The map·UAE·Government programmes

twofour54

Abu Dhabi's media and creative free zone at Yas Creative Hub, operating for over 15 years under the Creative Media Authority.

What
Creative Lab funding, licence-fee waivers and production-rebate access.
Who
Media, gaming, production and creative-economy startups and freelancers.
Cost
No equity — service or permission
Status
Active

Checked · September 2026 · twofour54.com · How we check ↗

Website ↗On the map →

In detail

twofour54 is a free zone (media & entertainment) in the UAE. Abu Dhabi's media and creative free zone at Yas Creative Hub, operating for over 15 years under the Creative Media Authority. The Creative Lab supports media startups with mentorship, training and funding; licence-fee waivers for new entrepreneurs and freelancers, and gateway to the Abu Dhabi Film Commission's production cash rebate.

Amount
  • Creative Lab funding
  • Licence-fee waivers
  • Abu Dhabi Film Commission production rebate access
Terms
No
Eligibility
Media, gaming, production and creative-economy startups and freelancers
Sectors
Media, Gaming, Film & TV Production, Publishing, Creative Tech
Benefits
  • 100% foreign ownership
  • BBC/CNN-grade infrastructure
  • Freelancer licences
  • Creative community
Status
Active

Closing soon on the map

Cultural Development Fund (CDF)

Grant · Saudi Arabia
Up to SAR 500,000 non-repayable per project, capped at 20 projects total.
No equity — grant
29 Sep 2026closes

Finspire

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
SAR 100,000 development funding, earmarked rather than paid as cash.
Equity via SAFE, capped at 5%
4 Oct 2026closes

QSTP Incubation

Accelerator · Qatar
In-kind support: Doha workspace and housing for a four-week Sprint, talent and investor access.
Equity — 1.5% deferred SAFE-style stake
1 Nov 2026closes

All published deadlines →

More government programmes in the UAE

ADGM

Government · UAE
A RegLab regulatory sandbox; not a funding programme.
No equity — service or permission
—

ADIO

Government · UAE
Project-dependent incentive packages plus regulatory fast-tracking.
No equity — service or permission
—

CBUAE FinTech Sandbox

Government · UAE
Regulatory permission to test fintech and digital-banking products.
No equity — service or permission
—

DIFC

Government · UAE
100% foreign ownership in a dedicated free zone; not a funding programme.
No equity — service or permission
—

All government programmes in the UAE →  ·  Across the Gulf →

More programmes that take no equity →

Sources

Primary source · twofour54.com · Checked September 2026