Table of Contents
Topic Summary
Choose the Right Free Zone for Publishing
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 for atlas, map, and chart publishers entering the Dubai market.
Understand What Activity Code 5811.02 Covers
This code specifically licenses the publishing of atlases, maps, and charts as a core commercial operation. It includes client onboarding, regulated delivery, and regional distribution across Dubai, the UAE, and wider MENA markets.
Know the Boundaries of Your Licence
Activity code 5811.02 does not cover production of globes, publishing of advertising material, or music and sheet books by independent authors. Those activities fall under separate codes, so confirm your exact scope before applying.
Prepare for Mandatory Third-Party Approval
Before your trade licence is issued, your operational model, facilities, and regulatory documentation must be reviewed and cleared by the relevant authority. Building this step into your timeline will prevent costly delays.
Leverage UAE Media Policy as a Tailwind
The UAE has designated media and knowledge as strategic pillars under We the UAE 2031 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. This government backing creates a supportive regulatory environment and sustained demand for licensed publishing businesses.
Identify Which Publisher Profile Fits You
The opportunity suits trade and academic imprints, digital-first periodical operators, and international publishing groups seeking a MENA hub for rights management and localisation. Clarifying your profile early shapes your licence structure and go-to-market approach.
Note the AML Exemption for This Activity
Publishing of atlases, maps, and charts is exempt from Anti-Money Laundering compliance requirements under current UAE regulation. This reduces administrative burden compared to other licensed business activities in the media sector.
How to Start a Publishing of Atlases, Maps and Charts Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
A licensed publishing of atlases, maps and charts business serves Dubai's media, publishing, and knowledge economy.¹
Regional demand, government investment in the sector, and strong enterprise and consumer need drive sustained demand for licensed publishing of atlases, maps and charts businesses.²
For operators, this activity benefits from UAE Media Council oversight, a clear regulatory framework, and strong regional distribution reach.³
That combination of media-hub status, regional distribution reach, and rising digital readership is exactly where the opportunity lies.
The UAE has positioned media and knowledge as strategic pillars under We the UAE 2031 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, with explicit support for publishing and content.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Publishers and imprints | Founders launching trade, academic, children's, or specialist imprints acquiring rights and producing titles in print and digital. |
| Periodical and digital-first operators | Teams publishing consumer, B2B, specialist, or online-first periodicals, newsletters, and digital titles. |
| International publishers entering MENA | Global publishing groups setting up a Dubai entity to manage regional rights, localisation, and distribution. |
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 publishing market.
5811.02 - Publishing of Atlases, Maps and Charts
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed publishing of atlases, maps and charts business.
Services are delivered under the relevant regulatory oversight with appropriate facilities, systems, and qualified personnel.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Core Operations | Primary delivery. Publishing Of Atlases, Maps And Charts 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 production of globes; publishing of advertising material of music and sheet books of independent authors 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 publishing of atlases, maps and charts 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.
