Meydan Free Zone
A prestigious central-Dubai address with fully digital, remote first setup.
What Meydan is actually known for
Meydan Free Zone sells a Dubai address most people recognise and a setup process built to be finished online. It sits under Meydan City Corporation at Nad Al Sheba, and its appeal is the combination of a mainland-adjacent postcode, digital onboarding, and no requirement to physically occupy space. That has made it the default for ecommerce operators, digital agencies and location-independent founders who want the Dubai brand without the Dubai overhead.
Meydan Free Zone is a premium-positioned yet competitively priced Dubai free zone known for its central address near Downtown Dubai and a fully online setup process. It's a strong direct competitor to IFZA on price and convenience, popular with consultants, agencies, ecommerce operators and holding companies who want a recognisable Dubai address without visiting the UAE.
Key benefits
- 100% foreign ownership and unrestricted profit repatriation
- Prestigious, central Dubai address near Downtown
- Fully digital / remote first incorporation
- Flexible licensing across commercial, service, media and ecommerce
- 0% personal income tax; 0% corporate tax on qualifying income
- Modular pricing, add visas and services as you grow
Business activities & licenses
Meydan supports a range of license types and activities, including:
- Commercial / trading
- Professional & consulting services
- Ecommerce
- Media & marketing
- General trading
- Holding companies
The clusters that exist here
Activity lists look similar across every free zone. What differs is which industries have genuinely concentrated in one, the counterparties, the suppliers and the people you end up sitting next to.
- Ecommerce
- Online retail and marketplace sellers form a large share of registrations, the licence supports platform selling without tying you to a warehouse lease.
- Digital agencies and creative services
- Marketing, design, content and software agencies serving clients internationally from a Dubai base.
- Consultancy
- Independent advisors and small consultancies who need a credible address and a residence visa more than they need an office.
- Holding and investment vehicles
- Straightforward holding structures for founders consolidating interests under a UAE entity.
Infrastructure and institutions
The things Meydan has that a competing zone would have to build from scratch:
- Nad Al Sheba address within the Meydan district, adjacent to Meydan Racecourse and the Meydan Hotel
- Fully digital application, amendment and renewal portal
- Flexi desk registered address included in standard packages
- Close to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay for client meetings
Ownership & visas
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor required.
Zero visa options up to multiple visas, tied to the chosen package. Per-visa issuance costs are additional.
Cost & timeline
Base trade-licence package, per year
| Product / charge | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base trade-licence package | AED 12,500 | Includes: Trade licence, company registration, digital application and portal access; up to three activity groupsExcludes: Residence visa, medical, Emirates ID, establishment/immigration services, office upgrades and amendmentsBest for: Zero visa consultants, agencies and digital businesses |
| Fawri instant licence | AED 15,000 | Includes: Eligible instant licensingExcludes: Confirm package-specific exclusions before quoting |
Important: Meydan operates a pay-as-you-go model: establishment/immigration services, visa allocation and residence visas are charged separately from the base package.
Source: meydanfz.ae · meydanfz.ae
Get a written quoteTypical timeline: A few days to ~1 week (digital process).
Is Meydan right for you?
Entrepreneurs and consultants who want a prestigious Dubai address plus a quick, fully online setup at a mid market price, service businesses, agencies, ecommerce and holding structures.
Choose Meydan if
- You want a recognisable Dubai address without leasing physical space
- Your business is digital and your customers are anywhere
- You value a setup process you can complete without repeated in person visits
- You want a straightforward package rather than an à la carte fee schedule
Look elsewhere if
- You need warehousing, a showroom or industrial facilities
- You are in a regulated financial or insurance activity
- You need to trade physically into the UAE mainland at scale without a distributor
What people get wrong about Meydan
The things that surprise founders after they have already signed, worth knowing before you do.
- Flexi desk means a shared address
- The included registered address is a shared facility, not private premises. It satisfies the licensing requirement, but if a bank or a client expects a dedicated office you'll need to upgrade.
- Visa quota scales with the package
- Higher visa counts move you to a larger package. Work out your two-year headcount before choosing, because upgrading mid-term costs more than starting at the right tier.
- Mainland sales still need a route
- A Meydan licence lets you sell internationally and to other free zones freely. Selling into the UAE mainland market generally requires a mainland distributor, a branch, or a mainland licence.
What makes Meydan different
- Address tied to the landmark Meydan district lends brand prestige.
- Strong emphasis on 100% online incorporation for overseas founders.
Compare alternatives
How Meydan compares
| Free zone | Emirate | License from* | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan This page | Dubai | AED 12,500/yr | A few days to ~1 week (digital process) | Agencies · Consultants |
| IFZA → | Dubai | Quote required | License in ~3 to 5 working days (fast track available) | Consultants · Ecommerce |
| DMCC → | Dubai | AED 20,285/yr | ~1 to 4 weeks depending on activity and workspace | Commodities · General trading |
| RAKEZ → | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000/yr | Registration as fast as 1 day; full setup with visas ~1 to 3 weeks | Low budget · Industrial |
* Published entry prices from each authority, verified 1 August 2026, not quotes, and not directly comparable products. Compare all 17 zones
Meydan, frequently asked questions
01How much does it cost to set up in Meydan?＋
Meydan operates a pay-as-you-go model: establishment/immigration services, visa allocation and residence visas are charged separately from the base package. Figures are the authority's own published prices as last verified, confirm current pricing before committing.
02Can I own 100% of my Meydan company?＋
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor required.
03How many visas can I get with Meydan?＋
Zero visa options up to multiple visas, tied to the chosen package. Per-visa issuance costs are additional.
04How long does Meydan setup take?＋
A few days to ~1 week (digital process). Timelines depend on document readiness, visa processing and bank onboarding.
05Who is Meydan best for?＋
Entrepreneurs and consultants who want a prestigious Dubai address plus a quick, fully online setup at a mid market price, service businesses, agencies, ecommerce and holding structures.
06Is Meydan a good free zone for ecommerce?＋
It's one of the more practical options. The licence covers online retail without requiring warehouse space, setup is fully digital, and the Dubai address helps with payment-gateway and marketplace applications. If you hold stock in the UAE you'll still need a fulfilment partner or a separate logistics arrangement.
07Do I need to visit Dubai to set up a Meydan company?＋
The licence application itself is handled online. You will need to be in the UAE in person for the residence visa steps, medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, if you're taking a visa. Company formation without a visa can be completed remotely.
08How does Meydan compare with IFZA?＋
Both are Dubai licences aimed at service and digital businesses without physical premises. Meydan leans on its address and self service digital portal; IFZA leans on a very wide activity list distributed through agents. Compare the total first year cost including your actual visa count rather than the headline package.