BLOGS UAE Fujairah Creative City Freezone

Fujairah Creative City Activity List| Everything You Need to Know for Business Setup

by Rifa S Laskar Oct 14, 2025 7 MIN READ

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The Fujairah Creative City Free Zone setup has the first big question, which is the business activity to pick. Your license, your scope, your costs, even your visa chances all hinge on that. In this guide, you’ll find the full Fujairah Creative City Activity List, plus how to choose correctly, fees, steps, what freelancers need & answers to all of your queries

1. Introduction

You’re reading this because you need clarity on the Fujairah Creative City Activity List. Pick the wrong business activity and you’ll meet errors with licensing, unexpected costs, or limits on what you’re allowed to do. So here why you need to think about what you actually plan to deliver, basically what services or products & who your clients will be. Keep those in your mind as we go through the permitted activities, the license types & costs.

2. Why Activity Selection Matters?

Here’s what this really means when your business activity aligns :

  • It’s a legal requirement, basically, the license issued by Fujairah Creative City depends directly on what activity you declare. If you do something outside of that, you’ll risk violating the regulations
  • It determines visa eligibility, the number of visas & the package of services you get. If your license doesn’t permit certain activity or visa slots, you may not get what you need
  • It affects costs, mostly different activities can require extra approvals; each activity may carry different fees. Also, the license type (freelancer vs corporate) is tied to permitted activities
  • It shapes your business scope and growth, basically if you only pick one narrow activity now, you might have to reapply or amend later if you expand. Changing activity later might cost time, money or require new approvals

3. Categories of Business Activities

Below is a table of what’s included in the Fujairah Creative City Activity List

CategoryExamples of Permitted Activities*
Media & Marketing ActivitiesAdvertising and public relations, event management, media production and publishing, media support services, broadcasting, music and entertainment.
IT & Digital ServicesSoftware development, web design and development, digital marketing and social media management, new media services, business information systems.
Creative & Professional ServicesGraphic design, animation and illustration, consulting and advisory services, education and training services, publishing services, lifestyle consultancy.
E-commerce & Online BusinessOnline retail and dropshipping, digital content creation and monetization, e-learning platforms, e-commerce activities under trading or service licenses, depending on goods or content.
Freelancer-Specific ActivitiesPhotography and videography, content writing and translation, digital marketing freelancing, web or graphic design freelancing and small-scale media production.

4. How to Choose the Right Activity?

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  • Start by listing your core services or products in detail. Be specific about what you actually plan to offer so you can match them directly with the permitted activities
  • Check the Fujairah Creative City Activity List to confirm your intended services are included. Each activity falls under a category to simplify license selection and maintenance of laws
  • Match your activity to the correct license type, whether you’re a freelancer, baby business, single-owner or multiple-owner. Some activities work only with certain license types
  • Consider all the visa requirements carefully & determine how many visas you need now and in the future. Ensure that your license package supports adding more employees if necessary
  • If you plan to add more services later, make sure your current license and activity list allow additions without the need for any new application
  • Some activities require extra fees or external approvals. Plan your budget for these in advance to avoid delays or unexpected expenses
  • Make sure all the application documents are clear & correct, so use the exact terms from the Fujairah Creative City Activity List and avoid faulty descriptions that might cause you rejection

5.  Restrictions & Special Notes

  • Activities such as broadcasting or TV production often require prior approval from regulatory authorities outside Fujairah Creative City. You must check specific government requirements before applying to avoid delays or rejection
  • Freelancer licenses have limitations & they may restrict the number of visas or exclude large-scale production and heavy infrastructure activities. Some services may require an upgrade to a corporate license to comply with the laws
  • Trading physical goods, importing or exporting products, logistics or warehousing may not be fully covered under the Fujairah Creative City Activity List. It supports services, media, digital & creative sectors over any other heavy trading
  • After your license is issued, it’s mandatory to submit the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO). If you fail to provide this document, it can lead to fines or other legal penalties

6. Benefits of Picking the Right Activity

Here’s what you gain when your business activity choices align tightly with what Fujairah Creative City permits and what you’re really doing:

  • When your business activity matches Fujairah Creative City’s permitted list, the license approval process is fast and straightforward. You avoid repeated back-and-forth with authorities, which saves time and unnecessary frustration
  • Correct activity selection ensures you get the visa slots you need. There are no unexpected limitations or rejections that prevent you from hiring staff or freelancers according to your business plan
  • Choosing the right activity helps avoid extra costs and regulatory delays. You won’t have to amend your license later, which saves money, paperwork & potential interruptions to operations
  • It prepares your business for future growth. You can easily add new activities, expand services or scale operations without having to start a new license application
  • Operating under the correct activity protects you legally. You remain fully compliant, working exactly within the scope declared on your license and avoiding fines or enforcement issues

7. Costs & License Types (Estimated, 2024/25)

Here’s a table of what you might expect. These are estimates. Confirm with Fujairah Creative City at time of application.

License TypeIncludes / Key FeaturesEst. Cost (AED)Visa Quota / Remarks
Freelancer CompanyTrade license, establishment card, flexi-desk or desk options~ 13,500 AED + registration fee (≈ 4,000 AED) plus flexi-desk cost ≈ 7,500 AEDusually includes 1-3 visas depending on the package
Baby BusinessLicense, flexi-desk or shared office desk, etc~ 13,500 AED + office-desk cost ≈ 12,500 AEDup to 6 visas in some packages
Commercial License (FZE – single owner, no visas)Full corporate license, no visa included, typically~ 14,000-17,000 AED depending on add-onsvisas added separately
Commercial License (FZ-LLC – multiple owners)Same as above, but with more ownership flexibility~ 17,000-21,000 AEDvisa slots may or may not be included

Steps to Apply (Pointers):

  • Choose business activity (use the Activity List)
  • Prepare documents: Passport copies, owner details, business plan/activity description, name, UBO info
  • Submit application & pay fees; get name & activity approved
  • Sign the MOA, complete registration documents and get a license issued (usually 2-7 working days)
  • If needed, apply for visas; obtain an establishment card; do e-channel registration etc.

8. How Arnifi Can Help?

Arnifi makes setting up in Fujairah Creative City straightforward and stress-free. They start with a personalized consultation to match your skills and services to the permitted Fujairah Creative City Activity List to ensure you pick the right activity and license from the start. They handle all paperwork, which includes application forms, UBO declaration & activity descriptions, so everything aligns perfectly with free zone requirements. Arnifi also advises whether a freelancer or corporate license suits your needsnow consider visa requirements and growth plans. Beyond setup, they assist with renewals, amending activities, adding visas & meeting the regulations, keeping your business running easily

9. FAQs

Q1. Can I run multiple activities under one license?
Yes, many Creative City licenses allow 3‑5 activities, but adding more may require changes & extra fees

Q2. Can I change my business activity later?
Yes, but you must apply for an amendment, pay any fees & get approvals if the new activity is regulated

Q3. Are all activities eligible for a freelancer license?
No, some heavy or regulated activities aren’t allowed; simpler service or digital‑creative activities usually qualify

Q4. How do activity selection and license cost relate?
Cost depends on number of activities, visa inclusion, office/flexi‑desk needs & any required regulatory approvals

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