Updated July 2026 · Meydan Free Zone fees
Meydan Free Zone Cost
From AED 12,500 — the lowest headline price for a central-Dubai licence.
A zero-visa Meydan licence costs AED 12,500 in government fees, or AED 20,670 with one residence visa. Meydan gives a premium central-Dubai address and a catalogue of 2,500+ activities, which is why it suits e-commerce, consultancy and marketing businesses that sell on their Dubai credentials.
Government cost from
AED 12,500
zero-visa licence · Meydan Free Zone
- Zero visaAED 12,500
- With 1 residence visaAED 20,670
- Setup time1–2 weeks
- Ownership100% foreign
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In brief: A Meydan Free Zone licence costs AED 12,500 in government fees with no visas, or AED 20,670 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 26,820 and three cost AED 32,970. Meydan has the lowest headline price of any central-Dubai free zone, but its first visa adds AED 8,170 — so if you need residency, IFZA works out about AED 2,970 cheaper despite a higher starting figure. Meydan offers 2,500+ activities and a premium Dubai address, and typically issues in one to two weeks. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
What it costs — line by line
These are the government line items. Ranges are real variation by activity and legal form, not padding — where a figure genuinely moves, we show the span rather than a flattering minimum.
| Government item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa licence | AED 12,500 | Trade licence and company registration |
| Licence with 1 residence visa | AED 20,670 | Adds entry permit, medical and Emirates ID |
| Licence with 2 residence visas | AED 26,820 | Suits a founder plus spouse or one employee |
| Typical start — founder with residency | AED 20,670 | One licence, one residence visa, government cost |
What each visa adds
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First residence visa | + AED 8,170 | A large step — worth comparing against IFZA before deciding |
| Second residence visa | + AED 6,150 | Cheaper than the first, which carries the one-off setup |
| Third residence visa | + AED 6,150 | Flat from the second visa onward |
Indicative government costs as at July 2026. They exclude Avyanco’s professional fee, office rent, VAT where applicable and external-approval charges for regulated activities. Government fees are set by the authorities and change — confirm the live figure for your activity and visa mix before budgeting.
What the price includes — and what it doesn’t
Most “cheap setup” quotes fall apart here. This is the honest split.
Included in the figures above
- Trade licence issued by Meydan Free Zone
- Company registration and incorporation documents
- Access to a catalogue of 2,500+ business activities
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- Flexi-desk facility bundled into the standard packages
Additional, quoted separately
- A physical office beyond the bundled flexi-desk
- Visas for dependants — spouse and children are priced separately
- External approvals for regulated activities
- Corporate bank-account opening and minimum balances
- VAT and corporate-tax registration, bookkeeping and audit
- Avyanco's professional service fee, quoted separately
Download the complete Meydan fact sheet
The table above answers the headline question. The fact sheet answers the next ten — every visa tier priced out, what year two costs, and how it stacks up against the cheaper free zones. It is the same one-pager our advisers send to clients, and it is free.
Free PDF · instant download
Download the full Meydan fact sheet
The one-page sheet our advisers quote from — every number, on one page. Yours free.
- Every cost priced for 0, 1, 2 and 3 visas
- Renewal costs — what year two really costs
- Meydan vs IFZA and DMCC, side by side
- Document checklist and realistic timeline
What actually moves the price
Two companies registered on the same day can differ by more than AED 10,000. These are the factors that decide where you land in the range.
Number of visas
The decisive factor at Meydan. The bare licence is the cheapest in central Dubai, but the first visa adds AED 8,170 — more than any other zone on our list. If you need residency, price IFZA alongside it before committing.
Activity mix
Meydan's 2,500+ activity catalogue and multi-activity licences suit businesses that do several related things. Confirm your exact activities are available before you commit — catalogue breadth is not the same as everything being permitted.
Facility
The bundled flexi-desk covers most consultancies and online businesses. A physical office at Meydan is a Dubai lease and priced accordingly.
The address itself
This is a real cost driver, not marketing. A central-Dubai address is worth paying for if your clients are in Dubai and judge you on it — and worth nothing if your customers are overseas and never see it.
Renewal, not just setup
Compare year two. The gap between zones often narrows or widens at renewal, and you will renew far more times than you incorporate.
How long it takes
- 1
Day 1 — Activity & package
We confirm your activities are in the Meydan catalogue and pick the package tier for your visa count.
- 2
Day 1–3 — Name & application
Trade name reserved and the application filed with Meydan Free Zone.
- 3
Week 1–2 — Licence issued
Incorporation documents and trade licence issued, typically within one to two weeks.
- 4
Week 2 — Establishment card
Immigration card issued so the company can sponsor residence visas.
- 5
Week 2–4 — Visas
Entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID for each person.
- 6
After licensing — Bank & compliance
Corporate account opening, corporate tax registration and bookkeeping set up.
Get a quote with the government fees shown separately
Tell us the activity and how many visas you need. You will get a written figure that separates what goes to the authorities from what goes to us — no bundled “all-in” number hiding the difference.
Compare before you commit
Cost is one input. Where you can trade, who your customers are and what banking you need matter just as much. Read the meydan free zone page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does a Meydan Free Zone licence cost?
AED 12,500 in government fees for a zero-visa licence, or AED 20,670 including one residence visa. Two visas cost AED 26,820 and three cost AED 32,970. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
Is Meydan the cheapest Dubai free zone?
On a bare licence, yes — AED 12,500 is the lowest headline price in central Dubai, AED 400 below IFZA. But with one residence visa Meydan costs AED 20,670 against IFZA's AED 17,700, so IFZA is AED 2,970 cheaper for most founders. Compare at the visa count you actually need, not at zero.
Why is Meydan's first visa so expensive?
It reflects how the packages are tiered rather than the visa itself — the one-visa package bundles the establishment card and visa processing at Meydan's own rate. It is not a hidden charge, but it does mean the headline price is a poor guide to what you will actually pay.
What is Meydan best for?
E-commerce, consultancy, marketing and digital businesses that want a recognisable central-Dubai address without DMCC or DIFC pricing. The 2,500+ activity catalogue and multi-activity licences suit businesses doing several related things.
Does the price include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure here is government cost paid to Meydan Free Zone. Our professional fee is quoted separately and transparently.
How long does Meydan setup take?
Typically one to two weeks from a complete document set to a licence in hand. Residence visas run after the licence and establishment card are issued, usually adding one to two weeks per person.
Can I open a bank account with a Meydan licence?
Yes. Meydan is an established Dubai free zone and banks are familiar with it. Approval still depends on your activity, documentation and business substance rather than the zone alone.
Can a Meydan company trade in the UAE?
It can serve clients across the UAE and internationally, but like any free-zone company it cannot trade directly onshore without a distributor or a mainland branch. E-commerce, consultancy and international trade are unaffected.
What does renewal cost?
Less than first-year setup, because registration and establishment-card costs are one-off. The licence and any visas renew on their own cycles. Exact renewal figures are in the fact sheet.
Does a Meydan company pay corporate tax?
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above it. A qualifying free-zone person can access 0% on qualifying income subject to strict conditions — it is not automatic. VAT registration becomes mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies.
Meydan or IFZA — which should I choose?
If you need a residence visa, IFZA is cheaper by about AED 2,970 and issues faster. Choose Meydan if the specific address matters to how you sell, or if your activity sits better in Meydan's catalogue. On price alone at one visa, IFZA wins — and we will tell you that even though both are Dubai licences.
Pricing note. Figures on this page are indicative government costs as at July 2026, published so you can budget realistically. They are set by the relevant UAE authorities, vary by activity, legal form, visa mix and office type, and change over time. They exclude Avyanco’s professional service fee, office rent and any external-approval charges. This is general guidance, not a quotation — confirm your specific position with us before acting.