Meydan Free Zone: 2026 License Costs and Setup Guide
Meydan Free Zone charges AED 12,500 per year for every license type (trade, freelance, and e-commerce) in 2026, with a virtual office address included in the price. Residence visas are priced separately at AED 3,500 per person, up to 6 visas per license, plus an establishment card at AED 2,000 in year one (AED 2,200 on renewal). The zone sits by the Meydan Racecourse in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai.
Meydan Free Zone Fee Table (2026)
Meydan Free Zone publishes one flat license price for 2026, AED 12,500 per year including the registered address, with residence visas at AED 3,500 per person and an AED 2,000 establishment card; the table lists every published fee.
| Item | Fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| License (trade / freelance / e-commerce), incl. virtual office | 12,500 / yr |
| License renewal | 12,500 / yr |
| Residence visa | 3,500 per person (up to 6) |
| Establishment card, year one | 2,000 |
| Establishment card renewal | 2,200 |
| Realistic first year, 1 visa | ~18,000–21,000 |
Fees per 2026 guides by SafeLedger and Freezones List. The realistic first-year figure adds medical and Emirates ID processing to the license, establishment card, and one visa; confirm the current schedule with Meydan at application.
Where Meydan Beats IFZA and Dubai South
Meydan's flat AED 12,500 includes the registered address, so the advertised price is closer to the real price than at most zones, and per-head visa pricing (AED 3,500) is transparent. IFZA prices visa capacity into the license tier (about AED 14,900 for 1 slot, AED 19,900 for 3), which can be cheaper at zero visas and more expensive per added visa. Dubai South still has the lowest entry point (from AED 8,500) but with narrower entry-package activities. Meydan suits e-commerce sellers and consultants who want one predictable annual number and a "Dubai" address without office rent.
Meydan Setup Steps
A Meydan Free Zone company forms in five steps through the zone's own application process, and the license typically issues within days.
- Choose up to 3 activities (more can be added for a fee) and reserve the trade name.
- Submit passport copies and the application through Meydan's online portal.
- Pay the AED 12,500 license invoice; the license typically issues within days.
- Apply for the establishment card (AED 2,000), then visas at AED 3,500 per person plus medical and Emirates ID.
- Open the bank account; see the bank account guide for what compliance asks.
Points to Check Before Choosing Meydan
Four points deserve a check before committing to Meydan Free Zone: external activity approvals, bank onboarding timelines, real-office needs, and the federal tax duties no zone removes.
- Activity approvals: some regulated activities (finance, education, health) need external approvals that add time and fees at any zone, Meydan included.
- Banking: Meydan companies open UAE accounts routinely, but expect the standard 2-8 week compliance review; a UAE-resident signatory speeds it up.
- Physical office needs: the included address is virtual. A company that needs real desks upgrades to paid workspace, which moves total costs toward IFZA/DMCC territory.
- Corporate tax duties are unchanged: registration with the FTA is mandatory, and the 0% rate applies only to qualifying income under QFZP rules.