Meydan Free Zone

Company setup from AED 12,500

Registration from 6 days

Bank account Guaranteed

Remote company setup Available

Emirabiz experts’ opinion

MFZ authorized partner

Is MFZ suitable for your business?

— Yes,

• if you are planning to engage in activities related to media, consulting, professional services, or retail.
• if you are looking for a low-cost business setup solution in Dubai, as MFZ is considered the most cost-effective and affordable free zone in the emirate.
• if you want your company’s office to be positioned in the heart of Dubai with prime logistic opportunities, as MFZ occupies the premises of Meydan Hotel located near Downtown Dubai, the Dubai Logistics Corridor, and Dubai International Airport.
• if your business model does not require warehouses or industrial facilities and instead can make use of a flexi-desk, co-working space, or office.

You can also consider similar-priced free zones in Dubai, like IFZA, or company formation in other emirates, such as the UAQ Free Zone.

— No,

• if you are involved in manufacturing or engage in logistics and need warehouses, transport hubs, and large production spaces. For these business activities, we recommend RAKEZ or JAFZA free zones.

MFZ company formation process

The timeframe of business setup at the Meydan Free Zone can vary from 6 to 8 work days starting from the date of submission of all the required documents. MFZ business setup can be done remotely, visitation to the free zone for the visa process is not required.

Company registration procedure in MFZ

Step 1. Choose your business activities and license type.

Determine the business activities of your future company and the corresponding license type. This is a key aspect of business setup, as choosing the wrong activity and license can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or even making such opening impossible. Note that MFZ allows for up to 10 activities under
a single license, 3 of them for free.

Step 2. Determine the legal entity of your business.

Specify the legal status of your business in the Meydan Free Zone. Available company formation types at MFZ include FZ LLC (Free Zone Limited Liability Company) or a branch of an already existing company registered in another free zone, in the Dubai mainland, or abroad.

Step 3. Prepare and file the required documentation.

Prepare and submit the documents required by the free zone authority together with a filled-out application, and pay the fees. MFZ requires the following document set:

• Your passport with 6 months validity
• Visa copy (if applicable)
• Passport and visa copies of shareholders
• 3 company name options according to preference
• Confirmation of business activity
• E-mail
• Residential address
• Mobile number

Registration can be completed remotely without your physical presence and typically takes 6-8 days. Note that individual shareholders, corporate shareholders, and company branches require different sets of documents.

Step 4. Collect the license and registration documents.

Receive the license and registration documents for the company, including:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Trade license
• Articles of Association
• Memorandum of Association
• Lease agreement

Step 5. Secure your Establishment Card.

Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes.

Step 6. Apply for an entry permit.

Apply for an entry permit. If you’re outside of the UAE during the processing of the entry permit, you will need to come to the country when the document is issued within 60 days to complete the medical test and biometrics for your visa. If you’re in the UAE when the entry permit is issued, a status change will be done from your previous UAE tourist/residency visa to the new one.

Step 7. Take a medical test and submit visa documents.

Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residence visa. Different registration packages may provide for a varying number of visas available for owners and employees of the company. Note that at MFZ, your presence is required for visa-related
procedures.

Step 8. Collect your Emirates ID.

Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card.

Step 9. Open a bank account.

Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. In some cases, the bank’s approval may take a month. Once you receive your account details, you are free to start running your business.

MFZ license costs

The cost of a Meydan Free Zone license depends on the number of business activities and visa quotas and starts from AED 12,520. This license package includes 3 business activities, company registration fees, and a flexi-desk.

Naturally, other company formation options with increased office space, more business activities and more visa quotas will come at a higher price. The license package with the visa fees includes:

• MFZ license fees
• MFZ Establishment Card
• MFZ visa fee
• Medical checkup
• Emirates ID

MFZ licenses and business activities

Meydan Free Zone’s business activity list includes more than 2,500 activities grouped under 3 different license types. You can choose either one or multiple activities, with up to 10 business activities, 3 of which are free, under a single business license, even without a rented office. The full activity list of MFZ can be found here.

Below you can find the list of business licenses supported by MFZ and their descriptions.

You can also engage in such business activities as light manufacturing (tailoring or textile printing) or logistics provided that you have the necessary facilities outside the territory of the Meydan Free Zone.

MFZ facilities

Meydan Free Zone offers a great selection of facilities for carrying out your business whether it is a small start-up or a large company.

Below are the accommodation options available at the Meydan Free Zone.

This free zone resides within the premises of Meydan Hotel and boasts a prime location at the very heart of Dubai and in close proximity to the Downtown area. So, here you can rent an office and enjoy the views of Burj Khalifa, horse racing track, and Meydan Golf Course.

For those who don’t need this central location, MFZ allows for renting an office in any business center outside the free zone.

MFZ residence visas

MFZ visa costs (AED):

Entry permits can be processed while the applicant is outside the UAE, while the rest of the visa-related procedures require the physical presence of the applicant.

If you want to bring your family to the UAE and open dependent visas also known as family visas for them, you need to satisfy these requirements:

1. Rent an apartment in UAE. The tenancy contract must be in the name of the sponsor.
2. Attest the marriage certificate and birth certificate of the children in the UAE Embassy in the country of origin and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.
3. Translate the marriage and birth certificates into Arabic.

MFZ company license renewal

The license renewal process at the Meydan Free Zone is easy and straightforward. The price is the same as the first-year license registration cost plus additional costs (if applicable).

Note that no amendment charges are applied for making changes during company renewal. To renew your MFZ business license, make sure you, submit an application form with the required documents to the free zone authorities, pay the renewal fees, and wait for your license to be renewed.

MFZ company amendments and regulations

If you want to make any changes in your company during the renewal, there are no amendment charges. Meydan Free Zone additionally charges AED 2,000 for any amendments that are not done during the license renewal. Any removal or edit of business activity is treated as a license amendment.

The list of company amendments supported by MFZ includes:

• Changing the company name
• Changing managers/shareholders
• Changing the company’s business activities
• Appointing or resigning positions
• Transferring company shares
• And others

To make changes to your company, initiate the amendment by contacting the MFZ authorities or your business setup consultant, pay the amendment fee, and wait for the amendment confirmation.

MFZ company liquidation

MFZ is one of the most affordable free zones when it comes to the cost of liquidation. They understand the importance of making the liquidation process as easy as possible. To complete the procedure, you will need to conduct a liquidation audit through an authorized UAE auditor, cancel the residency visas under the company, and pay the applicable liquidation fees.

The liquidation procedure will be the following:

1. Provide the following mandatory documents:

• board resolution signed by the shareholders and stating the reason for the company liquidation
• deregistration documentation
• visa cancellation documentation
• copies of passports and visas for all visa holders
• audit report

2. Pay cancellation fees and settle other payments

3. After this, the process of the shareholder visa cancellation starts.

4. The deregistration letter will be sent to your e-mail confirming the cancellation of your company.

The timeframe of the company liquidation process at MFZ is around 1 month.

About MFZ

Meydan Free Zone (MFZ) is an economic free zone located in the heart of new Dubai in the Meydan area. It was established in 2009 by the Dubai Government. Positioned centrally near Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City and the Dubai Logistics Corridor, MFZ offers a strategic location for businesses.

Its proximity to vital commercial hubs, including Dubai International Airport, along with various amenities facilities, and entertainment hubs, enhances its appeal to investors seeking prime locations for company setups.

Some of the distinct advantages of this free zone include the low license and business setup costs, remote company formation, and the option to rent an office elsewhere outside the Meydan Free Zone, which is a rare option in Dubai offering great flexibility. It also allows for up to 6 residence visas without a physical office.

If you are looking for a fast, easy, remote, and very cost-effective company setup in Dubai, you can safely choose MFZ. Otherwise, we would advise considering similar free zones in Dubai in terms of setup costs and business activities, such as IFZA, or setting up in other emirates.