Meydan Free Zone
Meydan Free Zone is a budget-friendly Dubai free zone launched in 2009, known for competitive pricing and its innovative Fawri (instant) license launched in 2025. With 2,500+ business activities and a 100% digital onboarding process, Meydan positions itself as a modern, digital-first option for freelancers, consultants, and SMEs. Its Nad Al Sheba location offers a prestigious Dubai address without premium Dubai pricing.
From
AED 12,500
Established
2009
Companies
1,000
Max Visas
6
Banking
Moderate
Meydan FZ Packages & Pricing
| Package | License | Visas | Office | Year 1 Total | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular License (No Visa) ~15% discount on 2–6 year terms. | AED 12,500 | 0 | Flexi Desk | AED 12,500 | AED 12,500 |
| Fawri License (60-Min Instant) | AED 15,000 | 0 | Virtual | AED 15,000 | AED 15,000 |
| 1 Visa Package ~15% discount on 2–6 year terms. | AED 14,350 | 1 | Flexi Desk | AED 29,100 | AED 23,350 |
| 2 Visa Package | AED 16,600 | 2 | Flexi Desk | AED 38,600 | AED 25,600 |
| E-Commerce Package | AED 13,000 | 1 | Flexi Desk | AED 27,750 | AED 22,000 |
| 6 Visa Package | AED 23,600 | 6 | Flexi Desk | AED 61,100 | AED 35,100 |
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Competitive pricing — regular license from AED 12,500, comparable to IFZA
- Fawri (instant) License: 60-minute LLC setup at AED 15,000 with money-back guarantee
- 2,500+ business activities — widest range among budget free zones
- No physical office requirement — virtual/flexi desk options available
- Easy Payment Plan: split license fees into 3, 6, 9, or 12 monthly installments
- 100% digital onboarding process, available 24/7
- Prestigious Dubai address (Nad Al Sheba, near Downtown)
- MeydanPay: instant IBAN issuance with the license
- Mainland branch access under Resolution No. 11 of 2025
- Multi-year discounts of ~15% on 2–6 year terms
Watch out for
- Small ecosystem — only ~1,000 registered companies versus DMCC's 26,000
- 83,000+ 'members' figure is misleading — likely inflated with non-active registrations
- 'Guaranteed IBAN' marketing means guaranteed introduction, not guaranteed bank approval
- Banking more challenging than DMCC — some banks less familiar with Meydan
- Limited international brand recognition compared to DMCC
- Maximum 6 visas under standard packages limits team growth
- No warehouse or industrial space available
- Pricing inconsistencies across sources (AED 18,000–35,000 all-in range)
- Organizational challenges suggested by Glassdoor employee reviews
Visa Information
Max Quota
6 visas
6 visas maximum under standard packages. Additional visa allocations: AED 1,850 per slot.
Processing Time
15 days
Renewal Cost
AED 3,500
Every 2–3 years
Dependent Visa
AED 5,000
Refundable deposit of AED 3,000 required when sponsoring dependents. Sponsor minimum salary: AED 4,000/month (or AED 3,000 + accommodation).
Available Visa Types
Visa Cost Breakdown
Gov Fees
AED 3,500
Medical Eid Assistance
AED 2,250
Total Per Visa
AED 5,750
Dependent Refundable Deposit
AED 3,000
10–20 working days for visa portion. Fawri license reduces license step to under 1 hour.
Banking
Partner Banks
26+ partner banks including Emirates NBD, Mashreq, RAKBANK, HSBC, ADIB, and Wio. Dedicated relationship manager and Bank Account Assistance Service. MeydanPay provides instant IBAN with license. 'Guaranteed IBAN' means guaranteed introduction — not guaranteed approval (compliance-dependent). Realistic account opening: 2–6 weeks. General trading licenses may complicate banking.
Features
Mainland Trading
Yes — under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025. Free zone companies can establish mainland branches or obtain temporary permits (AED 5,000, up to 6 months).
Physical Office Required
Dual License Allowed
Crypto Friendly
Partial — needs VARA approval for regulated crypto activities. General crypto consulting possible.
Shared Ownership
1–7 shareholders (some sources say up to 50).
Free Zone to Mainland
Online Portal
100% digital, 24/7 availability.
Co-working Available
Audit Required
Share Capital Requirement
Disputed — ranges from AED 0 (some packages) to AED 100,000 nominal. No mandatory deposit like DMCC.
Easy Payment Plan
License fees can be split into 3, 6, 9, or 12 monthly installments.
Recent Developments
- April 2025: Fawri License launched — 60-minute LLC setup at AED 15,000 with money-back guarantee
- 2024–2025: Expanded activities from 1,500 to 2,500+
- March 2025: Benefits from Resolution No. 11 of 2025 for mainland branch access
- MeydanPay launched — instant IBAN issuance with license
- Easy Payment Plan introduced — monthly installments for license fees
- Late 2025: UAE-wide visa changes — 4 new visit visa categories, online extension, overstay AED 50/day penalty
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Meydan Free Zone license cost in 2026?
Regular license from AED 12,500/year (no visa). Fawri instant license: AED 15,000. 1-visa package: ~AED 14,350 license, total Year 1 approximately AED 29,100 including all fees. E-commerce package: ~AED 13,000.
What is the Meydan Fawri License?
Launched April 2025, the Fawri License is a 60-minute LLC setup at AED 15,000 covering 1,800+ activities with a money-back guarantee if delayed. Visas are available separately at AED 1,850 per slot allocation plus processing costs.
Is it hard to open a bank account with a Meydan Free Zone license?
Moderate difficulty. Meydan claims 26+ partner banks and offers a dedicated Bank Account Assistance Service. MeydanPay provides instant IBAN with the license. However, 'guaranteed IBAN' means guaranteed introduction, not approval. Budget 2–6 weeks. General trading licenses may face more scrutiny.
How does Meydan FZ compare to IFZA?
Similar pricing (Meydan from AED 12,500, IFZA from AED 12,900). Meydan offers more activities (2,500+ vs 800+), the Fawri instant license, and monthly payment plans. IFZA has a longer track record, stronger agent ecosystem with deeper discounts, and established banking relationships. Both lack premium DMCC-level banking credibility.
Can Meydan FZ companies now trade on the mainland?
Yes. Under Dubai's Resolution No. 11 of 2025 (effective March 3, 2025), free zone companies including Meydan can establish mainland branches or obtain temporary permits (AED 5,000, up to 6 months). Mainland revenue is subject to 9% corporate tax.
What is the maximum visa quota at Meydan Free Zone?
Standard packages offer up to 6 visas. Additional visa allocations cost AED 1,850 per slot. Visa processing takes 10–20 working days.
Can I pay my Meydan license in installments?
Yes. Meydan offers an Easy Payment Plan allowing license fees to be split into 3, 6, 9, or 12 monthly installments — unique among Dubai free zones.
How many business activities can I have at Meydan FZ?
2,500+ permitted activities — the widest range among budget Dubai free zones. Up to 3 activity groups included free, additional groups at AED 1,000 each.
Ready to set up with Meydan FZ?
Get a personalised quote for your Meydan FZ business setup. Compare packages and find the best deal.
Starting From
AED 12,500 /yr