Setting up an advertising business in the UAE offers excellent prospects for entrepreneurs owing to the rapidly growing market and ease of doing business. A perfect blend of small businesses and international organisations in all sectors significantly marks the region’s thriving economy, strategic location, and diverse customer base, allowing businesses in the advertising industry to establish a significant presence in the region.

Creative advertising solutions to promote businesses, products, and services to local and international audiences are consistently in demand in the UAE due to its role as a worldwide commerce and popular tourism hub. Sophisticated advertising campaigns are even more necessary for new entrepreneurs to assist company growth and market expansion in the UAE. The government has also laid emphasis on diversifying the economy and investing in sectors like technology and tourism, which are also stimulating factors in the business of advertising.

Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the UAE’s dynamic market, use cutting-edge advertising techniques, and help businesses in a variety of industries thrive by establishing their marketing businesses and being a part of the region’s ever-changing marketing and communication scene.

Here, you will find business activities you can select under this license to start your advertising business:

7310.00 – Advertising

Advertising is a business activity encompassing a broad spectrum of services dedicated to promoting products, services, or ideas. It involves the strategic creation and execution of campaigns designed to influence consumer behavior. This includes conceptualising and developing creative advertising materials, such as copy, visuals, and audio elements. A crucial aspect is media planning and buying, which entails selecting and acquiring advertising space or time across various media channels. Once the campaign is developed, its implementation follows, encompassing production, distribution, and performance monitoring. To enhance overall marketing efforts, advertising often incorporates additional services like point-of-sale materials, direct mail campaigns, and marketing consulting. The scope of advertising extends from traditional media like television, radio, and print to digital platforms and outdoor advertising, all aimed at effectively reaching the target audience and driving desired outcomes.

7310.01 – Creation and realisation of advertising campaigns: • Creating and placing advertising in newspapers, periodicals, radio, television, the internet and other media • Creating and placing of outdoor advertising, e.g. billboards, panels, bulletins and frames, window dressing, showroom design, car and bus carding etc. • Media representation, i.e. sale of time and space for various media soliciting advertising • Aerial advertising • Distribution or delivery of advertising material or samples • Provision of advertising space on billboards etc. • Creation of stands and other display structures and sites

This encompasses the creation and execution of advertising campaigns across various media. It includes developing and placing ads in traditional outlets like newspapers, radio, and television, as well as in digital and outdoor spaces. It covers media buying, distribution of ad materials, and the physical creation of advertising structures like billboards and displays.

7310.02 – Conducting marketing campaigns and other advertising services aimed at attracting and retaining customers: • Promotion of products • Point-of-sale marketing • Direct mail advertising • Marketing consulting

This activity focuses on marketing campaigns designed to attract and retain customers. It includes promoting products, implementing point-of-sale marketing strategies, conducting direct mail campaigns, and providing marketing consulting services to support overall business growth.

7310.11 – Digital marketing

This involves the strategic planning and execution of marketing campaigns using digital channels such as search engines, social media, email, and websites to reach and engage target audiences.

7310.12 – Public relations consultancy

Offering expert advice on managing a company’s reputation, building relationships with media, and handling crises through strategic communication planning and execution.

7310.13 – Publications of brochures & leaflets

Creating, designing, and printing informational or promotional materials like brochures, leaflets, and catalogs for distribution to target audiences.

7310.14 – Online Marketing Services

Providing a range of digital marketing services including search engine optimisation (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, content marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing.

7310.15 – Direct marketing

Promoting products or services directly to consumers through targeted channels such as mail, email, telemarketing, or SMS.

7310.16 – Social media services

Managing and optimising a company’s presence on social media platforms, creating engaging content, building communities, and driving online engagement.

7310.17 – Sales promotion

Developing and implementing short-term incentives and activities to stimulate sales, increase customer engagement, and generate immediate sales.

7310.18 – Online advertising

Creating and placing advertisements on websites, search engines, and social media platforms to reach and engage target audiences.

7310.19 – Publicity

Securing media coverage for a company, product, or service through press releases, media pitches, and public relations efforts.

7310.20 – Digital media management

Managing and optimising digital content and assets across various platforms, including websites, social media, and mobile applications.

7310.21 – Social media consultancy

Providing expert advice and strategic guidance on social media marketing, including platform selection, content creation, audience engagement, and campaign management.

7310.22 – Marketing Operations Management

Overseeing the day-to-day execution of marketing campaigns, including budgeting, planning, scheduling, and coordinating marketing activities.

7310.23 – Consulting and advertising studies

Conducting market research, analysing consumer behavior, and providing strategic recommendations for advertising campaigns.

7310.24 – Media Consultancy and Studies

Offering expert advice on media planning, buying, and evaluation to optimise advertising campaigns and reach target audiences.

7310.25 – Advertisement Agency

These primarily focus on the creation, planning, and execution of advertising campaigns for clients. Their services often include market research, strategy development, creative design, media planning, and buying. The goal of an advertisement agency is to promote a client’s products or services to a targeted audience to generate awareness, engagement, and ultimately, sales. Advertisement agencies typically work on a project basis, handling specific campaigns from start to finish.

7310.26 – Advertisement Material and Samples Distribution

The process of distributing advertising materials, such as brochures, catalogs, and product samples, to target audiences through various channels.

7310.27 – Advertisements Designing and Production

Creating visual and textual content for advertising materials, including print, digital, and outdoor formats.

7310.28 – External Advertisement

Placing advertisements in external media channels such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and outdoor advertising spaces.

7310.29 – Design, production and installation of billboards

Creating, producing, and installing outdoor advertising structures, including billboards, posters, and signage.

7310.30 – Promotional Gifts Preparing

Sourcing, designing, and producing promotional items such as branded merchandise, giveaways, and premiums for marketing campaigns.

7310.31 – Sports Events Marketing

Developing and executing marketing strategies for sports events, including sponsorship, ticketing, merchandising, and public relations.

7310.32 – Natural Gas Technology Marketing

Promoting the benefits and applications of natural gas technology to consumers, businesses, and industries.

7310.33 – Foreign Securities Promotion

This involves marketing and selling securities (like stocks and bonds) issued by companies based outside of the country to domestic investors. It requires in-depth knowledge of international financial markets, investor relations, and regulatory compliance.

7310.34 – Securities & Financial Products Promotion

This encompasses a broader range of financial products, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, insurance, and other investment vehicles. It involves creating marketing campaigns, conducting investor education, and distributing financial information.

7310.35 – Managing & Operating a Casting Agency

This involves identifying, recruiting, and representing actors, models, and other talent for film, television, commercials, and other media productions. Casting agencies handle auditions, negotiations, and contract management.

7310.36 – Managing & Operating a Modelling Agency

This involves representing models and securing them work in the fashion industry, including advertising campaigns, fashion shows, and editorial shoots. Model agencies handle bookings, negotiations, and image management.

7310.37 – Talent Management

This encompasses a broader range of talent, including actors, musicians, athletes, and influencers. Talent managers handle career planning, negotiation of contracts, and public relations.

7310.87 – Advertising Agency

These have a broader scope of activities beyond just executing advertising campaigns. These agencies often provide a wider range of marketing and promotional services, which may include brand management, public relations, event marketing, digital marketing, and social media management. Advertising agencies work on both project-based and long-term contracts, offering ongoing support and consultancy to help clients achieve their marketing and business goals.

7310.90 – Distribution Of Advertising Materials & Samples

This involves the physical distribution of advertising materials, such as brochures, catalogs, and product samples, to target audiences through various channels like mail, courier, or digital platforms.

7310.92 – Billboards Advertising

This focuses specifically on creating, designing, producing, and installing outdoor advertising structures like billboards. It includes site selection, permit acquisition, and maintenance.

7310.93 – Newspaper Advertisements

This involves creating, designing, and placing advertisements in newspapers. It includes copywriting, layout design, and media buying.

7310.94 – Advertising Researches & Consultancies

This involves conducting market research, analysing advertising effectiveness, and providing strategic consulting services to clients. It includes media audits, consumer surveys, and campaign evaluation.

7310.99 – Advertising Services Via Websites

This encompasses a range of online advertising services, including website design and development, search engine optimisation (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and social media advertising.   

However, this class of business activities excludes publishing of advertising material, production of commercial messages for radio, television, and film, public relations activities, market research, graphic design activities, advertising photography, convention and trade show organizing, and mailing activities.

Third-party Approval: 

Business activities 7310.00, 7310.01, and 7310.02 need third-party approval from the Ministry of Culture and Youth – Media Regulatory Office (MRO), post-acquiring of the business license.

The other business activities mentioned in this article do not need third-party approval.

Filing of Economic Substance Return: 

All the business activities mentioned in this article are exempt from this requirement.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance: 

All the business activities mentioned in this article are exempt from this requirement.

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