to post-production and broadcasting.
Benefit from 100% foreign ownership, 0% personal income tax, and full repatriation of profits and capital under a stable TECOM framework.
Access state-of-the-art, tech-advanced production facilities and infrastructure designed to support the industry's future.
Ideal Target

Film, TV, broadcast, and media production companies seeking specialized infrastructure and a dedicated industry ecosystem.

Things to Watch Out For

Hidden costs and common objections — with honest rebuttals

Dubai CommerCity

Hidden Costs
Annual audit is mandatory.
Visa processing fees are separate from the main package cost.

Dubai Studio City

Hidden Costs
Minimum share capital of AED 50,000 must be shown, but not always required to be deposited.
Visa costs are separate from freelance permits.
Office lease costs are the largest variable and are not included in base license fees.

Ask The Experts

Common questions answered transparently with real data

Dubai Studio City is currently more affordable for initial setup, with entry packages starting from AED 7,500. In the broader market context, Dubai Studio City is officially positioned as "Mid-Range".

Dubai Studio City typically processes new trade licenses faster, averaging around 2 days for issuance from the time of application submission. Furthermore, for Dubai Studio City, fully remote company setup is natively supported, meaning you do not need to be physically present in the UAE.

Dubai CommerCity: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements. Dubai Studio City: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements.

Dubai CommerCity: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa. Dubai Studio City: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa.

E-commerce businesses seeking a specialized ecosystem with integrated logistics, warehousing, and proximity to Dubai International Airport.

Film, TV, broadcast, and media production companies seeking specialized infrastructure and a dedicated industry ecosystem.