Meydan Free Zone is a 100%-digital Dubai free zone where a standard trade licence starts from AED 12,500, and a Fawri instant licence issues in under 60 minutes from AED 15,000 (Meydan FZ, 2026). It gives founders 100% foreign ownership, a Dubai address and a fully online setup. It suits consultants, e-commerce sellers, trading firms and holding companies based in the GCC, the UK and Europe who want a Dubai company without a physical office. One caveat matters before you read the headline price. That "from AED 12,500" figure is for the licence package with a flexi-desk, with zero visas attached (Meydan Free Zone, checked 10 November 2026). So what does the package include, and how does the process run? This guide breaks down the packages, the setup steps, visas, the 2026 cost picture and tax.
For the wider view on choosing a zone, see our guide to the best free zones in the UAE for 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Meydan is a 100%-digital Dubai free zone with 100% foreign ownership (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026).
- A standard licence starts from AED 12,500; the Fawri instant licence issues in under 60 minutes from AED 15,000.
- Meydan lists up to six visa allocations per licence; ask Meydan in writing how many your office option supports.
- The headline price is for the licence package with a flexi-desk. Meydan charges a visa allocation of AED 1,850 (Meydan Free Zone, checked 10 November 2026); visa processing, medical and Emirates ID come on top, and so do provider, legal, audit and office costs.
- Corporate tax is 9% above AED 375,000 profit; a Qualifying Free Zone Person can keep 0% on qualifying income.
What is Meydan Free Zone?
Meydan Free Zone is a 100%-digital Dubai free zone, offering 100% foreign ownership (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). It is popular with consultants, e-commerce sellers, trading firms and holding companies. The whole setup runs online, with no in-person visit required.
Meydan lists more than 26 partner banks for its companies. Whether a bank opens your account depends on your activity and source of funds.
What can you actually do under a Meydan licence? The zone lists more than 2,500 business activities on its Regular licence and more than 1,800 on its Fawri licence (Meydan Free Zone, checked 10 November 2026), and you can combine up to 3 activity groups under a single licence at no extra cost.1 Additional activities beyond the first three cost AED 1,000 each.
Meydan Free Zone is a 100%-digital Dubai free zone offering 100% foreign ownership and more than 2,500 business activities on its Regular licence, with up to three activity groups combinable under one licence (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). It suits consultants, e-commerce, trading and holding companies that want a Dubai presence without a physical office.
What do Meydan licence packages include?
A Meydan standard digital trade licence starts from AED 12,500 and bundles the licence, up to three activity groups, a flexi-desk and a lease agreement (Meydan FZ, 2026). The Fawri instant licence starts from AED 15,000 and issues in under 60 minutes. Everything beyond that base, visas and offices, is priced as an add-on.
The table below lists Meydan's official 2026 components. Read it with one rule in mind: the base price is what you pay to hold a licence, not to operate with staff or visas.
| Component | Official price (AED, 2026) | Included or add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Standard digital trade licence (base) | from 12,500 | Core: licence + up to 3 activity groups + flexi-desk + lease agreement |
| Fawri instant licence (under 60 min) | from 15,000 | Core alternative |
| Additional activity (beyond first 3) | 1,000 each | Add-on |
| Visa allocation (the quota slot) | 1,850 | Add-on |
| Employment visa (processing) | 3,500 | Add-on |
| Investor or partner visa | ~4,000 | Add-on |
| Dependent visa | ~6,000 per person | Add-on |
| Establishment Card (one-time) | from 2,000 | Add-on |
| mResidency (medical + Emirates ID) | ~2,250 | Add-on |
| Flexi-desk | included | Core |
| Dedicated desk | 3,500 per month | Add-on |
| Shared office | 15,000 per year | Add-on |
| Dedicated office | 30,000 per year | Add-on |
| Multi-year discount | up to 15% off | 2 to 3 year commitments |
The Meydan standard digital trade licence starts from AED 12,500 and bundles up to three activity groups, a flexi-desk and a lease agreement, while the Fawri instant licence starts from AED 15,000 and issues in under 60 minutes (Meydan FZ, 2026). Visas and offices are priced separately as add-ons.
How does the Meydan setup process work?
Setup at Meydan runs online, and the licence itself can issue within 24 hours on the standard route or under 60 minutes via Fawri (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). The whole journey is online. Most founders never set foot in the zone.
The steps in order
The sequence is predictable. First, choose your activity and licence type, keeping within the three free activity groups. Reserve your company name. Prepare your documents: passports, shareholder details, proof of address and a business plan where the activity needs one. Submit through the Meydan portal or via an agent.
Then comes the money and the licence. Pay the fees and receive the licence, in under 60 minutes on Fawri or within 24 hours on the standard route. Obtain your Establishment Card (from AED 2,000, Meydan Free Zone, checked 10 November 2026). Process any visas, which covers the allocation slot, an entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID through mResidency. Open a corporate bank account with one of Meydan's 26+ banking partners. From 13 September 2026 the central bank requires banks to open a low-risk small or medium-sized business account within three business days of a complete application, unless financial-crime checks require more time (CBUAE, checked 10 November 2026). Finally, register for corporate tax through EmaraTax, which is mandatory even at the 0% QFZP rate, and for VAT if your turnover passes AED 375,000.
Meydan Free Zone company setup runs as a digital process, with the licence issued within 24 hours on the standard route or under 60 minutes via the Fawri instant route (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). From 13 September 2026 the central bank requires banks to open a low-risk small or medium-sized business account within three business days of a complete application, unless financial-crime checks require more time (CBUAE, 2026).
How many visas and what office options does Meydan offer?
A Meydan licence allows up to six visa allocations (Meydan FZ, 2026). Ask Meydan in writing how many visas your office option supports before you choose it.
Office choices run from the included flexi-desk up to dedicated space. A dedicated desk costs AED 3,500 per month, a shared office AED 15,000 per year, and a dedicated office AED 30,000 per year. Each visa carries its own costs on top: an allocation slot at AED 1,850, processing from AED 3,500 for employment or about AED 4,000 for an investor visa, plus the medical and Emirates ID through mResidency at about AED 2,250.
A Meydan Free Zone licence supports up to six visa allocations (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). Office options range from the included flexi-desk to a dedicated office at AED 30,000 per year.
What does Meydan Free Zone cost in 2026?
A Meydan company costs from AED 12,500 for the licence package with a flexi-desk, and Meydan's own visa and immigration fees come on top, as do provider, legal, audit and office costs (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). Always separate the licence fee from the other costs.
How does Meydan compare with rival Dubai zones on the base licence? IFZA publishes no price on its own site (IFZA, checked 10 November 2026), while Meydan publishes a starting price of AED 12,500 (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). Activity fit, visa quota and banking support usually matter more than the base price.
For a full cost model across visas, offices and multi-year discounts, see our breakdown of the cost to set up a company in Dubai in 2026.
A Meydan Free Zone company costs from AED 12,500 for the licence package with a flexi-desk, and visa fees and provider, legal, audit and office costs come on top (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). The headline figure is for the licence package and excludes any visa.
How is a Meydan company taxed in 2026?
A Meydan company pays UAE corporate tax of 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below it, while a Qualifying Free Zone Person can keep a 0% rate on qualifying income (Acclime UAE, citing Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022, 2026). VAT applies at 5%. Free-zone status reduces tax, but it does not remove the obligation to register.
The QFZP relief is conditional, not automatic. A company must meet every condition, each year, to keep the 0% rate on qualifying income; if it fails one, it is taxed under the standard rules and rates (0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above) for that period and the next four (UAE Federal Tax Authority, 2024). Here is the catch that catches e-commerce and consultancy founders. Income from mainland customers is qualifying only where it comes from a qualifying activity; other mainland income is generally non-qualifying and taxed at 9%, unless it stays within the small-amount limits the FTA sets, even for a free-zone company.
Registration is mandatory regardless. Every Meydan company must register for corporate tax through EmaraTax, even one sitting at the 0% QFZP rate (UAE Federal Tax Authority, 2026). For the full UAE corporate-tax landscape, see the FTA's corporate tax page. Meydan also offers a dual-licence or mainland-access option for founders who expect to sell into the local market.
A Meydan Free Zone company pays UAE corporate tax of 9% on profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below, while a Qualifying Free Zone Person can retain 0% on qualifying income subject to conditions (Acclime UAE, citing Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022, 2026). Income from mainland customers is qualifying only where it comes from a qualifying activity; other mainland income is generally non-qualifying and taxed at 9%, unless it stays within the small-amount limits the FTA sets.
Will your Meydan company hold shares or other assets? Talk to Ancova about foundations and holding companies, to see whether one should sit above it.
The Meydan fees, activity counts and set-up times, the central bank account rule and the free zone tax conditions on this page were checked on 10 November 2026 against Meydan Free Zone's own pages, the Central Bank of the UAE rulebook and the UAE Federal Tax Authority's guide for free zone persons.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Meydan free zone licence cost?
A Meydan free zone licence starts from AED 12,500 for the licence package with a flexi-desk, with no visa attached (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). The visa allocation, processing, establishment card and medical come on top, as do provider, legal, audit and office costs.
How long does Meydan free zone setup take?
A Meydan licence can issue in under 60 minutes via the Fawri route or within 24 hours on the standard digital route (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026).
How many visas can a Meydan company get?
A Meydan licence supports up to six visa allocations (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026). Ask Meydan in writing how many visas your office option supports.
Does a Meydan company pay corporate tax?
A Meydan company pays 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below it (Acclime UAE, 2026). A Qualifying Free Zone Person can keep 0% on qualifying income, but every company must still register for corporate tax through EmaraTax.
Can a Meydan company sell to the UAE mainland?
Yes. For a Qualifying Free Zone Person, mainland-customer income keeps the 0% rate only where it comes from a qualifying activity; other mainland income is generally non-qualifying and taxed at 9%, unless it stays within the small-amount limits the FTA sets (UAE Federal Tax Authority, 2024). Meydan offers a dual-licence or mainland-access option for this.
What is the verdict on Meydan Free Zone?
Meydan works well for founders who want a digital Dubai company fast, with a recognisable address and a clear visa path up to six people. The licence package starts from AED 12,500, the Fawri route issues in under 60 minutes, and 100% foreign ownership is standard. Just read the price for what it is. The headline is for the licence package, and visa, provider, legal, audit and office costs come on top.
Match the zone to your plan, not the brochure. If most of your customers sit on the UAE mainland, factor in the 9% tax on that income and consider the dual-licence option from the start. To compare Meydan against the alternatives, read our guide to the best free zones in the UAE for 2026 and our pillar on Dubai company formation across mainland, free zone and offshore.
1 Meydan's own pages give 2,500+ activities for the Regular licence and 1,800+ for the Fawri licence (Meydan FZ, checked 10 November 2026); the practical limit is the three activity groups combinable free under one licence.
Sources
- Meydan Free Zone, "Meydan Free Zone Company Setup Cost Breakdown," retrieved 2026-11-10, https://www.meydanfz.ae/blog/meydan-free-zone-company-setup-cost-breakdown
- Meydan Free Zone, homepage and licence packages, retrieved 2026-11-10, https://www.meydanfz.ae/
- Meydan Free Zone, "Dubai trade license AED 12,500", retrieved 2026-11-10, https://www.meydanfz.ae/dubai-trade-license-aed-12500
- IFZA, home page, retrieved 2026-11-10, https://ifza.com/en/
- Acclime UAE, "Corporate Tax in UAE Free Zones" (citing Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022), retrieved 2026-06-13, https://uae.acclime.com/guides/corporate-tax-free-zones/
- UAE Federal Tax Authority, "Corporate Tax," retrieved 2026-06-13, https://tax.gov.ae/en/taxes/corporate.tax.aspx
- UAE Federal Tax Authority, "Corporate Tax Guide: Free Zone Persons (CTGFZP1)", May 2024, retrieved 2026-11-10, https://tax.gov.ae/Datafolder/Files/Guides/CT/Free%20Zone%20Persons%20-%2020%2005%202024%20final%20for%20GCD.pdf
- Central Bank of the UAE, "Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Customer Protection Regulation" (Circular 2/2026), retrieved 2026-11-10, https://rulebook.centralbank.ae/en/rulebook/small-medium-sized-enterprises-sme-customer-protection-regulation
Written by
Amine Derag
Director of Strategy, Ancova Associates
Amine Derag is Director of Strategy at Ancova Associates, the Dubai advisory firm for company formation, residency, citizenship by investment, and cross-border tax structuring. He advises founders and private clients relocating to the UAE on how a UAE structure interacts with their home-country tax and reporting obligations.
Connect on LinkedInThis article is general information for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. Investment thresholds, processing times, and program terms change — speak with a qualified Ancova adviser before acting.
