How to Start Other Information Service Activities Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone

A licensed other information service activities business — covering news agencies, press syndicates, media monitoring, content intelligence, and directory enquiry services — serves Dubai's media and information economy.¹

Dubai Media City's concentration of 2,500+media and communications firms, a national press wire (WAM), and the UAE government's ambition to position the country as a global media hub drive sustained demand for licensed information services.²

For operators, this activity benefits from UAE Media Council oversight, a growing digital media market, and strong institutional and corporate demand for content intelligence and information services.³

That combination of media-hub status, digital-media growth, and strong institutional demand for content intelligence is exactly where the opportunity lies.

The UAE has positioned media and information services as strategic pillars under We the UAE 2031 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, with explicit regulatory support from the UAE Media Council.

Who is this for?

Setting up through Meydan Free Zone means100% 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.

6390.00 - Other Information Service Activities

Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed other information service activities business, covering news agencies, press syndicates, press clipping and media monitoring, content intelligence, telephone directory enquiries, and other information services not classified under earlier codes.

Services are delivered under UAE MediaCouncil oversight and the applicable federal media regulations, with appropriate systems, staffing, and compliance in place.²

There are some things this activity does not cover. Broadcasting and programme production, motion picture and sound recording, publishing of newspapers and periodicals, internet portal and web search, IT services, and data processing and hosting fall under separate codes.

Activities of libraries and archives are classified separately and are not covered under this activity.

In short: if you are operating a news agency, press syndication service, media monitoring platform, content intelligence service, or other information service not covered by an earlier classification, you are in. If you are broadcasting, publishing, processing data at a technical level, or operating a library or archive, you are not.

Third-Party Approval

No third-party approval is required for this business activity. Your Meydan Free Zone trade licence is sufficient to begin operations under this activity code.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.

References

¹ The Business Research Company - Information Services Global Market Report - https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/information-services-global-market-report

² UAE Media Council - Sector Performance 2024 - https://uaemc.gov.ae/en/news/uae-media-council-reviews-media-sector-performance-in-2024/

³ Grand View Research - UAE Digital Media Market - https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/digital-media-market/uae