Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is activity code 7722.01 and what does it cover
Activity code 7722.01 is the official Dubai commercial activity code for the Renting of Video Tapes, Records, CDs, DVDs, Etc. It authorises businesses to charge customers for the temporary borrowing or use of physical media formats including VHS tapes, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays.
The licence does not cover digital streaming services, content production, or the outright sale of media. Those activities each carry separate activity codes and require their own licensing arrangements.
Which regulatory bodies oversee this licence in Dubai
The primary licensing authority is the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) for mainland businesses, or the applicable Free Zone authority for Free Zone setups such as Meydan Free Zone.
Content compliance is governed separately. The UAE Media Council sets classification and approval requirements for all media distributed or rented to customers, and the Dubai Film and TV Commission also plays a role in governing media distribution within the emirate. Any content must meet these standards before it reaches customers.
What types of businesses need a 7722.01 licence
Any business that charges customers to borrow or temporarily use physical media formats in Dubai requires this licence. Relevant business models include:
- Video rental shops serving retail walk-in customers
- Media libraries and cultural resource centres
- Entertainment lounges and hospitality businesses offering in-room or on-premises media
- Niche collector rental services catering to specialist audiences
Businesses supplying physical media on a rental basis to hotels, corporate lounges, or educational institutions also fall under this activity code.
Should I set up on the mainland or in a Free Zone for this activity
The right jurisdiction depends on your business model. A mainland licence through the DED is the more practical route if your business relies on walk-in retail customers, a physical shopfront, or direct consumer engagement across Dubai without location restrictions.
A Free Zone licence — such as through Meydan Free Zone — offers faster setup, 100% foreign ownership, and lower initial costs. This suits operators focused on online rental or B2B supply to hotels and lounges. However, Free Zone operators who want to serve end consumers directly in Dubai may need a dual-licence arrangement, which adds complexity and cost.
It is also worth noting that 100% foreign ownership is now permitted on the mainland for most commercial activities under UAE Commercial Companies Law amendments, reducing one of the traditional advantages of the Free Zone model.
How long does it take to obtain this licence
The minimum setup timeframe varies by jurisdiction. A Free Zone licence typically takes 5–10 working days, while a mainland licence through the DED generally takes 10–15 working days.
The content compliance step — ensuring all media meets UAE Media Council classification and approval requirements — is where most applicants experience delays. Addressing content compliance early in the process is strongly recommended to avoid extending your overall setup timeline.
Does VAT apply to physical media rental transactions in Dubai
Yes, VAT applies to rental transactions under this activity at the standard UAE rate of 5%. However, VAT registration only becomes mandatory once your business's annual turnover exceeds AED 375,000.
Businesses approaching or exceeding this threshold should refer to the Federal Tax Authority for current registration thresholds, procedures, and compliance obligations. Voluntary registration is also available below the mandatory threshold.
What is the first step in the licence application process
The first step is trade name reservation. You submit your preferred business name via the DED eServices portal for a mainland application, or through your chosen Free Zone's portal for a Free Zone application.
When selecting a name, ensure it does not reference restricted content categories or violate UAE naming conventions. Securing your trade name early is important as it underpins all subsequent registration steps in the process.
Is there still a viable market for physical media rental in Dubai
Physical media rental is a niche but active segment in Dubai, with sustainable demand in hospitality, cultural centres, and specialist collector communities. Dubai's large and diverse expatriate population drives interest in foreign-language films, classic cinema, and music formats that are not readily available on mainstream streaming platforms.
Boutique rental services targeting these communities have found modest but commercially viable footing. While the market is not high-volume, operators with a clearly defined niche — such as B2B supply to hotels or curated collector services — can build a sustainable business model around this licence.
Apply for a Renting of Video Tapes Records Cds Dvds Etc License in Dubai
Renting out physical media is still a licensed trade in Dubai, and activity code 7722.01 is the one that covers it. If you plan to charge people to borrow DVDs, CDs, vinyl records or tapes, this is your license. You also need your stock cleared before any of it reaches a customer.
This guide covers what the license allows, who your buyers are, whether to set up on the mainland or in a free zone, the steps to get licensed, and the rules you must keep on top of afterwards. The setup itself is quick. Content approval is the part that catches people out, so start it early.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7722.01 lets you rent out physical media. That means VHS tapes, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and formats like them. If you charge someone to borrow or use any of those for a set time, this is the license you need.
It does not cover digital streaming, making content, or selling media outright. Each of those sits under its own code with its own license. Anything you rent must meet UAE Media Council approval rules before a customer sees it, and the Dubai Film and TV Commission also has a say in how media moves around the emirate.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Your buyers fall into four groups:
- Video rental shops serving walk-in customers
- Media libraries and cultural resource centres
- Entertainment lounges and hotels offering media in rooms or on site
- Collector rental services aimed at specialist audiences
You can also supply media on rental to hotels, corporate lounges and schools. That side of the trade is steadier than walk-in business, because one contract covers a lot of stock and runs for months rather than days.
Mainland or Free Zone
A mainland license from the Department of Economy and Tourism suits you if the business runs on walk-in customers and a shopfront. A Meydan Free Zone license is faster to get, cheaper to start, and gives you full ownership, which fits online rental and supply to hotels and lounges. Free zone companies that want to sell direct to consumers across Dubai may need a dual license, and that adds cost and paperwork.
Worth knowing: 100% foreign ownership is now allowed on the mainland for most commercial activities under changes to the UAE Commercial Companies Law. Ownership on its own no longer decides the question. Let your clients decide it, not the price.
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Step by Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, book your trade name: Use the DET e-Services portal for a mainland company, or the Meydan Free Zone portal for a free zone one. Do not pick a name that points to restricted content.
- Step 2, get initial approval: Submit activity code 7722.01 with a short summary of the business. The authority confirms you can hold the activity before you go any further.
- Step 3, clear your content: Every title you plan to rent needs UAE Media Council approval before you put it out. Do not leave this to the end. It is a hard rule, and it is where most applicants lose time.
- Step 4, sort your premises: Mainland companies need a retail or storage unit with the tenancy registered on Ejari. Free zone companies can use a flexi-desk, or warehouse space if you hold a lot of stock.
- Step 5, collect your license and visa quota: The license is issued once your papers are in and the fees are paid. Your visa quota depends on the size of your office space.
- Step 6, open a bank account: You need one to trade. Most UAE banks want a valid trade license and an Emirates ID before they switch the account on.
Papers to have ready: passport copies for every shareholder and manager, a No Objection Certificate if you already work for someone else in the UAE, your tenancy contract or free zone lease, and a Memorandum of Association if there is more than one shareholder.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
Content approval
Every disc, tape and record on your shelf needs valid UAE Media Council approval. Renting unapproved or banned content brings fines and can get your license suspended. Build the check into your stock intake from day one, so nothing reaches a shelf before it is cleared.
Cultural review
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority may look harder at sensitive material. If your catalogue pulls from a lot of different markets, allow review time for each title before it goes out.
License renewal
Renew every year. Late renewal brings fines and can end with the license cancelled.
VAT and books
VAT runs at 5% on rental income. Register with the Federal Tax Authority once your taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 a year, and keep clean transaction records so an audit is simple.
Staff
If you hire in the UAE, MOHRE rules apply from your first employee. That covers proper contracts, visa registration and payroll.
A useful first stop
The Invest in Dubai portal maps activity codes to license types and approval routes. Check it before you pay an adviser or file anything.
Market Opportunity
Physical media rental is a small but live part of the Dubai market. The demand sits in hospitality, cultural centres and collector circles rather than on the high street, so this is not a volume trade.
Dubai's mixed expat population is what keeps it going. People want foreign-language films, older cinema and music formats that never made it onto the big streaming platforms. Boutique rental services aimed at those communities have built a modest but workable trade. The money is in a clear niche: steady supply to hotels and lounges, or a curated collection that streaming cannot match.
Conclusion
This license is simple to get. Setup runs 5 to 10 working days in a free zone and 10 to 15 working days on the mainland, so the paperwork is not the hard part.
Content approval is. Every title needs UAE Media Council sign-off before it reaches a customer, and that is the step people underestimate. Sort it early and the rest follows in order.
Pick your jurisdiction on who you serve. Walk-in retail points to the mainland. Online rental and supply to hotels and lounges points to Meydan Free Zone, where setup is faster and the company is fully yours.
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