Number of DMC companies expected to mount to 1000 with a long waiting list for more

Abdul Hamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City said, "The Media City is working on offering all the support services for media including an advanced infrastructure and supportive environment for media-related businesses which is in line with the message of the city to build a strong media community where every kind of media business will thrive."

According to Juma, the interdependent media community also boasts a growing talent pool that offers a range of creative skills. Currently, over 120 freelance media professionals are based in the City. Dubai Media City is studying the possibility of allocating an entire building to the freelancers operating from DMC. The new building is set to house approximately 250 freelancers.

Commenting on the creation of Dubai Holding and the future of Dubai Media City Abdul Hamid Juma said, "This was in fact a positive step which will help shape a better future for DMC because of the tremendous support of Dubai Holding. As a result, the media in the country will witness positive results with the lines of communication and collaboration between the projects under Dubai Holding becoming stronger."

The CEO of Dubai Media City said, "Although these companies have had effective lines of communication, they were not strong enough due to irregular meetings between them. However, with the formation of Dubai Holding, a more organized system of communication and regular meetings will help in the exchange of knowledge between the companies which will contribute to the overall success of the group."

Juma said that a unified marketing strategy to be launched under the name of Dubai Holding will be more effective than the diverse messages being delivered by each company individually.

He believes that joining Dubai Holding will not change the strategic plans of Dubai Media City since all companies, whether under Dubai Holding or not follow the same overall mission.

Abdul Hamid Juma said, "Today the City hosts over 860 companies including 80 television and radio stations, 140 magazines besides the Head Quarters for media production companies and with growth spreading to sectors such as Publishing & Printing, Music, New Media, Film, Leisure & Entertainment, Information Agencies, Public Relations and Advertising with over 12,000 professionals working in them."

Juma added. "DMC is growing at a very fast pace. It is growing in terms of ideas, audience and production. Hosting 860 companies under the umbrella of DMC is dream come true. Today many leading corporations from outside the region are eager to join DMC and operate from it."

And for those who want to join DMC immediately, Abdul Hamid Juma said, "There are no vacant offices at the moment. However, in 2005 there will be a space of 400,000 sq ft for being rented to companies who wish to join us. The construction work for the five towers is expected to be complete between July to December 2005."

Juma added, "The waiting list includes more than 70 companies and with 25-30 companies joining DMC monthly our focus is on quality not quantity."

According to Juma, the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone (TECOM) will witness huge expansions to include 8 million sq ft in the coming four years through the 30 towers which are to be built for offices and accommodation. The expansion will also include
International Media Production Zone (IMPZ) which adopted the same idea as DMC by creating the first dedicated trade zone created in the region for media-related production. The first production cluster in IMPZ will focus on the printing industry.