Meydan FZ Costs & Review 2026

Regular license from AED 12,500/year (no visa). Fawri instant license: AED 15,000. 1-visa package: ~AED 14,350 license, total Year 1 approximately AED 29,100 including all fees. E-commerce package: ~AED 13,000.

Launched April 2025, the Fawri License is a 60-minute LLC setup at AED 15,000 covering 1,800+ activities with a money-back guarantee if delayed. Visas are available separately at AED 1,850 per slot allocation plus processing costs.

Moderate difficulty. Meydan claims 26+ partner banks and offers a dedicated Bank Account Assistance Service. MeydanPay provides instant IBAN with the license. However, 'guaranteed IBAN' means guaranteed introduction, not approval. Budget 2–6 weeks. General trading licenses may face more scrutiny.

Similar pricing (Meydan from AED 12,500, IFZA from AED 12,900). Meydan offers more activities (2,500+ vs 800+), the Fawri instant license, and monthly payment plans. IFZA has a longer track record, stronger agent ecosystem with deeper discounts, and established banking relationships. Both lack premium DMCC-level banking credibility.

Yes. Under Dubai's Resolution No. 11 of 2025 (effective March 3, 2025), free zone companies including Meydan can establish mainland branches or obtain temporary permits (AED 5,000, up to 6 months). Mainland revenue is subject to 9% corporate tax.

The Meydan Free Zone establishment card costs approximately AED 1,200. It is a mandatory government fee required for all free zone companies and is typically included in the 1-visa package pricing. The card must be renewed annually alongside your trade license.

Standard packages offer up to 6 visas. Additional visa allocations cost AED 1,850 per slot. Visa processing takes 10–20 working days.

Yes. Meydan offers an Easy Payment Plan allowing license fees to be split into 3, 6, 9, or 12 monthly installments — unique among Dubai free zones.

2,500+ permitted activities — the widest range among budget Dubai free zones. Up to 3 activity groups included free, additional groups at AED 1,000 each.

Meydan Free Zone ranges from AED 12,500 to AED 61,100 in Year 1 depending on your package. Regular License (no visa): AED 12,500. Fawri instant license (no visa): AED 15,000. 1-visa package: AED 29,100 all-in. E-commerce package (1 visa): AED 27,750. 2-visa package: AED 38,600. 6-visa package: AED 61,100. Multi-year terms (2–6 years) offer approximately 15% discount on license fees.

Each Meydan Free Zone visa costs approximately AED 7,250 all-in: AED 3,500 in government fees, AED 2,250 for medical and Emirates ID assistance, and AED 1,500 for mandatory health insurance. Additional visa slot allocations (beyond your package quota) cost AED 1,850 per slot. Dependent visas cost approximately AED 5,000 plus a refundable AED 3,000 deposit. Visa processing takes 10–20 working days.

Renewal costs vary by package tier. Regular License (no visa): AED 12,500/year. Fawri License: AED 15,000/year. 1-visa package: AED 23,350/year. 2-visa package: AED 25,600/year. E-commerce package: AED 22,000/year. 6-visa package: AED 35,100/year. Renewals are lower than Year 1 because initial establishment card (AED 2,000) and one-time setup fees are not repeated. Visa renewal costs AED 3,500 per person every 2–3 years.

The Fawri License is Meydan's express LLC setup launched in April 2025. It costs AED 15,000 and guarantees your trade license is issued within 60 minutes — with a money-back guarantee if delayed. It covers 1,800+ business activities and is fully digital. Unlike the Regular License (AED 12,500), the Fawri License prioritises speed over cost. Visas are not included but can be added separately at AED 1,850 per slot allocation plus AED 5,750 per person in processing and insurance fees.

Meydan Free Zone visa cancellation is processed through the Meydan FZ portal and typically takes 2–3 weeks. Cancellation government fees in UAE free zones generally run AED 350–700 per visa, plus any outstanding overstay penalties (AED 50/day under late-2025 UAE visa rules). You should also budget for potential final medical insurance adjustments. Always confirm exact cancellation fees with Meydan directly as they may vary.

Marginally. Meydan's base license starts at AED 12,500 versus IFZA's AED 12,900 — a AED 400 difference. For a 1-visa package, Meydan costs AED 29,100 all-in versus IFZA's AED 28,790 — IFZA is actually AED 310 cheaper at this tier. Renewals are closer: Meydan 1-visa renewal is AED 23,350 versus IFZA's AED 24,400. The real difference is features: Meydan offers 2,500+ activities (vs IFZA's 800+), monthly instalment plans, and the 60-minute Fawri license. IFZA has a stronger agent ecosystem with deeper discounts and more established banking relationships.

Yes. Meydan's Easy Payment Plan lets you split license fees into 3, 6, 9, or 12 monthly instalments — one of the most flexible payment options among Dubai free zones. This applies to the license fee portion of your package. Government fees (visa processing, establishment card) are typically paid upfront. The instalment option is particularly useful for freelancers and startups managing cash flow, as it can reduce the initial outlay from AED 12,500+ to as low as ~AED 1,050/month for a basic license.