How much does Meydan company setup cost in 2026?
Meydan Free Zone sets its fees, and we show them apart from ours. The table lists what you pay to the authorities and what Startex charges. Our service fee is quoted in writing before you pay anything.
| Item | Government fee (paid to) | Startex service fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regular license, no visa | From AED 12,500 (Meydan Free Zone) | AED 12,500 without a visa |
| Fawri instant license | From AED 15,000, for solopreneurs and creators (Meydan Free Zone) | Quoted separately |
| License with one residence visa | About AED 20,700 to 21,100 in total (Meydan Free Zone and GDRFA Dubai) | Quoted separately |
| License with two visas | About AED 26,800 in total (Meydan Free Zone and GDRFA Dubai) | Quoted separately |
| Flexi desk | Included in every license (Meydan Free Zone) | Quoted separately |
| Serviced office, warehouse or land | Quoted by Meydan on request | Quoted separately |
Ranges at the time of writing, October 2026, checked against Meydan's published information and current package schedules. Packages change, so we confirm the live figure before we quote.
What does a Meydan package include?
- A Regular or Fawri license, set up online, with company types such as Free Zone Establishment, Free Zone Company and branch offices.
- A flexi desk in every license, which the zone treats as meeting the legal workspace requirement.
- Up to three activity groups on one license, from a list of more than 2,500 activities, according to Meydan.
- Our package features: no NOC required, a shared desk, multiple activity groups and a trade name with the suffix LLC Fz.
The Regular license suits startups, SMEs and multi-partner companies and can combine up to three activity groups. The Fawri license is an instant license for solopreneurs and creators, issued in under an hour according to Meydan. The Regular license usually takes one to three business days.
What are the Meydan visa and office rules?
Every Meydan license includes a flexi desk. If you need more space, Meydan also offers serviced offices, warehouses and land for industrial use, priced on request. A license can carry up to six residence visas, and each visa adds the establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and insurance.
For the full range of visa costs and quotas by route, see our business setup cost guide and the PRO services we use to file them.
Who does Meydan suit, and who should look elsewhere?
Meydan suits:
- Startups and SMEs that want a Dubai government free zone at a low entry price.
- Solo founders, freelancers and creators who want an instant license.
- Companies that want up to three activity groups on one license.
Meydan is a weaker fit for:
- Businesses that need heavy storage or a showroom, unless they add a unit.
- Companies that sell mainly to mainland customers without a distributor or mainland permit.
- Regulated activities that need a separate regulator's approval.
How long does Meydan setup take?
| Step | Typical time | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Business name check | About 20 minutes online | Meydan Free Zone |
| Fawri instant license | Under 60 minutes | Meydan Free Zone |
| Regular license | 1 to 3 business days | Meydan Free Zone |
| Establishment card | About week 2 | Immigration |
| Residence visa, per person | About 1 to 2 weeks per person | GDRFA Dubai and ICP |
What are the steps to set up a Meydan company?
- Choose the activities you will list, so the license matches what you sell.
- Pick the package that fits your visas and office, and confirm what Meydan includes.
- Send the documents: passport copies, photographs and, for company shareholders, attested papers.
- Sign and pay the Meydan application and receive the license.
- Apply for the establishment card, visas and bank account.
How does Meydan compare with other free zones?
| Zone | License cost from | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Meydan | AED 12,500 | Startups and solo founders that want a Dubai government free zone with a flexi desk and instant licensing. |
| IFZA | AED 12,400 to 12,900 | Consultants, traders and online businesses that want a Dubai license at a low entry price. |
| DMCC | AED 35,000 to 50,000 in the first year | Commodities, gold, tea, coffee, crypto and tech companies that want a premium address and banking reputation. |
| DAFZA | AED 23,000 to 50,000 in the first year | Air cargo, logistics, aviation, electronics and pharmaceutical traders that need an airport-linked address. |
Not sure which zone fits? Read free zone vs mainland vs offshore, or compare all seven on the free zone setup cost page.
Fee ranges are for Meydan Free Zone and were checked in October 2026. Official sources: Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and GDRFA Dubai. Startex Hub is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with Meydan.