Law No. (8) of 2022 Concerning Media Zone Authority-Abu Dhabi

Article 1 — In the implementation of the provisions of this Law, the following words and ¶

phrases shall have the meanings corresponding thereto unless the context
requires otherwise:
State : The United Arab Emirates.
Emirate : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Government : The Government of Abu Dhabi.
Executive Council : The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Authority : The Creative Media Authority.
Company : Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company or its
subsidiaries.
Free Zone : the geographical scope of the real estate properties
over which the Authority exercises its competencies,
as specified by a Chairman of the Executive Council
Resolution, and it shall be called the “Creative Zone”.
Free Zone
Establishments
: The corporate persons licensed to operate in the Free
Zone in accordance with the provisions of this Law
and the regulations, bylaws and resolutions issued
for its implementation. They shall include commercial
companies that are established in the Free Zone or
that establish branches for them in the Free Zone,
Sole proprietorships, and holders of licences of sole
proprietors (independent persons).
Media : All applications, processes, materials, programmes,
products, processing methods, and experiences that
are used in the field of production, transmission,
distribution, broadcasting and diffusion of print,
digital, audio and visual information, including without
limitation: terrestrial and satellite radio and television
broadcasting; television, audio or text production; and
any new technology in this field.

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Article 2 — • The Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi shall be dissolved pursuant to ¶

the provisions of this Law, and the Authority shall be considered its legal
successor, and all assets, obligations, rights, competencies and contracts
shall be transferred to it.
• Employees of Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi shall be transferred to the
Authority, without prejudice to their financial and pension allocations and
in accordance with the legislations in force.

Article 3 — The following powers and competences shall be added to the Authority: ¶

1. Laying down the policies and strategies for the functions and activities of
the Free Zone, and ways of implementing them, with the aim of making
the Free Zone a centre for the development and support of media,
interactive media, media production and creative products.
2. Marketing the Free Zone in cooperation with the competent authorities
in accordance with the legislations in force.
3. Managing of the Free Zone in all organisational aspects in accordance
with the legislations in force.
4. Issuing certificates of incorporation, licensing, supervision, control and
inspection of Free Zone establishments.
5. Organising works and activities within the Free Zone.
6. Conducting research and providing consultations to the Government in
relation to the legislations and regulations for organising and encouraging
media and related scientific research.
7. Laying down the rules, controls and systems that protect databases,
information and strategies, and ensuring the application and activation
of the legislations protecting intellectual property rights.
8. Licensing establishments, companies and other corporate persons,
which are located outside the geographical scope of the Free Zone, as
Free Zone establishments, upon the approval of the Executive Council.
9. Specifying, imposing and collecting fees in return for the services it

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provides.
10. Issuing regulations and procedures for the recruitment and hiring of
employees and workers in the Free Zone (including holders of licences
of sole proprietors (independent persons) and company officials), and
coordinating with the competent authorities to grant them the relevant
residency permits in the Free Zone, in accordance with the legislations
in force.
11. Issuing the bylaws, regulations, resolutions and policies necessary to
regulate the procedures for establishing, declaring, registering, licensing,
classifying, liquidating and dissolving Free Zone establishments and
supervising them; and the procedures, conditions, and controls that
govern their work and all relevant matters.
• The Authority may delegate some of its competencies to any other
governmental entity, or outsource some of it to the private sector upon
the approval of the Executive Council.

Article 4 — No activity may be exercised in the Free Zone without a licence from the ¶

Authority, or in violation of the Free Zone regulations.

Article 5 — Activities to be carried out in the Free Zone shall include the following: ¶

1. Preparing, designing, developing, using and maintaining media-related
materials, programmes and databases.
2. Games, e-sports, e-commerce, interactive media, media production,
creative products and associated industries.
3. Media, radio, audio-visual broadcasting, television stations, issuing,
publishing and distributing newspapers, magazines and books.
4. Manufacturing of materials that are used in preparing, packaging,
producing or distributing media materials.
5. Providing media services via internet, or through any means of technology.
6. Marketing, advertising and event services.

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7. Importing, storing and exporting hardware, materials, software and
products used in media and advertising.
8. Storage, supply, distribution, and redistribution services necessary to
carry out the activities permitted in the Free Zone.
9. Commercial activities necessary for the provisions of services to
residents, workers and visitors of the Free Zone.
10. Contributing to the preparation of studies, research and tests, and the
development of media products.
The Authority may add any other activities that are related or associated to
the activities mentioned in the preceding paragraph of this Article.

Article 6 — A resolution shall be issued by the Executive Council specifying the activities ¶

to be undertaken by the Company inside the Free Zone.

Article 7 — 1. With respect to their licence, operations or conditions of work at the Free ¶

Zone, the Authority, or the companies, establishments or individuals
operating at the Free Zone, shall not be subject to laws, regulations
and licensing resolutions for economic, professional or media activities
applicable outside the Free Zone, with the exception of laws and
regulations related to the environment, penal and labour.
2. Free Zone Establishments shall indicate in their name and all their business,
contracts, advertisements, invoices, correspondence and publications
that they are Free Zone Establishments incorporated under the provisions
of this Law. In case of omission of such indication, the owner(s) of the
Establishment and its managers shall be responsible with all their assets
for the Establishment’s obligations.
3. It shall be prohibited to assign the licence issued by the Authority to third
parties without obtaining the prior written approval of the competent
authority in the Authority.
4. It shall be prohibited to possess, keep, store or bring the following products,

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goods and services into the Free Zone:
• Products that violate the laws protecting intellectual property and
patents, including goods that violate the laws and rules related to
trademarks, patents, copyrights and design.
• Products boycotted by the State.
• All goods, products and services that are prohibited pursuant to the
laws of the State or the Emirate.

Article 8 — All the Free Zone Establishments and their employees and workers shall ¶

undertake to provide the Authority with any documents, data or information
it requests to exercise or carry out its functions.

Article 9 — Free Zone imports shall be exempted from customs duties, and its exports ¶

to the Emirate shall be subject to the applicable customs duties.

Article 10 — The Free Zone Establishments shall be responsible towards third parties for ¶

all their actions and operations, and the Authority shall not be responsible
for such actions and operations.

Article 11 — 1. All rules, regulations, procedures, policies, instructions and directions ¶

issued by the Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi shall remain in force
until the Authority issues the rules, regulations, procedures, policies and
instructions implementing the provisions of this Law.
2. All Free Zone Establishments that have been previously incorporated,
licensed and registered by Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi shall
continue to operate until they are liquidated, closed or written off in
accordance with the Authority’s regulations. Each certificate issued by
Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi shall remain considered as evidence

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that the Free Zone Establishment has been incorporated according to the
date specified in the certificate.
3. All certificates of incorporation, commercial licences, publishing and
broadcasting licences and licences of sole proprietors (independent
persons) of Free Zone Establishments, issued by Media Zone Authority -
Abu Dhabi, shall remain valid until the date of their expiry or cancellation
without the need for other documents to confirm their validity.
4. All residence permits issued by Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi,
shall remain valid until the date of their expiry, in coordination with the
competent authorities
5. All commercial activities approved by Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi
before the effective date of the provisions of this Law shall continue, and
shall be considered among the activities referred to in Article No. (5) of
this Law.

Article 12 — • The aforesaid Law No. (12) of 2007 shall be repealed. ¶

• Any provision contrary to the provisions of this Law shall be repealed.

Article 13 — This Law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published in the ¶

Official Gazette.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 06 June 2022
Corresponding to: 06 Thi Al Qidah 1443 Hijri

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