A tale of two cities: Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City turn 20

Inside the Dubai Internet City (DIC), which has produced the likes of souq.com and careem. The Dubai Media City (DMC), meanwhile, has also become the main source of digital Arabic content. Together, DIC and DMC, the twin free zones Dubai established 20 years ago, are now home to some 4,500 tech companies.

In 1999, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum ordered the establishment Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City as he realised at an early stage that these two industries will be the driving force of development.

Dubai Internet City's (DIC) main gate. In October least year, it opened the first phase of the 1.8 million square feet Innovation Hub in a bid to nurture talent and creativity.

Dubai Media City. It has become the regional base of many of the world's news agencies as well as the main digital content generator for Arabic media.

Dubai Media City, Dubai. Photo: Antonin Kélian Kallouche/Gulf News

Dubai Internet City has a network of 1,600 business partners spanning across industries that include Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, big data

Dubai Media City has launched in September 2019 "ON.DXB", a new regional festival designed to support growth and talent.

Ammar Al Malik, executive director, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Outsource City.

The Dubai Internet City has become an innovation hub in the Middle East, with more than 4,500 companies and entities based there.

Archive photo shows Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with Mike Lawrie, IBM's Worldwide Senior Vice President & Group Executive for Sales, Matar Humaid Al Tayer, former UAE Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and other dignitaries in the inauguration of e-Hosting Centre at Dubai Internet City.

View from the top: Dubai Internet City (DIC) has a sprawling area with a number of lakes surrounding the development.

Dubai Internet City has been ranked among the foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations. It offers some of the best incentives globally and in the Middle East.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, opened Microsoft's new regional headquarters at Dubai Internet City. Shaikh Mohammad with Bahram Mohazzebi, General Manager Microsoft Gulf Eastern Mediterranean and group of Microsoft staff - Gulf News Archives

The Oracle building at the Dubai Internet City. As the city's thriving tech park, Dubai Internet City (DIC) is a brand to reckon with.