Meydan Free Zone company setup, costs and visas
Fully remote incorporation with a Dubai address at a mid-range price. The AED 12,500 licence includes a flexi‑desk and up to three activity groups, and one licence can carry up to six visa allocations at AED 1,850 each. Suits e-commerce and services; NOC letters and activity changes are billed separately.
Meydan Free Zone in numbers
Last verified: 23 Sep 2026. Checked against the zone’s own published tariff.
Who Meydan fits
Meydan suits a solo founder or a small team selling services, consulting, digital work or e-commerce, or holding IP, who wants a Dubai address and residence visas without renting an office. From AED 12,500 you get a licence with up to three activity groups from a list of 2,500+ activities, a flexi‑desk with a lease agreement, and issuance in 3–5 working days, handled remotely. It is a natural step up for a trader or agency that has outgrown a Sharjah budget licence but does not need DMCC.
It fits poorly when you need physical space or scale. Meydan has no warehouses, retail units or industrial plots, so import and distribution, light manufacturing, logistics or a walk-in shop belong in JAFZA or another industrial zone. Regulated finance, funds or a crypto exchange need DIFC, ADGM or a VARA licence. A company planning more than six visas will reach Meydan’s cap of six allocations per licence.
What AED 12,500 covers, and what sits beyond it
The headline is the licence price alone. According to meydanfz.ae (checked on 23 September 2026), AED 12,500 covers the trade licence, up to three activity groups and a flexi‑desk with a lease agreement. Everything tied to people is extra, which is how an AED 12,500 plan becomes a first year of roughly AED 20,000–24,000 with one visa.
| Priced on top of the licence | Cost or reason |
|---|---|
| Visa allocation | AED 1,850 per visa, up to 6 per licence |
| Establishment (immigration) card | AED 2,000; required before any visa |
| Each residence visa | Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and processing, per person |
| Extra activity | AED 1,000 each beyond the included groups |
| NOC and bank reference letters | Charged per letter |
Model the real number before committing: our setup-cost calculator adds the visa and card layers to the headline so you compare like for like.
Flexi‑desk, six visas and substance
The licence includes a flexi‑desk, so you do not lease a separate office to start. It is still a shared desk, and banks increasingly ask remote-only companies for evidence of real operations before they open an account. On visas, one licence can carry up to six allocations at AED 1,850 each. That covers a founder and a small team; a larger headcount needs a second structure or a different zone.
Meydan vs IFZA
The closest comparison is with IFZA. Sharjah zones such as SHAMS and SPC start near AED 5,750 but give a Sharjah address. Both are Dubai zones and both can be set up remotely. Meydan publishes its tariff at AED 12,500; IFZA does not publish one, and agents quote around AED 12,900 for a zero-visa licence.
The differences are in the detail. IFZA lists 2,000+ activities and sells through registered partners, so your price depends on the partner. Meydan lists 2,500+ activities, publishes its fees, including AED 1,850 per visa allocation, and bills extras such as NOC letters and activity changes separately. For a straightforward services or e-commerce company, check which list carries your exact activity and which all-in quote, with visas, is lower.
How to set up a company in Meydan Free Zone
Activities and trade name
Choose the licensed activities and reserve a trade name. The activities decide which approvals you need, how banks read your file and whether your income can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate.
Documents and KYC
Passports, application forms and a clear account of where the money comes from. Free zone companies can be 100% foreign-owned, so no local sponsor is needed.
Licence and establishment card
The zone issues the licence (typically 3–5 business days). The immigration establishment card comes next and opens visa processing.
Visas and bank account
Each visa holder needs an entry permit, a medical test and an Emirates ID. The corporate bank account is opened in parallel and is usually the slowest step.
Meydan Free Zone: questions founders ask
Does Meydan Free Zone require a physical office?
How many visas can I get with a Meydan licence?
Is Meydan cheaper than IFZA?
Can a Meydan company get the 0% corporate tax rate?
Is Meydan really 100% remote?
What are the add-on fees people miss at Meydan?
Is the “from AED 12,500” price the official tariff?
Can this company do business on the UAE mainland?
This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.