Meydan Free Zone company setup gives founders 100% foreign ownership, a trade license issued online within 24 hours, and starting fees from AED 12,500 (about USD 3,400). Choosing where to incorporate in Dubai is the first hard call, and Meydan answers it for founders who want speed and full ownership without a local partner. Check live pricing on the official Meydan Free Zone website.
Here is the honest verdict. Meydan suits founders who want fast, fully digital Dubai incorporation with 100% ownership. The license fee sits above the UAE’s budget free zones, so weigh the premium against the speed and support you get.
What Is Meydan Free Zone?
Meydan Free Zone is a mixed-use free zone in Dubai’s Meydan district, minutes from Downtown Dubai, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and Dubai International Airport. It offers 2,500+ business activities under a single trade license through a fully digital, paperless setup platform, per Meydan Free Zone. The zone carries the premium Meydan brand, home to the Meydan Racecourse and hospitality landmarks.
Why Set Up a Company in Meydan Free Zone?
Set up in Meydan Free Zone for 100% foreign ownership, a central Dubai location, license validity up to 10 years, and an all-digital process you run from anywhere, per Meydan Free Zone. No local sponsor is required. Full profit repatriation applies, with no currency controls.
- 100% foreign ownership: no local sponsor or Emirati partner required.
- Strategic location: quick access to Dubai mainland, Dubai International Airport, and ports, and a gateway to GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian markets.
- No currency restrictions: full repatriation of capital and profits, no exchange controls, and freedom to operate in any currency.
- Extended license validity: licenses valid for up to 10 years, versus the standard 1-year term at most free zones, per Meydan Free Zone.
- All-digital setup: a paperless application you complete remotely, then run the company from anywhere.
- Meydan Plus support ecosystem: mCore, mAccounting, and mAssist bundle banking, bookkeeping, and admin services (full detail below).
- Dubai mainland office option: open a mainland office with a No Objection Certificate (NOC), combining free zone and mainland advantages.
How Do You Set Up a Company in Meydan Free Zone?
You set up a Meydan Free Zone company in three fully online steps, with the standard license issued within 24 hours or in under 60 minutes using the Fawri instant license, per Meydan Free Zone. Choose a structure, clear a name, then apply and submit documents.
- Choose a business structure: all Meydan Free Zone companies form as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs).
- Choose and check a company name: verify availability with the official Meydan Free Zone name-check tool.
- Apply for the trade license online and submit your documents.
Incorporation can begin using the responsible party’s or director’s details rather than a physical office address, with the workspace requirement arranged later before the trade license issues. Note that personal documents such as degree attestations and board resolutions often need embassy notarization in the home country first, so start that step early. The base package bundles workspace, visa eligibility, and bank account opening assistance. See the cost section below for what each tier includes.
What Trade License Types Does Meydan Free Zone Offer?
Meydan Free Zone offers three main products: standard Dubai Company Formation, the Fawri instant license, and the Non-Resident License. All three draw activities from the same list and form the company as an LLC.
| License type | Starting price | Turnaround | Key feature | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Company Formation | AED 12,500 (~USD 3,400) | Within 24 hours | Flexi desk workspace included | Meydan Free Zone |
| Fawri Instant License | AED 15,000 (~USD 4,085) | Under 60 minutes | Money-back guarantee if late | Meydan Free Zone |
| Non-Resident License | AED 12,500 (~USD 3,400) | Fully online | No UAE visit or relocation required | Meydan Free Zone |
Every license covers up to 3 activity groups drawn from the single 2,500+ activity list. Meydan Free Zone launched Fawri on April 24, 2025, calling its 60-minute money-back guarantee a regional first, per Khaleej Times.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Company in Meydan Free Zone?
Meydan Free Zone setup starts from AED 12,500 (about USD 3,400 at the fixed 3.6725 peg) for the standard 1-year formation package, per Meydan Free Zone. The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED since 1997, per the Central Bank of the UAE. Add visas, office upgrades, and renewals for the true total.
| Cost item | Amount (AED) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard trade license (1 year) | AED 12,500 (~USD 3,400) | Meydan Free Zone |
| Fawri instant license | AED 15,000 (~USD 4,085) | Meydan Free Zone |
| Extra activity group (Fawri) | AED 1,000 each | Meydan Free Zone |
| Flexi desk workspace | Included free | Meydan Free Zone |
| Dedicated desk | AED 3,500 / month | Meydan Free Zone |
| Shared office | AED 15,000 / year | Meydan Free Zone |
| Dedicated office | AED 30,000 / year | Meydan Free Zone |
| Multi-year term discount | Up to 15% off | Meydan Free Zone |
| Late renewal fine | AED 200 / month after 30-day grace | Meydan Free Zone |
What Is Included in the Meydan Free Zone Setup Package?
The base package includes the trade license, a free flexi desk that satisfies the workspace requirement, visa eligibility, and bank account opening assistance, per Meydan Free Zone. No paid-up share capital is required, and no mandatory physical office lease applies. Higher package tiers add office space and larger visa quotas, which raise the price.
How Much Does a Meydan Free Zone Visa Cost?
A Meydan Free Zone employment visa costs AED 3,500 per person, plus a one-time AED 1,850 allocation fee, per Meydan Free Zone. Visa capacity is tied to your workspace tier, not a flat 6-visa cap. Standard licenses allow up to 6 visas by default, while the Regular Business License is listed as offering unlimited visas, scaling with office upgrades.
| Visa type | Cost (AED) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visa allocation fee | AED 1,850 | Meydan Free Zone |
| Employment visa | AED 3,500 | Meydan Free Zone |
| Investor / partner visa | ~AED 4,000 | Meydan Free Zone |
| Dependent visa | ~AED 6,000 | Meydan Free Zone |
An Investor/Partner visa requires a minimum AED 50,000 declared share capital, per Meydan Free Zone.
What Documents Are Required for Meydan Free Zone Company Setup?
Individual applicants need passport copies of all shareholders and managers, per Meydan Free Zone. Corporate shareholders and branches need parent company documents, including incorporation and authorization papers. Requirements can vary by activity, so confirm the current checklist during your application.
Documents for Individual Shareholders
- Passport copies of all shareholders and managers.
Documents for Corporate Shareholders and Branches
- Certificate of Incorporation.
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA/AOA).
- Board Resolution naming the appointed managers, directors, and shareholders, and authorizing the new Meydan Free Zone entity.
Personal documents such as degree attestations and board resolutions for UAE-bound directors frequently need embassy notarization or legalization in the home country before incorporation proceeds. This step can take a couple of weeks, so begin it early to avoid delaying the trade license application.
What Business Activities Are Permitted in Meydan Free Zone?
One Meydan Free Zone trade license covers 2,500+ activities across 16 categories, unlike free zones that require separate commercial, service, or media licenses, per Meydan Free Zone. That single-license model lets a company run several activity types without holding multiple licenses.
The 16 official categories are Administrative, Healthcare Services, Agriculture, ICT (Information and Communications Technology), Sewerage, Art, Maintenance, Trading, Education, Manufacturing, Transportation, F&B and Rentals, Professional, Waste Collection, Financial, and Real Estate. The Agriculture category includes a distinctive equine and horse-racing niche. See the official Meydan Free Zone business activities list for the full catalog.
Each license covers up to 3 activity groups, and additional activities can carry a fee, such as AED 1,000 per extra activity on the Fawri license, per Meydan Free Zone.
Is Meydan Free Zone Tax-Free?
No, not automatically. The UAE levies 9% federal corporate tax on taxable income above AED 375,000, effective for financial years starting June 2023. Free zone companies can qualify for 0% on qualifying income as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP), subject to substance and de minimis conditions. Personal income tax stays at 0%.
| Tax | Rate | Threshold or condition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax (standard) | 0% / 9% | 0% up to AED 375,000; 9% above | UAE Government |
| Corporate tax (QFZP) | 0% / 9% | 0% on qualifying income; 9% on non-qualifying; no AED 375,000 band | UAE Federal Tax Authority |
| QFZP de minimis limit | Pass/fail | Non-qualifying revenue under the lower of AED 5,000,000 or 5% of total | UAE Federal Tax Authority |
| Small Business Relief | 0% effective | Revenue at or below AED 3,000,000 treated as zero taxable income | UAE Federal Tax Authority |
| VAT (Value Added Tax) | 5% | Mandatory at AED 375,000; voluntary at AED 187,500 | UAE Federal Tax Authority |
| Personal income tax | 0% | No threshold | UAE Government |
Free zone companies must also meet Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) obligations to stay compliant and protect QFZP status.
Can You Set Up a Meydan Free Zone Company Without Living in the UAE?
Yes. The Non-Resident License, from AED 12,500, lets founders incorporate and open a corporate bank account entirely online without relocating or visiting the UAE, per Meydan Free Zone. It suits remote founders, digital nomads, and holding structures. It does not grant a UAE residence visa, which requires separate processing and, for investors, a minimum AED 50,000 share capital.
What Support Services Does Meydan Free Zone Provide?
Meydan Plus bundles company services under four modules: mCore, mAccounting, mAssist, and mCommerce, per Meydan Free Zone. Together they cover banking, bookkeeping, admin, and sales channels after formation.
- mCore: bank account opening assistance, business cards, and mail management.
- mAccounting: bookkeeping, VAT registration, and financial audits.
- mAssist: phone answering, PO box setup, and legal document translation.
- mCommerce: access to 20+ marketplaces and e-commerce channels.
How Commenda Helps With Meydan Free Zone Company Setup
Meydan Free Zone suits founders who want fast, fully digital Dubai incorporation with 100% ownership, though the license fee sits above the UAE’s budget free zones. Weigh that premium against the speed and support before you commit.
Commenda handles cross-border incorporation end to end through its incorporation service, then keeps your entity compliant after formation with entity management, including UAE corporate tax and VAT obligations. Track every renewal and filing deadline with Commenda’s compliance calendar, so a missed license renewal never freezes your bank account.
Book a demo to map the full cost and compliance timeline for your UAE entity before you commit.
