Free Zone Comparison
IFZA vs Meydan FZ 2026
On price these two are a coin flip — AED 400 apart — so the decision really hinges on how big you plan to grow and how you want to pay.
By Daniel Harmon, Senior Editor
IFZA
Dubai
AED 12,900
Year 1 from
Meydan FZ
Dubai
AED 12,500
Year 1 from
CheaperQuick Verdict
Choose Meydan for instant setup and instalment payments; choose IFZA if you'll ever hire past six people.
- ● Choose Meydan FZ if cost is your priority — AED 400 cheaper in Year 1
- ● Choose IFZA if you need more visas — up to 15
- ● Choose Meydan FZ for faster setup — 15 days processing
- ● Both offer 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required
Our Analysis
If you're a freelancer or small-team founder comparing the cheapest Dubai licenses, IFZA and Meydan look almost interchangeable on the sticker: AED 12,900 versus AED 12,500 with no visa, and AED 28,790 against AED 29,100 once you add one. A few hundred dirhams either way. The interesting differences are everywhere except the headline price.
Meydan's pitch is convenience. Its Fawri license issues a working LLC in 60 minutes for AED 15,000 with a money-back guarantee, and it splits fees into 3-to-12-month instalments — a real cash-flow lever IFZA doesn't offer. On paper Meydan also lists a broader bank introduction roster and a wider 2,500+ activity catalogue. IFZA's counter is reach and maturity: it's run since 2018 with roughly 5,000 companies (against Meydan's ~1,000), its reseller network frequently discounts the effective price below sticker, and crucially it supports up to 15 visas versus Meydan's hard cap of 6.
That visa ceiling is the swing factor. The honest caveats: Meydan's tiny ecosystem and 'guaranteed IBAN' marketing (which really means a guaranteed introduction, not approval) can disappoint, while IFZA's agent-only model hides add-on costs and its DSO address isn't central. Both rate 'Moderate' for banking and both now require some form of audited statements. Our read: a solo operator who values speed and payment flexibility should take Meydan; anyone with even a tentative plan to grow a team past six should start on IFZA, because Meydan can't follow you there.
IFZA vs Meydan FZ at a Glance
| Metric | IFZA | Meydan FZ |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Year 1 From | AED 12,900 | AED 12,500 🏆 |
| Renewal From | AED 12,900 | AED 12,500 🏆 |
| Rating | ★ 4.0/5 🏆 | ★ 3.7/5 |
| Max Visas | 15 🏆 | 6 |
| Processing Time | 21 days | 15 days 🏆 |
| Banking | Moderate | Moderate |
| Established | 2018 | 2009 |
| Companies | 5,000+ | 1,000+ |
Year 1 From
IFZA
AED 12,900
Meydan FZ
AED 12,500
Renewal From
IFZA
AED 12,900
Meydan FZ
AED 12,500
Rating
IFZA
4.0/5
Meydan FZ
3.7/5
Max Visas
IFZA
15
Meydan FZ
6
Processing
IFZA
21 days
Meydan FZ
15 days
Banking
IFZA
Moderate
Meydan FZ
Moderate
Package Pricing Breakdown
IFZA Packages
Dubai · 4 packages
Zero Visa Package
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 12,900
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,900/yr
1 Visa Package
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 28,790
Year 1
Renewal: AED 24,400/yr
2 Visa Package
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 36,380
Year 1
Renewal: AED 27,400/yr
3 Visa Package
Up to 3 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 43,970
Year 1
Renewal: AED 29,400/yr
Meydan FZ Packages
Dubai · 6 packages
Regular License (No Visa)
No visa · Flexi Desk
AED 12,500
Year 1
Renewal: AED 12,500/yr
Fawri License (60-Min Instant)
No visa · Virtual
AED 15,000
Year 1
Renewal: AED 15,000/yr
1 Visa Package
Up to 1 visa · Flexi Desk
AED 29,100
Year 1
Renewal: AED 23,350/yr
2 Visa Package
Up to 2 visas · Flexi Desk
AED 38,600
Year 1
Renewal: AED 25,600/yr
How we source these prices: figures for IFZA and Meydan FZ are independently researched from their official sites (IFZA · Meydan FZ) and published fee schedules, then cross-checked against authorized-agent quotations. Treat them as planning estimates and confirm exact costs before you commit — we never accept payment for placement or ratings. Last verified: IFZA June 2026 · Meydan FZ June 2026.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | IFZA | Meydan FZ |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Trading | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Physical Office Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Dual License | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Crypto Friendly | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Online Portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Co-working | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Audit Required | Required | Required |
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose IFZA if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want startups
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want consulting
- ✓ Want digital nomads
Choose Meydan FZ if you...
- ✓ Want freelancers
- ✓ Want consultants
- ✓ Want e-commerce
- ✓ Want side hustlers
- ✓ Want budget-conscious startups
- ✓ Want the lowest cost option (AED 400 less)
Pros & Cons
IFZA
Pros
- ✓ Lowest all-in Dubai free zone option — Year 1 with 1 visa achievable under AED 25,000 through agents
- ✓ No physical office requirement — virtual/flexi desk options available
- ✓ Fast license issuance: 2–5 business days
- ✓ Up to 7 business activities per license (first 3 included free, extras AED 1,000 each)
Cons
- ✗ B2B-only model — must work through intermediary agents, direct pricing significantly inflated
- ✗ Relatively young (Dubai presence since 2020) with weaker brand recognition than DMCC
- ✗ Only ~5,000 companies — smaller networking ecosystem
- ✗ Limited crypto licensing (no exchange/custody activities)
Meydan FZ
Pros
- ✓ Competitive pricing — regular license from AED 12,500, comparable to IFZA
- ✓ Fawri (instant) License: 60-minute LLC setup at AED 15,000 with money-back guarantee
- ✓ 2,500+ business activities — widest range among budget free zones
- ✓ No physical office requirement — virtual/flexi desk options available
Cons
- ✗ Small ecosystem — only ~1,000 registered companies versus DMCC's 26,000
- ✗ 83,000+ 'members' figure is misleading — likely inflated with non-active registrations
- ✗ 'Guaranteed IBAN' marketing means guaranteed introduction, not guaranteed bank approval
- ✗ Banking more challenging than DMCC — some banks less familiar with Meydan
Still not sure?
Try our calculator to find the cheapest free zone for your specific requirements, or get a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IFZA or Meydan cheaper?
They're effectively tied. IFZA's zero-visa license is AED 12,900 versus Meydan's AED 12,500, and with one visa it's AED 28,790 against AED 29,100. The AED 400-ish difference is too small to decide on — visa scalability and payment terms matter more.
Which can I set up faster?
Meydan, for the license itself — its Fawri package issues an LLC in 60 minutes for AED 15,000. IFZA issues licenses in 2-5 days. Full visa processing is quicker through IFZA's established agent network, however.
Which is better if I plan to hire a team?
IFZA. It supports up to 15 visas with office upgrades, while Meydan caps at 6 under standard packages. If you expect to grow past six staff, IFZA is the only one of the two that scales with you.
Does either offer instalment payments?
Meydan does — it splits license fees across 3, 6, 9 or 12 monthly instalments. IFZA doesn't advertise an equivalent plan, though its agents sometimes structure payments case by case.
Which is cheaper, IFZA or Meydan FZ?
Meydan FZ is cheaper by AED 400 in Year 1. Meydan FZ starts from AED 12,500 while IFZA starts from AED 12,900. However, the cheaper option may not include the same features — check the full comparison above for details.
What is the main difference between IFZA and Meydan FZ?
IFZA is based in Dubai and is best for Freelancers, Startups, E-commerce. Meydan FZ is based in Dubai and is best for Freelancers, Consultants, E-commerce. IFZA starts from AED 12,900 while Meydan FZ starts from AED 12,500.
Which has easier banking, IFZA or Meydan FZ?
Both IFZA and Meydan FZ are rated "Moderate" for banking difficulty, meaning there is no significant difference in how easily you can open a corporate bank account.
How many visas can I get with IFZA vs Meydan FZ?
IFZA supports up to 15 visas, while Meydan FZ supports up to 6 visas. IFZA offers more visa capacity.
Is IFZA or Meydan FZ better for my business?
It depends on your priorities. Choose IFZA if you want freelancers focus and a Dubai address. Choose Meydan FZ if you need freelancers support and lower costs. Use our calculator to find the best match for your specific requirements.
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