frequently asked questions

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What is twofour54?

• What is twofour54 and what sort of companies can apply to license their business there?

  twofour54 is a free zone committed to establishing Abu Dhabi as a centre of excellence for media content creation where businesses including film, television, broadcasting, music, digital media, events, gaming and publishing, can create world class content in a creative, purpose built environment.

• What makes twofour54 different from other media zones in the region?

  The Abu Dhabi government has a goal to make Abu Dhabi the cultural and media centre of the Middle East, and twofour54 is a part of that vision. As well as providing sophisticated production facilities, purpose built offices, an academy and facilitation services for companies; twofour54 is an incubator and facilitator that supports the region’s own indigenous talent base.

• What other companies have operations within twofour54?

  twofour54 has already partnered with a number of big, small, regional and international media companies including at the time of launch; The Financial Times,  CNN, BBC, Thomson Reuters, Imagenation, Flash, Pyramedia and Abu Dhabi Media Company to name a few. Click here to find out about companies based at twofour54.

• Where is twofour54?

  Abu Dhabi is the Capital City of the UAE, and its geographical co-ordinates are twofour54. 24 degrees Latitude, by 54 degrees Longitude. It is currently located in Khalifa Park. Click here for a map and directions.

• What is tadreeb - the training academy?

  twofour54 tadreeb’s focus is on developing a pool of young talent who can support the media industry and who are equipped to deliver success to their businesses. They have teamed up with world-class expert training institutions including BBC, Thomson Foundation, Thomson Reuters Foundation to deliver courses that target media professionals and graduating students from media disciplines.

• What is ibtikar - innovation and support?

  twofour54 ibtikar  is twofour 54’s ventures, partnerships and creative lab facility that supports the development of compelling media businesses serving the MENA region.

• What does intaj offer?

  twofour54 intaj is twofour54’s state-of-the-art production facilities that provide studios, equipment and experienced technical support for film and TV production and post production.  You can get a quote for your production needs at their website.

• What is tawasol - the one-stop-shop?

  twofour54 tawasol supports all of twofour54’s businesses by providing support, solutions and resources for everything you need to set up your business whether it is accommodation, government services, flights, customs clearance and more.

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Can I base my business at twofour54?

• How can I use twofour54 to help me with networking and expanding my business?

  twofour54 takes an active interest in helping our partners’ businesses grow and explore opportunities within the MENA region.

• Can twofour54 help me with a business plan and setting up my business?

  Contact the Business Development team as they can offer advice in creating your business plans as well as provide the information you need to licence your business.

• Can I get a licence to operate as a freelancer?

  We are building a comprehensive freelance solution that will be operating within twofour54 very soon.

• How quickly will I be able to set up a company within twofour54?

  Depending on your needs and readiness the process can take from a few weeks to a few months. Click here to read our five steps to getting started in twofour54. In terms of opening your office, for Serviced and White Label office options, move in is almost immediate. If you are designing and fitting out your space, the design and approval process can take three to five months.

• Can twofour54 help me with funding for my business?

  There are numerous strands of support we can offer through Business Development and twofour54 ibtikar, through which we can nurture creative ideas and companies here in Abu Dhabi.

• How can I find out about prices for office space and services at twofour54?

  Contact the Business Development Team who can provide the current rate card for office space and services.

• We are ready to open our business in twofour54 and believe we fit the criteria. What is the next step?

  Get in touch with our Business Development Team. Download our ‘Five step guide’ for a complete overview.

• Does twofour54 offer ‘virtual licences’ for businesses without an office?

  No. You need to take office space within the twofour54 to be eligible for a Trade Licence.

• How can I contact twofour54?

  Telephone us on +971 2 401 2454
  Toll free 800 2454 (only within UAE)
  Complete the form at "get in touch"
  Email info@twofour54.com for general enquiries.
  Email jobs@twofour54.com for HR enquiries.
  Email business@twofour54.com for enquiries about setting up in the zone.

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Registering my company at twofour54 and getting a business licence

• What type of company can I set up?

  There are two main corporate vehicles that may be established in twofour54 depending on what best suits your business needs:

  • Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC): This may be with corporate shareholder(s), individual shareholder(s) or a mix of ownership
  • Branch office of a foreign or UAE company: You will be incorporated as either a local branch or a foreign branch depending on whether the parent company is incorporated within or outside of the UAE.

• Who registers Companies or Branch offices and provides Licences?

  The Media Zone Authority is the administrative arm of twofour54 and is responsible under Abu Dhabi Decree No. 12 for creating the Media Zone to run a companies registrar and licencing department.

• How is the Media Zone Authority different from twofour54?

  twofour54 is the Brand of the Media Zone - Abu Dhabi and the commercial business arm.  The Media Zone Authority is the legal entity responsible for registering companies and licensing their business activities and the Media Zone is its formal title.

• How do I get my company registered and obtain a business licence?

  This is a formal process which applicants to twofour54 go through with our Business Development Team, the Companies Registrar and the Regulatory Affairs department of the Media Zone Authority. 
  
  We have made the process as smooth as possible for our partners.  A straightforward application form for company registration and business licence must be completed and a series of documents relating to the formation of the company and the powers of its directors, should be submitted along with the application form.  To speed the process up for you, the application forms and templates for corporate documentation are available from Business Development who will guide you through the process.
  
  You may also find it useful to consult your own legal advisors since twofour54 and the Media Zone Authority cannot provide individual applicants with legal advice.

• What is a Dissemination Licence and when do I need one?

  The Dissemination Licence is needed for all businesses that are broadcasting, printing or distributing any sort of content to the public regardless of the platform. So if you want to run a television channel or radio channel on satellite for instance you will need to apply for a Dissemination Licence.  These are required in addition to the Business Licence that the company will have.  Each dissemination service will require its own licence.
  
  Like Business Licences, Dissemination Licences are annually renewable and subject to the good conduct of the licencee throughout the course of the year.
  
  There is a separate application form for a Dissemination Licence, the Business Development team can provide this.

• If my company falls into several categories of business type, do I need to licence each type of business?

  Your Business Licence depends on the size of your company rather than just the business activities you are undertaking.  Business Development will be able to assist you with this aspect of the application process.

• What fees are payable for registration and licencing?

  There is also a one off Company Registration fee.  Fees for Business and Dissemination Licences depend on the size of the business and the type of Dissemination Activities you are undertaking.

• Are there any criteria for, or restrictions on, my activities within twofour54? What are the licensable activities of companies?

  The activities are articulated within Law 12, although twofour54 sets its own commercial direction, so may not be pursuing all these activities at the same time. Contact the Business Development Team to discuss the criteria.

• What Laws is my business governed by in twofour54?

  The Media Zone Authority sets the regulations and oversees business within twofour54.
  
  Holders of Business Licences are subject to the provisions of the Business Licensing Regulations currently in force. If in addition to a Business Licence, you hold a Dissemination Licence, you are also subject to the provisions of the Dissemination Licencing Regulations currently in force.
  
  Entities that incorporate as a Free Zone Limited Liability Company or are registered as a branch office are also subject to the provisions of the Companies Registration Regulations currently in force.
  
  Please note also that all twofour54 registered and licensed companies are governed by the Federal laws of the UAE. 

• What is the difference between onshore and offshore licencing?

  In the context of registration and licencing within twofour54, “onshore” means the registration and trade licencing of a company within the UAE and specifically excludes companies who are licenced in  twofour54.  
  
  In this context “offshore” means those companies who are licenced by the Media Zone Authority to conduct their businesses within the Media Zone – Abu Dhabi.  For the purposes of company registration, the Federal Commercial Companies Law does not apply to the Media Zone Authority where we have our own Companies Registration Regulations under which companies are able to incorporate and register their company under the Media Zone Authority Companies Registration Regulations and their business activities are licenced by the Media Zone Authority.

• What are the benefits of operating within the free zone, twofour54 in Abu Dhabi?

  The benefits of licencing your business in twofour54 include:

  • Allowing 100% foreign ownership of businesses.
  • No personal or corporation tax within the UAE. However, if you have established a branch of a foreign company that is incorporated in a high tax jurisdiction, you may need to check with your own corporate or personal tax advisors to handle the consolidation of profits or repatriation of profits.
  • Equipment that is coming to twofour54 from customs is exempt from customs duties, although export from the free zone to the Emirate is subject to customs duties according to the applicable tariff.

• Can I automatically transfer my company’s licence to twofour54 from another Free Zone in the UAE?

  No. You need to contact the twofour54 Business Development Team to find out about registering your business in twofour54, but you cannot automatically transfer a licence.

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Employment

• Can people who are registered in a Free Zone in another Emirate transfer the visas of their staff to twofour54? If so how do they do it?

  Resident visas can be transferred, providing the existing sponsor has no objection, and the impacted employees are going to be sponsored by twofour54. Your contact in the Business Development Team will be able to put you in touch with tawasol, our one-stop-shop, for advice on this process.

• Why do I need a letter of No Objection from my Sponsor to start a business in twofour54, and how do I get a letter of No Objection?

  twofour54’s one-stop-shop, tawasol, can provide letters of No Objection to employees and shareholders of companies within the Zone in many instances, but not all. Should you require a letter (e.g. if you are involved in another business in the UAE outside of twofour54), please contact us.