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  1. Home
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  4. ›Meydan

Meydan Free Zone: setup cost, visas and licences

Dubai · Meydan City Corp · Est. 2009

FreelancersConsultantsE-commerceSide Hustlers

Meydan Free Zone is a digital-first free zone located at the Meydan Hotel complex near Downtown Dubai. Packages start from AED 12,500, supporting up to 6 visa allocations with moderate banking access. Meydan offers over 2,500 permitted activities, instant licensing capability (Fawri license), and a fully online onboarding process tailored for freelancers, consultants, and digital service SMEs.

Set up in Meydan: talk to an adviser Visa and renewal costs

Fees last checked June 2026 · Licensing authority: Meydan City Corp. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with the authority before you pay.

From

AED 12,500

Year 1

Quick facts

Registered companies1,000+
Banking difficultyModerate
Dependent visasAllowed

Pricing packages

Regular License (No Visa)

AED 12,500

— · Flexi Desk · 0 visas

Renews at AED 12,500

Fawri License (60-Min Instant)

AED 15,000

— · Virtual · 0 visas

Renews at AED 15,000

1 Visa Package

AED 29,100

— · Flexi Desk · 1 visa

Renews at AED 23,350

2 Visa Package

AED 38,600

— · Flexi Desk · 2 visas

Renews at AED 25,600

E-Commerce Package

AED 27,750

— · Flexi Desk · 1 visa

Renews at AED 22,000

6 Visa Package

AED 61,100

— · Flexi Desk · 6 visas

Renews at AED 35,100

Meydan visa, renewal and office costs

Typical setup costAED 12,500 – AED 20,000
Annual renewalAED 9,500 – AED 15,000
Visas per desk3
Most visas in a published package6 (6 Visa Package)
Dependent (family) visaAED 5,000
Minimum share capitalNone for a standard company

Visa renewal every 2-3 years

Business activities in Meydan

Software & Tech

Features

Mainland trading

Yes

Dual licence allowed

No

Crypto-friendly

No

Shared ownership

Yes

Coworking available

No

Online portal

Yes

Audit required

Yes

Tax and compliance analysis

Substance

Medium

Audit risk

Moderate

Forensic ease

6/10

High-Velocity Digital Node; The 'B2C Mainland' Compliance Frontier.

Meydan Free Zone is a digital-first jurisdiction optimized for e-commerce and professional freelancers. For 2026, the primary forensic hurdle is the 'Consumer Leakage' trap. Unlike B2B wholesale, selling digital services or physical goods directly to individuals (natural persons) on the UAE mainland is classified as 'Excluded Income.' Meydan entities must implement a real-time 'Revenue Sentry' to ensure these non-qualifying sales do not breach the 5% de-minimis threshold, which would trigger a 5-year disqualification from the 0% regime.

Statutory basis

Officially recognized as a Qualified Free Zone (QFZ). Article 18 status for e-commerce is contingent on satisfying the 'Adequate Substance' test and maintaining audited financial statements by Meydan-approved auditors.

Compliance roadmap

  1. Revenue Sentry Implementation: Automated P&L segregation between 'Qualifying' (FZ/Export) and 'Non-Qualifying' (Mainland B2C) income
  2. Statutory Audit Alignment: Ensuring annual audits are conducted by a Meydan-approved firm to preserve QFZP eligibility
  3. 5% Leakage Monitoring: Quarterly forensic reviews to prevent accidental breaches of the de-minimis revenue ceiling

Common pitfalls

  • Selling goods to mainland individuals (B2C) without collecting 5% VAT or tracking the 5% CT threshold
  • Accidental 5-year disqualification (The 'Cliff Edge') following a minor de-minimis breach
  • Assuming 'Small Business Relief' (Art. 21) is perpetual—it is currently set to expire on 31 Dec 2026

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Tax and compliance

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Common questions

How much does it cost to set up in Meydan?

The cheapest published package for Meydan Free Zone is Regular License (No Visa) at AED 12,500 for Year 1, renewing at AED 12,500. Costs scale with visa count, office type, and licensed activities.

Is banking easy to set up with a Meydan licence?

Banking difficulty for Meydan is rated "Moderate". Known banking partners include Emirates NBD, Mashreq Bank, RAKBANK, HSBC, ADIB, Wio Business.

How many visas can I get with a Meydan licence, and what do they cost?

Meydan allows 3 visas per desk. Published packages include up to 6 visas (6 Visa Package, AED 61,100 for Year 1). A dependent (family) visa costs about AED 5,000. Visa renewal every 2-3 years

How much is the Meydan licence renewal each year?

Annual renewal runs from AED 9,500 to AED 15,000, depending on the package, office and visa count.

What is the minimum share capital in Meydan?

Meydan sets no minimum share capital for a standard company, though some activities and entity types carry their own requirement.

Can a Meydan company trade on the UAE mainland?

Yes, Meydan offers a route to trade on the mainland. Check the conditions for your activity before you rely on it.

Meydan might be right — or your business might need something else entirely

Tell Scout what your business does and how many visas you need. It prices every zone that can license you, this one included, from the fees each publishes. Your shortlist is free.

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