The Media Freelancer License setup package is designed specifically for individuals with expertise in media, print and production consultancy who wish to transition from the corporate 9-to-5 life to pursue freelancing, or want to setup a side hustle whilst remaining in employment.

This freelancer package is an easy way to start running your own media consultancy company and it provides the assurance you are legally licensed to engage in freelance work in Abu Dhabi with your own DED economic license.

With Gateway Group's exclusive Freelance License Abu Dhabi setup package, you can become your own boss without the hassle of dealing with company formation processes or procedures.

Enjoy the freedom of flexible working hours and the option to work remotely. There is no capital investment or office space requirements, and you'll have 100% foreign ownership.

Additionally, the freelancer license grants you the opportunity to apply for a residence visa, if required. (If you want a visa too, we provide a separate package for a freelancer license and a visa, or, you can apply for it separately at a later date.)

What's included in the Freelance License Abu Dhabi package

✔️ Complete license registration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED).

✔️ ALL government incorporation fees

✔️ ALL special approval fees

✔️ Company name check

✔️ Economic license (trade license) valid for 12 months

✔️ Commercial registration certificate valid for 12 months

✔️ Special approval from the Media Regulation Office valid for 12 months

✔️ Email reminder prior to license expiry

Fast and Easy Trade License Online - Start Now

We provide easy-to-understand information for your decision making, alongside handy company formation packages by business activity, which you can simply buy online - no need for appointments or delays waiting for quotations.

Special Approvals

This business activity requires special approval from the Media Regulation Office.

You need a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID (if you don't have these, do not purchase this package, instead you can opt for our freelancer license and visa package)
This special approval will take approximately 2-3 working days, in addition to the standard time for setting up a freelancer license.
Special approval fees makes this particular package more expensive than our standard freelancer packages.

Timescales

From receipt of all required documents and information, the company registration and special approval application process is usually completed within five to eight working days, often sooner.

Essential Information

Before you buy this service, please ensure you have read and understood and agree the following:

Abu Dhabi Freelancer License Details
Trade License Activity
Requirements
Terms & Conditions
Annual Fee

These five sections can be accessed in the right hand column under the 'Buy Now' button if you are viewing this on a desktop; or below, if you are viewing this on a mobile.

If there is anything you don't understand, please contact us for clarification. By purchasing this service, you confirm to have read, understood and agree to all of these informations; and, confirm you meet the requirements to apply for your Abu Dhabi Freelancer License.

Ready to start freelancing in Abu Dhabi?

Click the 'Buy Now' button and complete the payment formalities to purchase this service.
Upon successful completion of your purchase, you'll receive an email inviting you to upload the requirements to the online platform we use. If you purchase outside of our office hours, please allow up to 12 hours for receiving this email.
The online platform is user-friendly and very easy to use, we promise. You'll be guided, step-by-step, to supply and upload everything required for us to apply for your license.
When everything is successfully uploaded, our Abu Dhabi business setup team will start the process of applying for your new license. We will need to contact you at this point to request you to access the UAE Pass app on your phone to give us the confirmation to setup and submit the application (this will be during our standard office hours in the UAE). We will need to do this a couple of times during the process.
Before you know it, we'll be congratulating you on the issuance of your trade license. You'll be a business owner and starting your freelance journey!

Freelancer License Setup Abu Dhabi (Media)

$3,599.00

VAT Included

For comprehensive details about the Abu Dhabi Freelancer License, visit the information page.
For this trade license, you can choose any of the following activities which are relevant to the business you intend to carry out:

Media Consultancy And Studies. DED Description: This includes the provision of consultancy services in the areas of printing and publishing, the issuance of newspapers and magazines, television, film and radio production, as well as in the organization of conferences, seminars and celebrations. It also includes the preparation of studies and information for institutions and agencies that practice information services, whether productive, educational, planning or organizational.

Special approvals required: Media Regulation Office.

If you are intending to sell your services via social media or a website, then you will also need to add these activities to your license:

E-Commerce Through Social Media. DED description: Includes businesses that wish to have an e-commerce social media account for their existing commercial license.

E-Commerce Through Websites DED description: Includes businesses that wish to have an e-commerce website for their existing commercial license.

If the above activities don't describe what you want to do, do not purchase this package. Instead, contact the Gateway Group team and we'll be happy to discuss alternatives which might be a better fit.
Applicants will need to be able to supply the following:

✔️ Full name

✔️ Date of birth

✔️ Nationality

✔️ Residential address (inc. verification, e.g. utility bill)

✔️ Mobile number

✔️ Email address

✔️ Source of funds

✔️ Occupation, employer & tax number

✔️ UAE Pass App (download to your mobile phone and register)

✔️ Passport copy (minimum 6 months validity)

✔️ Visa copy

✔️ Emirates ID copy

✔️ Proof of expertise in the activity being applied for:

University degree* (Attested) or

Certificate of experience or accredited accomplishments** (Attested)

✔️ Applicants currently working for the UAE government or in the private sector will also need to supply a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in Arabic addressed to the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)

✔️ Purpose of transaction.

* The UID Number (Unified Identification Number) is a six digit number given to all UAE visitors upon arrival. It may be in the form of a small white sticker attached to a page in your passport by the immigration officer; alternatively, if you used the e-gates, rather than passing through the traditional immigration counter, you can search for your number here: https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/unified-number-inquiry-service

** The document needs to be attested in the country of issuance and the UAE. If you require assistance to get your document attested, please less us know and our team will be happy to assist you.

If the document needs attesting in the country of issuance, please advise which country it was issued in, so that we can arrange a quotation for you. If the document has already been attested in the country of issuance and just needs attesting in the UAE, we can arrange this for you and send you a payment link. Once payment has been arranged, we will need you to courier the original document to us to be able to carry out this service on your behalf.
The Annual Renewal Fee is currently $2,599. This is based upon current rates, which include third party fees outside of our control, and are therefore subject to change. This fee is provided for information purposes only. When we are made aware of third party fee changes we will update the relevant fees on our website, accordingly. Please check our website closer to the time of your renewal for the current fees at that time. We will send a renewal notification to our clients, prior to your license renewal date, confirming the exact fees at that time. You are welcome to contact our team to check the renewal fees at any time: Contact Us.

Freelancer License Setup Abu Dhabi (Media)

Abu Dhabi Freelancer License Details

Trade License Activities

Requirements

Terms & Conditions

Annual Renewal Fee