Company in Meydan Free Zone: 2026 guide & costs
A complete guide to Meydan Free Zone: Dubai’s digital free zone favoured by startups and e-commerce, with 100% online setup, a broad activity catalogue and a Meydan business address. LorcaBase acts as a registered agent and files your application directly with Meydan.
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Meydan is the startups’ digital free zone.
Meydan Free Zone, based next to the Meydan racecourse (Nad Al Sheba), has earned its place as Dubai’s agile, digital zone: 100% online incorporation, a catalogue of thousands of combinable activities and a Dubai business address at a contained entry cost.
Digital setup
Incorporation, renewal and amendments are processed online, with no physical presence for most steps.
Combinable activities
A licence can group several compatible activities from a catalogue of more than 3,500.
Meydan address
A business address in the Meydan district included, with visas according to the chosen package.
Which businesses fit Meydan.
Digital projects
Founders who need a company, residence and banking with a minimal structure.
Online sales
Online stores, dropshipping and marketplaces with a dedicated licence.
Professional services
Consultants and advisers with international clients and remote operations.
Agencies and creatives
Digital services, content and advertising with contained fixed costs.
Light trading
Documentary import and export without needing your own warehouse.
Growing professionals
The natural step when a freelancer needs to invoice as a company.
Meydan versus IFZA and DMCC.
Three Dubai free zones with different profiles: Meydan and IFZA compete in the agile, economical segment; DMCC plays in the premium segment.
| Free zone | Main difference | Practical advantage | Common uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan | Dubai’s digital free zone (Nad Al Sheba) with 100% online setup and a catalogue of more than 3,500 activities. | A fully digital process, combinable activities and a Dubai business address at a contained cost. | Startups, e-commerce, consulting and digital services with remote operations. |
| IFZA | A generalist Dubai Digital Park free zone focused on agile packages. | The first employee visa’s government fee included for life and a flexi desk in the package. | Consulting, digital services and budget-conscious SMEs. |
| DMCC | A premium Government of Dubai authority in JLT, with a mandatory annual audit. | Maximum reputation with banks and counterparties, plus commodities and crypto ecosystems. | International trading, commodities, crypto and branded professional services. |
Meydan fees depend on the package, activities and visas, and must be confirmed before signing. As a market reference it competes in IFZA’s entry range; our cost calculator is a useful benchmark.
When Meydan tends to pay off.
Meydan pays off for light, digital structures that want a Dubai jurisdiction without premium cost or physical presence.
Founder outside the UAE
Incorporation and annual management run online; residence requires in-person steps.
A contained entry
One of the most economical doors to a Dubai licence.
Online sales operations
E-commerce licences with payment gateways and a light structure.
Setup in days
A digital process with fast licence issuance and visa processing.
Combining services
Grouping compatible activities under a single licence.
Minimal structure
One shareholder, one visa and recurring costs under control.
Digital does not mean improvised.
Meydan fits light, remote businesses; it stops fitting when the business requires facilities, premium reputation or regulated activity.
It may fit less well if you need warehousing or industry (RAKEZ), the brand of a premium jurisdiction (DMCC) or a financial framework (DIFC, ADGM). And although setup is online, the bank will review your file with the same rigour: coherent activity, source of funds and substance remain the key.
Compare options →What a real Meydan budget includes.
Licence and package
Fees by activities and included visas; in the entry range of Dubai’s economical free zones.
Address and visas
A Meydan business address included; establishment card and visas per the package.
Ancillary services
Medical, Emirates ID and status change are billed separately, as in most zones.
Annual compliance
Renewal, accounting and Corporate Tax and VAT obligations by activity.
How to set up your Meydan company step by step.
The licence is one phase; banking, residence and compliance are handled through separate processes.
- 01
Define activity and model
Specify what is sold, to whom and what the bank will require when reviewing the operation.
- 02
Validate that Meydan pays off
Compare with IFZA, DMCC or other zones on total cost, banking and activity.
- 03
Choose package and visas
Combinable activities, number of visas and legal form.
- 04
Reserve name and activity
The authority validates the name, activities and shareholding structure online.
- 05
Prepare KYC and UBO
Passports, structure, source of funds and ultimate beneficial owner declaration.
- 06
Sign and pay
Digital forms, corporate documents and the package fees.
- 07
Receive licence and process visas
Establishment card, entry permit, medical, biometrics and Emirates ID.
- 08
Activate banking and compliance
Corporate account, Corporate Tax and VAT registration where applicable, and accounting.
Mistakes to avoid with Meydan.
Digital agility does not remove obligations: activity, banking and compliance mistakes cost the same.
Comparing only the package price
Medical, Emirates ID, status change and renewal make up the real total cost.
Choosing the wrong activities
Contracts, website, invoices and bank flows must match the licence.
Assuming banking is guaranteed
Online setup does not relax bank KYC: each bank reviews the full file.
Ignoring accounting
Corporate Tax requires up-to-date books even if the zone asks for no audit to renew.
Assuming zero tax
QFZP treatment has strict conditions and covers qualifying income only.
Forgetting personal tax residency
Managing from another country can create personal or corporate obligations there.
Official sources on Meydan.
We cross-check licences, activities, costs and requirements against the authority’s official information and federal tax law.
Meydan Free Zone: official portal▸
Official licensing and registration authority. Original information: meydanfz.ae
Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on Corporate Tax▸
Official legislation. Original text: mof.gov.ae/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Federal-Decree-Law-No.-47-of-2022-EN.pdf
Federal Tax Authority: VAT▸
Official licensing and registration authority. Original information: tax.gov.ae/en/taxes/vat.aspx
Key terms for incorporating in Meydan.
Concepts worth mastering before budgeting and signing with Meydan Free Zone.
Meydan Free Zone ▸
A Dubai free zone based next to the Meydan racecourse (Nad Al Sheba), specialised in digital setup for startups and services.
Nad Al Sheba ▸
The Dubai district that hosts Meydan, known for the racecourse and the Meydan Hotel.
FZCO · Free Zone Company ▸
A free-zone company legal form with 100% foreign ownership and one or more shareholders.
Business address ▸
A Meydan district address included in the package, meeting the legal establishment requirement.
Establishment Card ▸
A mandatory government card that allows the company to sponsor residence visas.
Status change ▸
A fee to process the visa without leaving the UAE when the applicant is already in the country under another status.
QFZP · Qualifying Free Zone Person ▸
A free-zone person that can apply 0% Corporate Tax to qualifying income if it meets all the conditions.
UBO · Ultimate Beneficial Owner ▸
The natural person who ultimately owns or controls the company, declared at setup and whenever details change.
Compare before incorporating.
Free Zone in Dubai
Understand the general rules of a free-zone company and compare alternatives.
Learn more → 02Company in IFZA
The direct rival in the agile segment, with the first visa included.
Learn more → 03Cost calculator
A benchmark for the government costs of Dubai’s economical free zones.
Learn more → 04UAE company formation
Return to the hub to compare emirate, jurisdiction and structure.
Learn more →What clients most often ask.
How much does a Meydan company cost?
Fees depend on the package, activities and included visas, in the entry range of Dubai's economical free zones (comparable to IFZA). Medical, Emirates ID and status change are billed separately. Fees change: confirm before signing; our calculator is a useful reference.
How long does Meydan incorporation take?
The process is 100% digital and, with complete documentation, the licence is usually issued in a few working days. Visas and the bank account follow and can add weeks.
Which activities does Meydan allow?
A catalogue of more than 3,500 activities: professional services, consulting, marketing, technology, trade and e-commerce. A single licence can combine several compatible activities.
Do I need a physical office in Meydan?
Not to start: the package includes a business address in the Meydan district, which meets the establishment requirement and enables visas according to the plan. Office options exist for larger teams.
Can I incorporate in Meydan from outside the UAE?
Yes — it is one of its hallmarks: incorporation, renewal and amendments are processed online. Residence (visa, biometrics, Emirates ID) and some banks require physical presence at some point.
Which is better, Meydan or IFZA?
They compete in Dubai's same agile, economical segment. Meydan stands out for its 100% digital process and broad catalogue; IFZA for the first employee visa's government fee included for life. The real difference usually comes down to the total cost with your specific visas.
Can I open a bank account with a Meydan company?
Yes, Meydan is accepted by UAE banks. Each bank still reviews shareholders, residence, activity, clients, source of funds and substance; the licence does not guarantee approval.
Does a Meydan company pay Corporate Tax?
It can use the QFZP regime (0% on qualifying income) if it meets all the conditions; non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. Corporate Tax requires up-to-date accounting.
The trust of those already working with us
Your Meydan company, structured precisely from day one.
Tell us the activity, the clients and the visa plan. We will validate whether Meydan pays off against other zones before filing anything.
Book a consultation →Dubai Marina, UAE