FREE ZONES · MEYDAN
Meydan Free Zone: central Dubai at a low licence price
Meydan gives a central Dubai address with per-visa pricing that is unusually transparent at AED 1,850. Like IFZA, it recovers on the establishment card and the renewal.
AT A GLANCE
The numbers that matter.
AED 12,500
Licence, 0 visas
Indicative
AED 1,850
Per visa
Indicative, zone-quoted
AED 19k to 25k
All-in year one, 2 visas
Indicative
Dubai
Address
Central, on the Meydan district
| Line | Amount | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence, 0 visas | AED 12,500 | IndicativeIndicative | Activity count drives the top of the range |
| Per visa, zone fee | AED 1,850 | IndicativeIndicative | Before medical, Emirates ID and insurance |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000 to 2,500 | IndicativeIndicative | Required before any visa |
| All-in year one, 2 visas | AED 19,000 to 25,000 | IndicativeIndicative | One shareholder, one activity |
Free zones change pricing frequently and run promotions. Confirm the current schedule before committing. Figures marked Indicative come from registered agents and consultancies and must be verified against the zone's current schedule.
Last updated 13 August 2026 Next review Q4 2026
THE READ
Who it suits, and when it does not.
It suits
Small consultancies and e-commerce operators who want a Dubai address, a simple flexi-desk and predictable per-visa pricing.
Look elsewhere if
It is a low-cost zone and some banks treat it that way. If your counterparties are institutional, price DMCC before deciding on the licence fee alone.
QUESTIONS
Asked about this zone.
Is the AED 1,850 visa fee the whole visa cost?
No. It is the zone's fee. Medical, Emirates ID, insurance and stamping sit on top, taking a realistic per-person figure to AED 3,500 to 5,000.
Does Meydan require audited accounts?
Audit requirements vary by activity and change. Confirm against the current schedule before you assume you are exempt, and remember the QFZP 0 percent regime requires an audit regardless.
SIDE BY SIDE
The other five zones, priced the same way.
IFZA
Consultancies, agencies and holding-plus-service businesses that need a Dubai address at the lowest defensible cost, with a broad activity list and fast issuance.
Open FREE ZONEDMCC
Commodities and trading businesses, companies that need to bank quickly with a tier-one bank, and any structure where counterparty perception matters more than the licence fee.
Open FREE ZONESHAMS
Freelancers, content and media businesses, and e-commerce operators whose clients are international and who do not need a Dubai address.
Open FREE ZONERAKEZ
Trading, light industrial and service businesses that want a low cost base with real physical space options.
Open FREE ZONEDIFC
Funds, advisory firms, family offices and anyone who needs English common law with a Dubai footprint and a recognised financial regulator.
OpenGO DEEPER
The pages behind this one.
IFZA
Dubai address, agent-only sales, and the renewal reality.
OpenSHAMS
Sharjah media and e-commerce, the cheapest genuine entry.
OpenWhat setup actually costs
The all-in year one number once a visa is attached, zone by zone, with an estimator.
OpenBanking
The step where UAE plans actually fail. Timelines, scrutiny and rejection reality.
OpenThe three-year cost model
Free zone against mainland Dubai and Abu Dhabi, across three full years.
OpenThe free zone directory
Which zone suits which business, and what each one really charges.
Open