Dubai CommerCity, Dubai Culture Unite Efforts to Support the Creative Economy

Dubai CommerCity, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create new services to start businesses in selected sectors of the creative economy and support their growth at Dubai CommerCity.

The MoU will enable creative talent to apply for a long-term cultural visa for 10 years. Creative enterprises will also receive special incentives, including creative activities, logistics, consultancy, banking solutions and services, and creative workspaces.

The MoU includes music, visual arts, photography, film and video production and video game development to operate in Dubai CommerCity. It also covers fashion design, graphic design, product design, interior and landscape design, architectural services, advertising services and IT and software services.

Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ, said the agreement reflected the organisation's commitment to supporting all economic sectors in Dubai, including the creative economy:

The cultural and creative sectors play a strategic role in the national economy, empowering businesses based on knowledge, innovation, and creativity.

This partnership is in accordance with Dubai's Creative Economy Strategy, launched in 2021 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It aims to double the creative industries' contribution to Dubai's GDP to five per cent, increase the number of creative businesses in Dubai to 15,000 and provide 140,000 jobs in various sectors of the creative economy by 2026.