Table of Contents
Topic Summary
Choose the Right Free Zone for Licensing
Meydan Free Zone offers 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, and a fully digital licensing process. This makes it a fast and cost-effective entry point into Dubai's information-services market.
Understand What Activity Code 6391 Covers
This code licenses you to operate a news agency business delivering core services under regulatory oversight with qualified personnel and appropriate systems. It does not cover related but distinct services, which fall under separate activity codes.
Secure Third-Party Approval Before Trading
News agency activities require third-party regulatory approval before a trade licence is issued. Your operational model, facility setup, and regulatory documentation must all be reviewed and cleared first.
Know Your AML Obligations Up Front
This business activity is exempt from Anti-Money Laundering compliance requirements, simplifying your regulatory burden. However, other compliance obligations under TDRA and the UAE Data Office still apply.
Target a Market Backed by National Strategy
The UAE has designated the data and information economy as a strategic pillar under We the UAE 2031 and the UAE Digital Economy Strategy. This provides strong policy support and sustained demand for licensed news and information-service operators.
Identify Whether This Licence Fits Your Business
The activity suits hosting operators, content and news service providers, and international information-services groups entering the region. If your service is related but distinct, a different activity code may be required.
How to Start a News Agency Activities Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
A licensed news agency business serves Dubai's information services and data-economy market.¹
Regional demand, government investment in the sector, and strong enterprise and consumer need drive sustained demand for licensed news agency businesses.²
For operators, this activity benefits from TDRA and UAE Data Office oversight, a clear regulatory framework, and strong regional distribution reach.³
That combination of data-centre capacity, enterprise cloud demand, and digital-economy targets is exactly where the opportunity lies.
The UAE has positioned the data economy as a strategic pillar under We the UAE 2031 and the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, with explicit support for hosting and information services.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Hosting and data-service operators | Businesses providing hosting, data processing, streaming, and application infrastructure to enterprise and consumer clients. |
| Information and content-service providers | Teams running news, search, portal, directory, or aggregated information services for regional audiences. |
| International information-services groups | Global firms establishing a Dubai entity for regional hosting, data, and information services. |
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 information-services market.
6391.00 - News Agency
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed news agency business.
Services are delivered under the relevant regulatory oversight with appropriate facilities, systems, and qualified personnel.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Core Operations | Primary delivery. News Agency 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. Related but distinct services fall under separate activity codes.
Activities that are separately regulated or that belong to a different industry class are classified under their own codes.
In short: if you are operating a licensed news agency business, you are in. If you are delivering a related but distinct service that falls under another activity, you are not.
Compliance
THIRD-PARTY APPROVAL
This activity requires pre-approval from the National Media Authority before a business license can be issued by Meydan Free Zone.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
References
- UAE Digital Economy Strategy, AI Office
- ² TDRA
- ³ Dubai Internet City
