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UAE Free Zone (Dubai Media City) · via Dubai Media City·🇻🇳Founder profile

Incorporating a Dubai Media City Free Zone LLC for Vietnamese Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityConditional
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$25,000

Dubai Media City offers a specialized licensing framework for developers and media professionals operating within the UAE. This structure provides a Free Zone LLC entity with specific tax treatment under UAE Federal Decree-Law 47/2022.

Vietnamese tax residents must evaluate the impact of Circular 111/2013 on foreign-sourced income when establishing this entity. Compliance requires adherence to both UAE substance regulations and Vietnamese tax reporting standards.

§ 01Cost of ownership

Model the full outlay, not just the setup fee

Renewal costs sneak up on non-resident founders. Compare year-1 filing against a 3-year total to see the real bill.
Currency · USD (live FX)
2-year cost of ownership
$50,000
≈ $2,083/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupDubai Media City setup
    $25,000
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $25,000
Total$50,000
§ 02Tax residency · Vietnamese Freelance Developers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

UAE Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 Article 3 imposes a 9% Corporate Tax on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000 for Free Zone entities.

Home-country rule

Circular 111/2013 on foreign-source income; USD conversion rules

Editorial verdict

Leverage the Dubai Media City ecosystem for media-tech licensing, but ensure your Vietnamese tax residency status is managed under Circular 111/2013 to avoid double taxation.

Key compliance risks
  • 01UAE economic substance requirements for media entities
  • 02Vietnamese foreign-source income reporting obligations
  • 03Potential permanent establishment risk in Vietnam
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
21–45days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d11
d23
d34
d45
01FilingDubai Media City submits formation docs
d0–d16
02Tax ID / EINLocal tax authority registration
d14–d34
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d27–d45
§ 04Head-to-head

UAE Free Zone (Dubai Media City) vs US LLC (Wyoming)

Full comparison →
UAE Free Zone (Dubai Media City)
Free Zone LLC
US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Entity
Free Zone LLC
LLC
Setup cost
$1,686
$102.00
Annual
$1,686
$60.00
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
9% CT above AED 375k; media/broadcast/publishing focused
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

Yes, Dubai Media City requires a physical presence or a flexi-desk arrangement to maintain the Free Zone LLC license. You must ensure your business model aligns with the permitted media and technology activities.
More profiles for UAE Free Zone (Dubai Media City)
Vietnamese Freelance Developers — other jurisdictions
Next step

Start filing with Dubai Media City

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Claim on Dubai Media City