Table of Contents
Topic Summary
Choose Meydan Free Zone for Full Ownership
Setting up through Meydan Free Zone grants 100% foreign ownership with zero corporate tax on qualifying income. You also benefit from full profit repatriation and a fully digital licensing process.
Understand What Activity Code 5920.03 Covers
This code licenses you to operate a music publishing and activities business serving Dubai's creative industries market. Core operations include client onboarding, contracting, and ongoing service delivery to retail, corporate, or institutional clients.
Know the Limits of This Activity Licence
Reproduction from master copies of music or other sound recordings falls under a separate activity code and is not covered here. If your business delivers a related but distinct service, you will need to identify and apply under the correct classification.
Prepare for Mandatory Third-Party Approval
This activity requires third-party regulatory approval before your trade licence can be issued. Your operational model, facility setup, and regulatory documentation must all be reviewed and cleared by the relevant authority first.
Leverage Dubai's Strategic Creative Industry Support
The UAE has designated creative industries as a strategic pillar under both the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and We the UAE 2031. This translates into government investment, regulatory clarity through the UAE Media Council, and strong regional distribution reach.
Identify Whether This Opportunity Fits Your Business
This licence suits production companies, post-production specialists, rights managers, and international studios entering the MENA market. Regional content demand and streaming-led commissioning make Dubai a well-positioned hub for music publishing operations.
Note the AML Exemption for This Activity
Music publishing and activities businesses operating under this code are exempt from Anti-Money Laundering compliance requirements. This simplifies your compliance obligations compared to other licensed activities in the UAE.
How to Start a Music Publishing, Activities Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
A licensed music publishing, i.e. activities of business serves Dubai's film, video, music, and creative-industries market.¹
Regional demand, government investment in the sector, and strong enterprise and consumer need drive sustained demand for licensed music publishing, i.e. activities of businesses.²
For operators, this activity benefits from UAE Media Council and Dubai Film and TV Commission oversight, a clear regulatory framework, and strong regional distribution reach.³
That combination of production infrastructure, regional content demand, and streaming-led commissioning is exactly where the opportunity lies.
The UAE has positioned creative industries as a strategic pillar under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and We the UAE 2031, with explicit support for film, video, and music production.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Production companies and studios | Founders and operators producing films, series, commercials, videos, or music for regional and global clients. |
| Post-production and distribution specialists | Businesses focused on editing, sound, VFX, distribution, or rights management. |
| International production groups | Global studios, networks, and streamers establishing a licensed Dubai entity for MENA operations. |
Setting up through Meydan Free Zone means 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, full profit repatriation, and a fully digital licensing process, giving you a fast and cost-effective route into the Dubai creative-industries market.
5920.03 - Music Publishing, Activities
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed music publishing, i.e. activities of business.
Services are delivered under the relevant regulatory oversight with appropriate facilities, systems, and qualified personnel.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Core Operations | Primary delivery. Music Publishing, I.E. Activities Of core services provided to clients under the activity code. |
| Regulated Delivery | Compliance-led. Services delivered under the relevant regulatory framework, standards, and reporting obligations. |
| Client Engagement | Commercial scope. Onboarding, contracting, and ongoing service delivery to retail, corporate, or institutional clients as applicable. |
| Support and Operations | Operational back-office. Systems, staffing, documentation, and operational support needed to run the licensed activity. |
| Regional Reach | Market coverage. Delivery to clients across Dubai, the wider UAE, and regional markets within the scope of this activity. |
There are some things this activity does not cover. Activities such as reproduction from master copies of music or other sound recordings of recorded audio tapes and disks fall under separate codes.
Other related but distinct services are classified under their own activity codes and not under this one.
In short: if you are operating a licensed music publishing, i.e. activities of business, you are in. If you are delivering a related but distinct service that falls under another activity, you are not.
Third-Party Approval
This business activity requires third-party approval before the trade licence is issued. In practice, your operational model, facility, and regulatory documentation must be reviewed and cleared by the relevant authority before licensing.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
