Dubai Media City By Dubai Free Zones: Dubai media city Sep 12, 2004, 23:10

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Dubai Media City

Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone

The Dubai Government took the initiative to strengthen its industrial base and diversify its income by establishing free zones. By providing an advanced infrastructure, freedom of capital movement and tax-free income, private sector investment has flooded into the region from around the world. Following this success, the Government launched the first technology and media free zone in the world - Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone comprising of: Dubai Internet City, which has become a world base for E-business and ICT industry, Dubai Media City, which has blossomed into an inspired media community and Knowledge Village, which is a vibrant learning centre, housing a diverse community of knowledge-focused organisations.

Free Zone value propositions:

• A comprehensive framework of media laws and regulations.
• Freedom of Expression for Media companies.
• No corporate and personal taxation.
• No customs duty and comparatively lower operating costs.
• 100 % Foreign Ownership.
• Single window for applying for trade licenses, visas and work permits.
• Business-enabling real estate infrastructure.
• High performing and adaptable technology infrastructure.
• A community of like-minded individuals and companies.
• An environment rich with networking opportunities.

About Dubai Media City:

Strategically located in Dubai at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai Media City is rapidly emerging as a global media hub.

Launched in January 2001, Dubai Media City is a creative community for the media industry, designed to give media businesses the ‘Freedom to Create’. This City within the city aims to provide a free and flexible environment where ideas flow transparently and without barriers. Dubai Media City is a global launch pad for media business, creative talent and international corporations.
Companies within Dubai Media City enjoy the commercial benefits of a free zone status, including 100% business ownership requiring no sponsorship and a guaranteed 50-year exemption from personal income and corporate taxes. Comparatively lower operating costs prevalent in the region also contribute to a significant competitive advantage.

Today, with over 850 companies and 5000 knowledege workers, Dubai Media City’s ever increasing number of companies reads like a ‘Who's Who' of the media business community. Leading global players such as Associated Press, Bertelsmann, CNN, CNBC, International Advertising Association (IAA), McGrawhill Platts, Sony and Reuters rub shoulders with regionally reputed companies like Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Saudi Research and Publishing (SRPC) and Taj TV.

Commercial & Retail Space at Dubai Media City

Dubai Media City offers a diverse range of real estate options to select from. Dubai Media City buildings are set amid exquisitely designed landscape with lush grounds, lakes and fountains.

Lease of land for office facility is also available on certain specific criteria.

Commercial Office Space: Three distinct phases comprising 10 buildings. The rent covers the basic shell of the office. Companies can add to or modify these standard provisions. Offices ranging in size from 600 sq. ft. to 22,000 sq. ft.

Loft Offices: A first in Dubai! Loft offices are fully fitted to enable partners to commence operations immediately. Finishing includes parquet floors, unique light fixtures and interesting wall finishes. Each unit has a private pantry, restroom and one underground car parking space. Offices range in size between 800 sq. ft and 2500 sq. ft

Boutique Offices: Exclusive offices in spacious private villas. This one-of-a-kind facility, offers highly flexible office space that can be modified to reflect a company’s corporate character and project its distinctive culture and style. The buildings enable companies to prominently display their media signage. Space is leased in three ways :
- Entire Villa : 5772 sq. ft.
- Ground Floor : 2533 sq. ft.
- First Floor plus Roof top terrace : 3238 sq.ft.

Retail Space: The Dubai Media City community offers a large captive retail market making it an ideal location for retail outlets. Approximately 25,000 people work in or visit the Free Zone every day giving retailers the perfect opportunity to pitch their products and services. Space - Between 100 and 2000 sq. ft

Dubai Media City Licensed Activities

The following is a list of core business activities that the Dubai Media City Authority can license:

• Publishing: News Papers, Magazines, Educational & Professional Books, Consumer Books & Magazines, Promotional Content, Online & Electronic Content, e-Books, Directories & Guides

• Broadcasting: TV & Radio

• Film: Film Production & Distribution, Media Content Management & Provider, Film Content Rights Management, Production, Post Production and Animation.

• Media & Marketing Services: Direct Marketing, Promotional Services, Advertising / Communication & Public Relations Agency, Intellectual Property Rights Management, Media Placement, Buying & Selling, Media Representation, Corporate Identity & Branding

• Information Agencies: News Agencies, Media Research and Information Services

• Music & Entertainment: Music Production & Recordings, Music Distribution, Music Publishing, Music Label & Rights Management, Music Promotion & Management, Event Management, Theme Parks Management, Live Entertainment & Promotion, Sports Management & Promotion, Conference Organisers & Management, Performing Arts, Choreography, Hospitality Management Consultancy

• New Media & Media Support Service: Web Designing & Management, Interactive Services (Web casting / Streaming), Media Software Development & Integration, Access Spending, Multimedia Software Development , Video Games, Internet GamingBroadcasting Hardware & Equipment, Satellite Services & Equipment Provider, GSM & Electronic Media Provider, Media Equipment Rentals, Digital Media Management, Media Archiving & Distribution and Systems Integration Services

• Service Provider: Restaurant, Stationery, Medical Clinic, Beauty Salon, Book Store, Kiosk, Banking Services, Music & Video, Travel Agency, Laundry, Insurance Service Provider.

• Consultancy: Legal Consultancy, Accounting/Auditing Consultancy, Human Resources Consultancy, Marketing, Management, Project Management, Marketing Research
  

Media Business Centre

The Media Business Centres are unique facilities for freelancers and independent media professionals. Assured sponsorship, simplified visa procedures, flexible leasing and business assistance in a modern, unconstrained environment promotes creative inspiration rather than time-consuming administration.

Business Centre services offered:

• Guest reception service
• Office management and maintenance
• Air-conditioning, lighting and power
• 24 hours security
• Daily housekeeping service
• Daily collection and distribution of mail and faxes
• Access to local daily Arabic & English newspapers
• Use of the Business Centre Library
• Use of meeting rooms - first come, first served (phase II centre only)
• Use of lounge area (phase II centre only)

Open Offices

They are open workspaces for media freelancers wishing to establish permanent services in Dubai. They offer the latest in fully-integrated hi-tech office solutions, equipped with seamless internet connectivity and telephony, to support modern business needs.

Executive Offices

They are spacious, private business units for project teams, innovative entrepreneurs and regional representatives of international media companies looking to operate in Dubai.

HotDesk

The HotDesk area offers freelancers the perfect entry-level environment. 10 fully-equipped workstations can be shared amongst members for 3 hours a day per person and workstation. Access includes residence visa, shared P O Box and fax, as well as additional support facilities within the Business Centre such as meeting rooms.

IT Services at Dubai Media City

Cutting edge technology, and the wealth of services provided at Dubai Media City are key factors influencing businesses to migrate or establish their presence in the e-hub of the region. Whatever the requirement, Dubai Media City offers the flexibility, scalability, and the technology needed to deliver solutions of tomorrow today.

The platforms and infrastructure supporting Dubai Media City’s services have been carefully engineered and implemented to provide the best quality of service at the highest levels of availability, performance, and in harmony with customer expectations and global standards.
Dubai Media City aims to be the technology One Stop Shop for its business partners.

Solutions include

• Telephony
• Local Area Networking
• Wide Area Networking
• Internet Services
• Hosting Services

Telephoney

Due to the exponential growth of the Internet, data traffic is growing much faster than telephone traffic. This trend spurred considerable interest in transporting voice over data networks, using the primary Internet Protocol (IP), as opposed to the more traditional approach of data over voice networks.

Voice over IP (VoIP) can be defined as the ability to make telephone calls and to send facsimiles over IP-based data networks with a suitable quality of service (QoS) and a much superior cost/benefit.

Dubai Media City's voice infrastructure has been built on IP Telephony. This technology allows for data, voice, and video to be transmitted over a single, IP based network infrastructure. Combining multiple types of traffic on a single network connection reduces cost of investment in separate networks and the complexity in managing and maintaining both networks.

VoIP applications include:
• PSTN Gateway: Allows IP based telephones to gain access from the Internet to Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN).
• Internet Aware Phone: Telephone becomes an Internet access device enabling web services such as directories, stock info, news, etc..
• Remote Access: Remote dialers can use the company Intranet to make voice, data and facsimile calls.
• Internet Call Center Access: customer who has questions about a product being offered over the Internet can access customer service agents online.
Dubai Media City’s telephony solution provides business partners with an option to make use of its Virtual PABX eliminating the need to invest in their own PABX platform.

Benefits of using Dubai Media City’s telephony solutions include:

• Latest technology in telephony
• Feature rich user phones with continuous upgrades in features
• Flexibility in reconfigurations (adding lines, moving extensions)
• Reducing cost of investment and maintenance
• Scalable solution with company growth

Apart from providing IP telephony solutions, Dubai Media City can tailor to other telephony needs including:

• Analog lines
• ISDN PRI
• ISDN BRI
• Trunks

Dubai Media City's network setup and bouquet of telephony services guarantees the latest technology in the telephony industry with the utmost flexibility to leverage existing investments.LOCAL AREA NETWORKING

Dubai Media City LAN solutions have been developed to offer business partners a high performance communication platform for data networking. Local Area Networks are implemented using VLAN technology.

A virtual or logical LAN is a local area network with a definition that maps workstations on some other basis than geographic location (by department, type of user, or primary application).
This provides maximum flexibility in LAN configuration. VLANs can have almost any size to accommodate the needs of both small and large networks.

By utilizing VLAN technology, business partners will realize the following benefits:

• No investment required for infrastructure
• Reducing overall running costs by outsourcing network components
• Rapid deployment of network “Plug and Play”
• Flexibility in physical and user reconfigurations
• Maintaining the highest standards of networking
• Outsourcing IT functions and focusing on core business

Dubai Media City has implemented Avaya Communications industry leading Systimax structured connectivity solution, for its cabling infrastructure. Designed for modern era Gigabit applications, Avaya labs have provided the most extensive and comprehensive portfolio of structured connectivity solutions available on the market today. The Systimax is an ideal single cabling solution for Dubai Media City’s network that integrates video, voice, and data on a single platform. This infrastructure comfortably handles future Gigabit applications such as 1000Base-T while ensuring users get the best from their 100BaseT applications.

For its active network components such as routers, multiplexers, and switches; Dubai Media City has partnered with the leading networking manufacturers including Cisco, Lucent, and Alcatel to build its network. Critical network components are redundant with load balancing and fail over systems in place to ensure the highest levels of quality and availability.WIDE AREA NETWORKING
Whatever technology you have implemented for your Corporate Wide Area Network, Dubai Media City has the infrastructure needed to deliver any connectivity solution. Our reach extends beyond the UAE to almost every major city in the world. WAN services provided include:

Leased Circuits: Leased circuits provide protocol independent connectivity to business partners requiring dedicated channels. Speeds range from 64Kbps up to 2Mbps with service coverage for the UAE and cross border connectivity to major cities around the globe.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): There are two levels of service: the Basic Rate Interface (BRI), intended for the small enterprise, and the Primary Rate Interface (PRI), for larger enterprises. The Basic Rate Interface consists of two 64 Kbps channels thus, a Basic Rate user can have up to 128 Kbps service. The Primary Rate consists of thirty 64 kbps channels.

MPLS VPN: The industry's leading MPLS-based VPN (Multi-protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network) solution ideal for any enterprise. It covers your entire e-business communications needs intranet, extranet, and Internet services with combined IP, data, and voice support. The solution is highly scalable, extremely flexible, and adaptable with all the security of a private network.

ATM: The broad bandwidth, fully managed solution for all your communications. ATM enables data, voice, video, and Internet/Intranet services to all ride the same powerful backbone intended for high-end applications.

Frame Relay: Designed for bursty applications, Frame Relay is a cost-effective alternative to private lines. With a Committed Information Rate (CIR) bandwidth is guaranteed even at peak network conditions. Frame Relay is available in more cities worldwide than any other similar service today.

X.25: Legacy networking protocols such as X.25 are also provided at Dubai Media City to protect existing customer investments. Dial up and dedicated service can be provisioned at different speeds based on customer demand.

With the wealth of data communication services available, Dubai Media City is a true One Stop Shop for all enterprise Wide Area Networking requirements.INTERNET SERVICES
The Internet plays a strategic role in any company's ability to survive and compete, and gaining a competitive advantage means staying on top of Internet advances and trends. Hence Dubai Internet City Internet services have been designed to enable companies to compete in the Internet Economy.

Services provided include:

• Burstable 2Mbps Internet Access for every business partner
• Direct connectivity via a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connection
• Virtual email addresses
• Virtual Mail Server
• Web hosting
• Domain name services
• FTP services
• Static IP addresses

The Internet backbone of Dubai Internet City is redundantly connected to EMIX, the Emirates Internet Exchange. EMIX is the first Network Access Point (NAP), private or public, established in the Middle East & Near East region built on one of the longest STM-1 circuits worldwide in terrestrial and submarine communication.

This Network Access Point features:

• Diverse and redundant routing options
• Direct connection to NAP's in USA
• Quicker response times
• High speed 155 Mbps link over terrestrial cable routes

Internet bandwidth provided by DIC is available at different qualities of service with committed bandwidth rates that guarantee speed and performance based on business partner needs.
Various billing solutions are available to provide business partners with the flexibility required in the e-economy. Volume based billing ensures they still have access to the full capacity of the line, but pay only for the amount of capacity actually utilized. This is particularly cost effective for sudden 'spikes' of very high traffic, and lengthy periods with little Internet traffic.

E-business applications are crucial and require a mission critical environment that guarantees the highest levels of availability, network performance, and security.
Dubai Internet City’s hosting facility provides the environment needed to keep business partner servers and applications available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information visit: Dubai Media City

Jobs & Careers at Dubai Media City: http://www.careercentre.ae/website/default.aspx

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