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• One destination that allows talents to establish their business within minutes.
• In line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy and to provide an investment environment that supports growth.
• Creative activities include a wide range of fields divided into six main sectors.
• Hala Badri: supports Al Quoz Creative Zone by attracting talents who will find an innovative incubator for their businesses.
• Helal Almarri: It is in line with 'The Principles of the 50' by focusing on building the best and most active economy in the world.

Dubai, UAE, 06 December 2021:

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), in partnership with Department of Economy and Tourism, launched the ‘Creatives’ Journey’ as part of the ‘Invest in Dubai’ platform, the unified digital platform for establishing businesses in Dubai. The project comes as a vital step towards facilitating doing business for creative talents and provides an innovative and flexible environment that would support them in establishing their projects in Dubai within minutes on one platform.

This step is in line with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy launched in April by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to ensure the development and prosperity of the creative sector in the emirate by providing the legislative, investment and technical environment necessary for the growth of this sector as well as by increasing the emirate’s attractiveness to talents, investors and entrepreneurs in the creative field, thus contributing to transforming Dubai into a global capital of the creative economy. It is also in line with Dubai Culture's vision of strengthening Dubai's position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent, in addition to the Authority's adoption of advanced and innovative solutions in the arts and culture fields.

These updates on the Creatives' Journey allow for the possibility of establishing projects through simple, flexible and fast steps on one uniform platform and within seven minutes, including entering the Invest in Dubai platform, heading to the page regarding the creative sector, choosing the creative activity, and defining the legal form. Creative entrepreneurs can then obtain the establishment certificate issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, followed by a payment portal to receive the licence. They can also obtain competitive services and benefits that will support them in launching and developing their business through offers that include immediate application for a cultural visa as a competitive advantage provided by Dubai Culture as well as support services, the provision of flexible creative workspaces, and banking and educational services, which will be announced soon.

Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, commented: “We always look forward to supporting the vision of the wise leadership to develop a knowledge-based society, in line with the preparations for the next 50 years. Hence, we seek to enhance the cultural and creative business environment in Dubai as well as to support talents, whether citizens or residents, and continuously work to attract more creatives in various fields of arts and culture from around the world. This step will provide talents with a unified electronic platform that will facilitate the steps to establish and launch their projects from Dubai. It will also contribute to supporting the Al Quoz Creative Zone project by attracting many talents to establish their businesses in the innovative incubator due to its distinctive environment and the many services it provides project owners.”

Badri added: “We have worked continuously, and in partnership with the Department of Economy and Tourism, which has spared no effort in providing the required support, to launch the first phase of this ambitious project as a step that will contribute to facilitating and simplifying the procedures for talents to establish their businesses. We will continue to work in tandem with our various partners in the public and private sectors to develop a perpetually creative business environment by facilitating procedures for new and existing creative entrepreneurs. We are aware of the positive impact of cooperation in promoting knowledge progress and in providing valuable opportunities that would support the creative industry and creative talents, consolidating Dubai's position on the global cultural scene and enhancing its position as a preferred destination for doing business. Dubai is a city of excellence and creativity, and its art and culture are inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was able to place Dubai in the forefront when it comes to excellence, creativity, culture and art.”

His Excellency Helal Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Continuing to promote sustainable economic development in Dubai, and the UAE in general, is the basis of our journey towards the next 50 years. Therefore, the second principle of 'The Principles of the 50' announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was to focus entirely on building the best and most active economy in the world, with interest in the creative economy being at the heart of this principle and this ambitious trend. This step will certainly contribute to providing an attractive and flexible environment for creative talents from around the world, reflecting positively on Dubai and the UAE’s futures.

Almarri added: “Today, we are pleased to be cooperating with Dubai Culture in promoting and supporting this innovative project. We will strive to direct our work teams to facilitate everything that would contribute to the optimal achievement of the project's objectives, especially the promotion of creative and innovative economic excellence in Dubai, and strengthen the emirate’s position as the capital of creativity, talent and investments and, thus, the future capital of the new economy, and the best place in the world to live, work and visit.”

The creative activities within the project include a wide range of fields across six main sectors: cultural and natural heritage, books and press, performing arts and celebration, audio-visual and interactive media, visual arts and crafts, and design and creative services, in addition to other fields that branch out from it, such as the publishing industry and books, cinema, film and video, music, various art domains, cultural heritage museums, historical sites, archives, major cultural events, libraries, and other related sub-sectors.

Creative licences also vary and include four types:
Trader licence, which is available to different nationalities and allows freelancers to work from home.
Intelaq licence, which is available to independent UAE and GCC citizens.
The instant licence, which is available to owners of start-up companies of all nationalities. It enables investors and entrepreneurs to issue their commercial licences.
SME Startup License, which is available to Emirati start-up owners and GCC citizens, who will be exempt from fees for 5 years.

Dubai, represented by Dubai Culture, and in cooperation with various public and private sector partners, continues to provide an integrated system that will help talents establish their creative work and take advantage of a wide range of services to enhance the prosperity of their businesses and develop their skills across all levels, allowing them to become creative and successful entrepreneurs. These services include banking services, creative spaces for flexible work, technical services, a digital platform for displaying and selling their creative products, educational services in various fields, and consulting services, among others.

Creative talents, investors, entrepreneurs, and all those working in the creative sector can apply to set up their business through the Invest in Dubai platform via invest.dubai.ae