HIGHLIGHTS
- Meydan Free Zone starts at AED 12,500 for a zero-visa license package with a flexi-desk and up to three activity groups included. It remains one of the most affordable Dubai free zones for small businesses and solo founders.
- The published “license + visa” figures are allocation-level prices. Once visa processing, the Immigration Card, medical fitness test, and Emirates ID are added, a one-person setup typically reaches AED 20,000–22,000.
- The included flexi-desk supports up to three visas. Beyond that, an office upgrade is required. And like every other UAE free zone, Meydan does not guarantee a corporate bank account — approval is always the bank's decision.
How much does a Meydan Free Zone company cost in 2026?
A Meydan Free Zone company starts at AED 12,500 per year for a zero-visa license package with a flexi-desk included. The published “license + visa” figures are lower than the real all-in because they count visa allocation only — not the processed residence visa, Immigration Card, medical test, Emirates ID, or insurance.
| Setup | Year 1 published (AED) | Realistic all-in (AED) | Visas | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard license | 12,500 | 12,500 | 0 | Flexi-desk included |
| License + 1 visa | 14,350 | ~20,000–22,000 | 1 | Flexi-desk included |
| License + 2 visas | 16,200 | ~25,000–27,000 | 2 | Flexi-desk included |
Meydan's strength is that its entry price is clear and low. In our experience, the risk is not the license price itself — it is treating the published visa allocation as a finished residency cost. For a one-person setup, the safer working budget is AED 20,000–22,000 before any optional office upgrade.
If you're still comparing jurisdictions and legal structures, start with our UAE business setup guide before choosing a specific free zone.
Need help with the numbers? The license price is fixed, but the real setup includes several add-ons. We prepare a component-by-component breakdown before you commit to a package.
Get your Meydan cost breakdownWhat does the cheapest Meydan license include?
The cheapest Meydan Free Zone package costs AED 12,500 per year and is built for founders who need a UAE company without immediate residency visas. It includes the company license, up to three activity groups, incorporation documents, and a flexi-desk lease used as the registered business address.
Every standard setup includes:
- Trade license
- Up to three activity groups
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA/AOA)
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Share Certificate (proof of ownership)
- Name reservation and initial approval
- Flexi-desk lease
- Registered business address
Unlike premium zones where office rent can become a separate market-rate variable, Meydan keeps the entry package compact. The flexi-desk is already included, and for many consulting, technology, marketing, e-commerce, and service businesses, that is enough at the start.
The practical setup flow is short: select activities, submit documents, receive incorporation documents, add visa allocations if needed, and proceed to banking. We tell clients early if the chosen activity may create banking friction, because a low license price does not solve a weak activity narrative.
What licenses and business activities does Meydan offer?
Meydan Free Zone supports more than 2,500 approved business activities across consulting, technology, marketing, media, e-commerce, trading, and professional services. Most companies operate under Professional, Commercial, or Media licenses, with up to three activity groups included in the standard license package.
For a full breakdown of available activities and licensing options, see Meydan's activity list before selecting your final company structure.
Choosing the right activities and license at the start is important, but in our experience, it matters less for setup cost than for banking and compliance. A consulting business, an e-commerce company, and a marketing agency may all start from the same license package but face different banking requirements.
License categories and activity availability reviewed against Meydan Free Zone licensing documentation in June 2026. Activity combinations remain subject to compatibility rules and regulatory approvals where applicable.Why is the “license + visa” price misleading?
The AED 1,850 visa amount shown in Meydan's “license + N visas” headline is not a completed residence visa. It is a visa allocation — an annual quota slot that allows the company to sponsor someone. The actual visa processing, medical fitness test, and Emirates ID are charged on top.
A one-visa headline looks like this:
AED 12,500 license package + AED 1,850 visa allocation = AED 14,350 published price
The missing layer is the actual residency process. This is the line we check first in client quotes. If the quote says “license + 1 visa” but does not show processing, Immigration Card, medical, Emirates ID, and insurance clearly, it is not yet the full setup cost.
How much does a Meydan residence visa cost?
A Meydan residence visa consists of two separate cost layers: the annual visa allocation and the residency processing itself. The allocation keeps the visa quota attached to the company, while processing covers visa issuance, medical testing, and identification documents.
The most common options are employment visas for employees and investor or partner visas for company owners.
| Item | Cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa allocation | 1,850 | Per visa, renewed annually |
| Employment visa processing | 3,500 | Per applicant |
| Investor/Partner visa processing | 4,000 | Per applicant |
| Medical fitness test | 250–350 | Federal medical fee |
| Emirates ID | ~370 | 2-year card |
| Medical insurance | Separate | Mandatory |
Meydan also requires an Immigration Card (sometimes called an Establishment Card) for companies sponsoring visas. The fee is AED 2,000 when issued and AED 2,200 upon annual renewal.
For budgeting purposes, we usually tell founders to think in terms of approximately AED 4,500 per visa holder for processing, medical, and Emirates ID, plus the annual visa allocation and mandatory insurance. This produces a more realistic estimate than focusing on the allocation fee alone.
For broader UAE residency costs outside Meydan, see the full UAE visa guide.
What are the common Meydan add-ons?
Meydan's license includes the company setup basics, but several items are billed separately once the company structure, activity list, or visa plan becomes more complex. These add-ons matter because they can change both first-year and renewal budgets.
| Add-on | AED | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Visa allocation | 1,850 | Per visa, per year |
| Additional business activity | 1,000 | Per activity beyond the included set |
| Additional shareholder | 2,000 | Per shareholder above the included threshold |
| Immigration/Establishment Card | 2,000 new/2,200 renewal | Annual once the company sponsors visas |
| Shared office | 15,000 | Per year |
| Dedicated office | 30,000 | Per year |
| Dedicated desk | 3,500 | Per month |
In our practice, the two add-ons that most often change the final number are visa allocation and Immigration Card renewal. Activity and shareholder add-ons are easier to control because they depend on the structure chosen at setup.
What does a Meydan license cost to renew — and over three years?
A zero-visa Meydan license renews at AED 12,500 per year, the same as year one. That is one of Meydan's cleanest advantages. A visa-holding company pays more because visa allocations and the Immigration Card renew annually, while the residence visa itself renews on a two-year cycle.
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard license, 0 visas | 12,500 | 12,500 | 12,500 | 37,500 |
| Standard + 1 employment visa | ~20,850 | ~16,550 | ~21,050 | ~58,000 |
The important point is that Meydan does not have the same year-two jump seen in some premium zones. But a company with visas still has recurring costs beyond the license: allocation and Immigration Card are annual. More often than not, this is where the second-year budget is underestimated.
Not sure whether Meydan is still the cheapest option after visas and renewals? We can compare Meydan with other free zones using your exact requirements.
Compare free zonesDo you need a physical office at Meydan?
No. A physical office is not required for a small Meydan company. The standard license includes a flexi-desk, which gives the company a registered address and supports up to three visas. For more visas or a team presence, Meydan offers fixed-rate Business Centre upgrades.
| Office type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Flexi-desk | Included |
| Dedicated desk | AED 3,500/month |
| Shared office | AED 15,000/year |
| Dedicated office | AED 30,000/year |
This is where Meydan differs from a zone like DMCC. At DMCC, scaling often pushes the company into market-rent office space. At Meydan, the standard expansion route stays on fixed Business Centre rates, so the founder can price the next step before hiring.
For a wider jurisdiction decision, see how Meydan compares to IFZA, DMCC, and RAKEZ, and which free zone fits your business.
When is Meydan the wrong choice?
Meydan is designed for founders who prioritise a low setup cost and a straightforward business structure. It is not the best option for every profile. In some cases, paying more for a different jurisdiction can reduce friction later.
Meydan may not be the right choice if:
You need a premium business address
Meydan is a recognised Dubai free zone, but it is primarily a cost-efficient jurisdiction. Businesses working with institutional investors, regulated financial counterparties, or large multinational clients sometimes prefer jurisdictions such as DMCC or DIFC because of their stronger market perception and longer banking track record.
Your activity requires specialised facilities
The flexi-desk model works well for consulting, technology, marketing, media, e-commerce, and professional services. Businesses requiring warehouses, manufacturing facilities, designated customs treatment, or specialised infrastructure should consider jurisdictions built around those requirements.
Your banking profile is complex
No UAE free zone guarantees a corporate bank account. Banks review the beneficial owner, source of funds, nationality profile, transaction model, and business activity before making a decision.
In our experience, a strong Meydan-based profile can open a bank account without difficulty. A weak profile will face the same scrutiny regardless of whether the company is incorporated in Meydan, DMCC, or another free zone.
For a deeper dive into this issue, see our Corporate bank account guide.
Bottom line
Meydan is one of Dubai's strongest low-cost free zone options when the structure is simple, and the banking profile is clean. AED 12,500 buys a real license with a flexi-desk, but the realistic one-visa setup is closer to AED 20,000–22,000. Price Meydan on the all-in, not the headline.
Related reading
Price your case
Get a component-by-component Meydan cost breakdown for your exact visa count, activities, and office needs — license, visa allocation, Immigration Card, and residency expenses in one number.
Get your Meydan cost breakdownHow Emirabiz works with Meydan Free Zone
Many founders choose Meydan because of its low entry price. Our job is to make sure the package remains cost-effective after visas, renewals, and banking requirements are factored in.
Before recommending Meydan, we review the planned activities, visa needs, and expected banking profile. If another jurisdiction is likely to be a better fit, we explain the alternatives before the company is registered.
- Transparent cost breakdowns, including license, visa allocation, Immigration Card, and residency expenses
- Activity and banking review before incorporation
- Three-year cost planning, not just first-year pricing
- Honest advice if Meydan is not the right option
The goal is simple: to help you choose the right jurisdiction, not just the cheapest package.
Reviewed by
Andrey Ovchinnikov
Co-founder & CEO
Founded Emirabiz in 2013. Structures UAE companies and owns the sourced pricing dataset behind every figure on this site. Every figure he signs off traces to a named primary source with a verification date.
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Published June 18, 2026 · Updated June 18, 2026 · How this article was made →