Dubai · Free zone
Meydan Free Zone license cost, and whether Meydan suits you
A Dubai free zone commonly chosen for its process speed and package structure.
Written by Tabish Ahmed, Senior ManagerReviewed by Auj Afreen Ahmad, Founder and Chief Executive OfficerLast updated
At a glance
Meydan Free Zone in summary
| Factor | Position |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Meydan Free Zone Authority, Nad Al Sheba |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership |
| Market access | Free zone and international; mainland sales through a distributor, branch or permit |
| Premises | Flexi-desk based packages |
| Audit | Confirm the current renewal requirement with the authority |
| Best for | Small service businesses and e-commerce |
Published fees
Activities: Three business activity groups included; AED 1,000 per additional activity. Note: Several visa/office figures come from Meydan's own blog and cost-calculator pages, some marked 'from' or 'around'; VAT treatment not stated; renewal fees not published separately.
Visas: Visa allocation AED 1,850 per visa (max 6 per licence); processing priced per visa type (employee 3,500, investor 4,000).
Authority fees, as published
| Item | AED | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional business activityeach, beyond the 3 included groups | 1,000 | Once | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Additional shareholder (beyond 6 included)each | 2,000 | Once | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Dedicated deskper month; flexi desk included free with every licence | 3,500 | OnceDesk | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Dubai trade license (LLC-FZ, 0-visa allocation)per year; incl. company registration, 3 activity groups, lease/flexi desk; save up to 15% multi-year | 12,500 | OnceCommercial licence | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Fawri – Instant License in Dubaifrom AED 15,000; licence in under 60 min; lease agreement included | 15,000 | OnceCommercial licence | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Shared officeper year; dedicated office 30,000/yr | 15,000 | OnceOffice | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Visa allocationup to 6 allocations per licence | 1,850 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
Government fees for residence visas
| Item | AED | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional fee if sponsored person is inside the countryAdded to entry permit when applying inside UAE; Dubai GDRFA | 500 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Dependent visa depositdeposit when investor sponsors a dependent | 3,000 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| DHA Express Medical Fitness Service (6 working hours)Domestic workers AED750; no 48-hour tier published; medical fitness | 700 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| DHA Medical Fitness at Smart Salem Center (30 minutes)Pregnancy test for domestic workers +AED50; medical fitness | 700 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| DHA Regular Medical Fitness Service (24 working hours)Dubai; excludes typing fees; domestic workers AED300; medical fitness | 250 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| DHA VIP Medical Fitness Service (2 working hours)Tawajod service also AED1020 (Al Muhaisnah only); medical fitness | 1,020 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Emirates ID renewal for residents, per year of residencePlus AED100 Smart Application Fees; service 377-004-001-009; ICP Emirates ID | 100 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Emirates ID Smart Service Fees (new issuance, residents)Fixed per application; ICP Emirates ID | 100 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Emirates ID urgent service fee (ICP centres only)Optional fast-track, in-person only; ICP Emirates ID | 150 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Employment visaper visa | 3,500 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Entry permit linked with job contract (work visa fee)Plus 5% VAT; outside-country applicant pays this only; Dubai GDRFA | 200 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| GDRFA golden residence permit issuance, investors (10-yr)Plus AED10+AED10 dirhams, AED500 inside country, AED20 delivery; Golden Visa route | 1,100 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Green residence permit issuance, partner/investor (5-year)Plus AED10+AED10 dirhams, AED500 inside country, AED20 delivery; +AED100/yr over 2 yrs; Dubai GDRFA | 200 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Green residence permit renewal, partner/investorPlus AED10+AED10 dirhams, AED500 inside country, AED20 delivery; Dubai GDRFA | 200 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Green visa issuance, investor/partner (entry visa)Plus 5% VAT; inside-country extras AED500+10+10; 60-day entry visa; Dubai GDRFA | 200 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Immigration and Establishment Cardvalid 1 year, renewed annually; 'from AED 2,000' | 2,000 | Once | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Innovation DirhamCharged per GDRFA transaction; Dubai GDRFA | 10 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Investor or partner visaMeydan pages say 'around AED 4,000' | 4,000 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Knowledge DirhamCharged per GDRFA transaction; Dubai GDRFA | 10 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Medical insurance (Category A)mandatory for investors/employees earning above AED 4,000 | 1,680 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Medical Test and Emirates ID assistancecombined item (mResidency) | 2,250 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| New Emirates ID for residents, per year of residence1yr=100, 2yr=200, 3yr=300; 5/10-yr cards follow same per-year rate; ICP Emirates ID | 100 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Residence permit issuance, private sector employee (2-year)Plus AED10+AED10 dirhams, AED500 if inside country, AED20 delivery; +AED100/yr beyond 2 yrs; Dubai GDRFA | 200 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
| Status amendment (change of status) registering feePlus AED10 Knowledge + AED10 Innovation Dirham; individual fee AED15 / establishment AED50; Dubai GDRFA | 500 | Per visa | Authority pagechecked 2026-10-17 |
Every figure above comes from the authority’s own fee page or schedule, with the link beside it and was last checked on 17 October 2026. Fees change, some exclude VAT, and the list is not everything a setup costs: our professional fee, office rent, document attestation and bank requirements are quoted separately. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
What happens after formation
Corporate tax registration, bookkeeping, VAT if you cross the threshold, and — in many zones — audited financial statements at renewal. We set the dates out before you launch rather than after.
Package contents, visa quotas, activity lists and audit requirements are set by each authority and change. Every figure is confirmed against the authority’s current terms at the time we advise you.
Next step
Thinking about Meydan Free Zone?
A short call, a written comparison, and fixed fees before anything starts.
Monday to Friday, 9:00–18:00 GST. Messages outside those hours are answered the next working morning. WhatsApp +971 55 786 7621.