Starting from AED 12,900*
Dubai has 40+ Free zones but Meydan stands out for the right reasons
Premium Meydan City Address
Build your company from one of Dubai’s most recognisable business destinations.
Flexible License Structure
Cover more of your business by combining up to 3 activity groups under a single license.
Built for Digital-First Businesses
Meydan’s process is fully digital, allowing remote business setup without visiting Dubai.
Start Lean. Scale as You Grow.
Begin with zero visa today and add visas and workspace as your business expands.
Ecosystem Beyond the Free Zone
Meydan’s broader ecosystem spans hospitality, sports, retail, real estate and business.
Your license estimate
Zero myHQ feeBest for:
International invoicing, Operating remotely
Includes:
License · Flexi-desk · Digital bank account opening
Meydan setup in just 5 days with expert guidance
1. Choose your setup
Pick the package and activities that fit your business:
myHQ confirms your activities are permitted before you pay.
Get UAE business bank account with myHQ in ~3–5 weeks
Amazon, Noon, Shopify, dropshipping, D2C & marketplace businesses.
Fully digital setup & marketplace onboarding support.
Strategy, management, HR, operations, financial and professional advisory.
Premium Dubai business address for credibility.
Software development, IT consulting, SaaS and digital platform services.
Add multiple activities in one license.
Advertising, digital marketing, branding, design, content services.
Multiple creative activities under 1 license.
Wholesale, retail, import-export and specialised product trading businesses.
Offers broad trading activity coverage.
Property advisory, brokerage, property management and related services.
Closer to Dubai’s property market
E-Commerce & Online Retail
Amazon, Noon, Shopify, dropshipping, D2C & marketplace businesses.
Fully digital setup & marketplace onboarding support.
Business & Management Consulting
Strategy, management, HR, operations, financial and professional advisory.
Premium Dubai business address for credibility.
Technology & Digital Businesses
Software development, IT consulting, SaaS and digital platform services.
Add multiple activities in one license.
Marketing, Media & Creative
Advertising, digital marketing, branding, design, content services.
Multiple creative activities under 1 license.
Trading & Distribution
Wholesale, retail, import-export and specialised product trading businesses.
Offers broad trading activity coverage.
Real Estate Services
Property advisory, brokerage, property management and related services.
Closer to Dubai’s property market
Professional License
Most popularWhat it covers:
2,500+ business activities · Built for service-led businesses
Know exactly what you’ll need before you apply and what we provide.
Documents required
Required documents for a Meydan free zone setup
What’s included
Everything in your myHQ setup package
Most flexible
IFZA
From AED 12,900
Financial capital
DIFC
From AED 39,900
Digital First
SHAMS
From AED 5,750
Low Cost
RAKEZ
From AED 6,500
Backed by ANAROCK - India’s Largest Real Estate Company
I set up my IFZA company entirely from Mumbai. Never went to Dubai once. myHQ handled the apostille on my Indian documents, submitted the application, and my licence arrived by courier. Total cost AED 14,500 all-in.
Rahul Mahajan
Runs IT consulting business
We had a trade name conflict with an existing DET business. myHQ suggested three alternatives the same day and we were approved within 48 hours. The process I thought would take weeks took 3 days.
Priya Singh
Founder of Management Consulting Firm
I was confused between registering as a freelancer and setting up a company. myHQ walked me through the pros and cons, helped me choose the right structure, and had everything sorted without me having to figure out Dubai regulations on my own.
Ananya Gulati
Content Creator
Every consultant was pushing a different free zone. myHQ actually started by understanding my business, hiring plans, and future goals before recommending the right setup. It saved me from paying for things I didn't need and gave me confidence I was making the right decision.
Karan Gupta
SaaS startup founder
I only wanted to serve international clients and invoice professionally. myHQ recommended a setup that matched my needs instead of the most expensive option. The entire process was transparent, and I always knew what came next.
Neha Bhasin
Corporate Legal Consultant
From DECISION to DONE
Talk to a Meydan setup expert
Complete your setup with expert guidance tailored for you
Meydan Free Zone is a free zone in Dubai that issues trade licences to local and foreign-owned companies from a business centre inside The Meydan Hotel, on the grandstand of the Meydan Racecourse in Nad Al Sheba. The free zone shares the Meydan brand and its government-owned parent, Meydan Group. For founders, the practical point is simpler: a Meydan licence gives you a registered Dubai address about 10 minutes from Downtown Dubai and DIFC, at a price close to the most affordable Dubai free zones.
Meydan’s appeal rests on three things competitors rarely put together. The first is location: a central Dubai address for under AED 15,000 a year. The second is flexibility: trading and professional activities can be combined on one Meydan licence. The third is process: the whole Meydan business setup, from application to licence PDF, runs online, with no UAE visit needed for the licence itself. Founders pay for those advantages with a shared business-centre address rather than a private office, a price that’s higher than Sharjah or RAK budget options, and less institutional weight than DMCC or DIFC.
A Meydan free zone company is a separate legal entity, usually an FZ-LLC with one or more shareholders. Shareholders can be individuals or corporate bodies, and up to 50 shareholders are commonly permitted. Share capital is declared in the Memorandum of Association, and Meydan doesn’t typically require proof of a deposit.
Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai government-backed free zone operated by the Meydan Free Zone Authority, part of Meydan Group. The Meydan name (Arabic for “square” or “racecourse”) comes from the Meydan Racecourse development in Nad Al Sheba, opened in 2010 as the new home of the Dubai World Cup. The free zone operates from The Meydan Hotel complex and has grown into one of Dubai’s most popular choices for small and mid-sized international companies, especially service businesses and e-commerce founders.
People search for the free zone under several names: “Al Meydan Free Zone”, “Dubai Meydan Free Zone”, “Meydan Freezone”, “Meydan FZ” and simply “Meydan”. They’re all the same entity. The Meydan Free Zone Authority is the registrar: it approves activities, issues the trade licence, maintains the company register and processes amendments, renewals and liquidations. Immigration matters (establishment card, entry permits, residence visas) run through the free zone’s channel with Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
What sets Meydan apart from older free zones in Dubai is its digital-first model. Applications, document uploads, e-signatures and licence delivery are handled through an online portal, and the default registered address is a business-centre address rather than a leased office. “Meydan FZ” is the short form you’ll see on licences, invoices and company names. The essentials:
Company formation in Meydan Free Zone suits founders whose clients are international or B2B, who want a central Dubai address without paying for a physical office, and who value a fast digital process. It fits four kinds of business best:
For Indian founders, three groups fit Meydan especially well: founders relocating to Dubai who want residency, an Emirates ID and a credible address; established Indian businesses adding a Dubai entity to serve GCC clients; and founders who stay in India but want a UAE company for international invoicing, provided they handle FEMA and POEM properly. Meydan is less suited to retailers selling to UAE consumers from a shop, government contractors, regulated financial institutions, and heavy industrial or warehousing businesses.
Meydan’s activities run from technology and consultancy to trading, e-commerce, media and holding companies. Two practical rules matter more than the length of the list. First, activities that touch regulated sectors (food, cosmetics, healthcare, education, media content, financial services, virtual assets) can need approval from an external authority such as Dubai Municipality, KHDA, the UAE Media Council, VARA or the Central Bank. Second, Meydan allows combining activities across groups on one licence, commonly up to 3 activity groups in standard packages. Before applying, confirm the exact official activity code, not just the activity name. Banks read your licence activities closely when deciding whether to open an account.
The main Meydan licence types are:
| Item | Indicative cost (AED, 2026) | Notes |
| Meydan licence, no visa | 12,500–13,500 / year | Includes business-centre address |
| Meydan licence, 1 visa allocation | 14,500–15,500 / year | Visa processing extra |
| Meydan licence, 2 visa allocations | 17,000–18,500 / year | Office or desk rules may apply |
| Meydan licence, 3 visa allocations | 19,500–21,500 / year | Flexi-desk typical |
| Establishment (immigration) card | 1,500–2,500 | Often bundled; check your quote |
| Visa processing per person | 4,500–5,500 | Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, issuance |
| Change of status (in-country) | 650–1,000 | Only if already in UAE |
| Additional activity group | Varies | Confirm with your quote |
| Document attestation (India) | 1,000–2,500 per set | Corporate shareholders and dependant docs |
| Annual renewal | Similar to year-one licence fee | Excluding one-time fees |
The Meydan free zone license cost is mainly driven by visa count and activity mix. The no-visa licence is the cheapest route, but founders who want an Emirates ID (often helpful for banking) should budget for the one-visa package. Watch for quotes that look cheap because they leave out the establishment card, visa processing or the Emirates ID. Always compare like for like, with every government fee listed.
A Meydan free zone company can sponsor investor (partner) visas for its shareholders, employee visas for staff and, through those visa holders, dependent visas for spouses and children. Residence visas are typically issued with 2-year validity, each with an Emirates ID. The number of visas a Meydan company can sponsor depends on its package and facility: business-centre packages usually cover a small quota, while larger teams need a flexi-desk or office.
Indicative Meydan investor visa processing costs AED 4,500–5,500 per person. Employee visas are similar, and dependent visas are somewhat lower but require the sponsor to meet a minimum salary threshold and to submit attested marriage or birth certificates. Founders who meet UAE Golden Visa criteria, such as property investment of AED 2 million or more or qualifying entrepreneur or professional routes, can apply for 10-year residency separately, and Golden Visa holders don’t use the company’s visa quota.
Each bank has its own risk appetite by activity, nationality and transaction profile, so choosing the right bank for your specific Meydan company matters more than the free zone itself. A typical KYC pack includes the Meydan trade licence and company documents, shareholder passports and Emirates IDs, a business plan with evidence of expected business, and source-of-funds documents. Applications without an Emirates ID, with vague business descriptions, or with high-risk activity codes take longer or get declined. Indian founders should show real client relationships rather than projections and avoid applying to many banks at once.
Every Meydan free zone company must register for UAE corporate tax, even if it expects to pay 0%. A Meydan company that qualifies as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) pays 0% on qualifying income, while income that doesn’t qualify is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000. Many revenue streams from mainland UAE customers or individuals don’t qualify, so model your revenue mix before choosing a structure.
A Meydan company renews its trade licence every year through the Meydan portal, along with the establishment card and lease or address agreement. Start renewal at least 30 days before expiry: late renewal draws penalties and can block visa services. Meydan companies must also keep accounting records, maintain an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register filed with the free zone, file corporate tax returns within 9 months of financial year-end, and file VAT returns if registered. Companies claiming QFZP status need audited financial statements each year.
myHQ is part of ANAROCK Group and has helped 10,000+ companies with workspace and business setup across India and the UAE. On a Meydan setup, our value is in the parts the digital portal can’t do for you. We confirm exact activity codes and external approvals before you pay, give you an itemised, fixed-price quote that includes every government fee, build a bank-ready KYC file, and provide India-side guidance on FEMA, ODI, POEM and attestation that UAE-only agents don’t cover. After setup, one account manager stays with your company through renewals, visa renewals, VAT and corporate tax registration, and amendments. Get a free consultation for your Meydan free zone company setup. Our team responds within 1 hour.
Budget around AED 19,000–21,000 in year one: the one-visa licence package plus around AED 4,500–5,500 for visa processing, medical and Emirates ID. Attestation is extra if you have corporate shareholders.
Emirates NBD, Mashreq (including NEOBiz), RAKBANK, Wio Bank and ADCB commonly onboard Meydan companies, subject to KYC and activity risk. Approval usually takes 2–6 weeks after you have your Emirates ID.
Yes, for the licence. Application, e-signatures and licence issuance are digital. You only need to travel for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics if you take a residence visa.
Yes. NRIs aren’t subject to India’s ODI rules in the same way as residents, but they should still check how their Indian tax residency status interacts with income from a Meydan company.
“Meydan FZE” usually refers to a single-shareholder Meydan free zone company. Naming suffixes (FZE, FZ-LLC) depend on structure and current Meydan rules.
