twofour54 is Abu Dhabi’s premier media and entertainment free zone, named after the emirate’s geographical coordinates. It is the creative media hub of the UAE capital, hosting 400+ companies across broadcast, film, gaming, publishing, and digital content.
Who Is twofour54 For?
twofour54 is designed for: TV and film production companies, gaming companies and studios, publishing and digital content companies, music production and management, digital media agencies, animation studios, and podcast and audio content producers. The free zone has been built to create a critical mass of Arabic-language content creators — it operates under a mandate to develop Abu Dhabi as a global hub for Arabic media production.
twofour54 Facilities
twofour54 operates purpose-built media infrastructure: Studio City (6 sound stages, post-production suites, and technical facilities), Khalidiyah offices (premium business centre in central Abu Dhabi), and Yas Island facilities (gaming and digital media cluster near Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld). Technical infrastructure includes a full-service broadcast centre, voiceover studios, 3D rendering farm, and DCP (Digital Cinema Package) mastering facilities — available for rent by twofour54 members and external clients.
twofour54 Licence Packages
Business Centre Package (flexi desk, 1 activity, 1 visa): AED 12,000–20,000/year. Studio City Package: prices vary by studio size and lease term. Annual contracts with CAPEX incentives are available for larger productions. Gaming companies may qualify for the twofour54 iN5 gaming incubator (subsidised space + mentorship).
Pricing Evidence & Source Notes
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| twofour54 | CMA business licence for up to 5 activities with a twofour54 workspace | Licence fees currently waived (verified July 2026 via twofour54.ae official pages). Workspace/studio/hot-desk costs and visa fees apply. AED 15,000/yr licence fee once waiver ends. Confidence: Verified official price |
CMA publishes AED 12,500 business-licence renewal for up to 5 activities and states the first renewal is waived; workspace and other charges remain separate Confidence: Verified official price |
Quote-based 3-year total - confirm workspace, visa, waiver eligibility and post-waiver licence charges Confidence: Needs confirmation |
CMA publishes separate residency-visa and Emirates ID components; eligibility depends on the legal form and workspace | An office is required for the CMA business route; twofour54 offers hot desks, coworking and private workspace options | Verified official price | Official Creative Media Authority fee schedule and cost calculator | Current package / renewal confirmation required | July 2026 |
| What is included | The current CMA programme waives the published AED 15,000 new business-licence fee and AED 3,500 FZ-LLC registration fee. The official fee page also publishes the AED 12,500 renewal component and separate visa and Emirates ID charges. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Required twofour54 workspace, visa and Emirates ID processing, insurance, extra activities, urgent processing, production facilities and support services unless the selected package states otherwise. |
| Hidden-cost risk | Do not treat the waived licence and registration components as a zero-cost company setup. Workspace is required and immigration, insurance, extra activities and specialist production requirements can materially change the total. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium |
| Best fit | Media, production, gaming and creative businesses needing an Abu Dhabi industry ecosystem. |
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.