Meydan Free Zone Company Setup: Costs & Requirements

Is Meydan Free Zone suitable for your business?

Meydan is worth evaluating if you want a Dubai free zone company with a digital application route. Shortlist it against your actual requirements: what you sell, how you deliver it, where your customers are and whether your operation needs specialist premises.

These are planning examples, not a list of automatically approved activities. A regulated service, physical shop or specialist facility needs its own assessment. Begin with business activity selection , then compare the relevant Dubai free zone setup options .

Decide how the company will earn revenue

Write a short description of your first three expected transactions. Identify the customer, product or service, delivery location, payment method and any stock involved. This practical exercise helps you choose a licence scope that supports real transactions and gives future banks a clear business explanation.

Meydan Free Zone company setup costs

Meydan's official pages display two starting licence references. The figures below were checked on 7 October 2026; they are authority-published references, not an all-inclusive B&B quotation.

The regular base price excludes residency visas, medical testing, Emirates ID, office upgrades and later activity changes. Confirm current inclusions and VAT treatment in writing.

Fawri includes core company documents and a facility lease agreement. Residency costs and optional services remain separate. Meydan promotes a 60-minute licensing route for eligible, complete Fawri applications; this is not a promise that banking, residency and business operations will all be ready within an hour. Multi-shareholder applications should be assessed through the regular route.

Check the current regular licence offer and Fawri eligibility and terms before committing.

Request an itemised first-year and renewal budget

• Incorporation and licensing: Identify authority charges, included activities, document issuance and professional support.
• Immigration: Separate company immigration services, visa allocation and each person's residency processing.
• Workspace: Confirm the included facility arrangement, access rights and any additional premises you need.
• Documents: Allow for required translation, attestation or corporate-shareholder paperwork.
• Operations: Budget for bookkeeping, software, insurance, banking charges and working cash.

Ask which amounts are refundable, when payment becomes due and what changes at renewal. Compare quotations using identical ownership, activity and visa requirements. Our free zone setup cost guide explains how to structure that comparison.

Documents and information to prepare

Prepare clear passport copies, proposed company names, activity details and the ownership information requested for the application. UAE residents should have their Emirates ID and residence documents available where applicable.

A corporate shareholder may need incorporation and constitutional documents, an authorising resolution and ownership evidence. Attestation or translation can be required. Additional identity, address or source-of-funds checks depend on the applicant and business model. Obtain the current checklist before paying for document preparation.

Keep a consistent application file

• Use the same legal names and passport spellings throughout.
• Record ownership percentages and identify the people who ultimately own or control the business.
• Describe the business accurately across the company application, website and bank file.
• Explain overseas ownership or funding with supporting records where requested.

After incorporation, review the issued licence and formation documents before using them for other applications. Meydan's documentation guidance lists the business licence, certificate of formation, share register, constitutional documents and facility lease agreement among company documents.

Meydan Free Zone company setup: step by step

01. Confirm the permitted activity

Match the proposed licence to your products and services. Discuss any regulated work, physical facilities or sales channels that need additional approvals. Resolve activity questions before designing packages or signing customer contracts.

02. Set the ownership and management

Identify the shareholders, manager and beneficial owners. Choose the application route that fits those roles. If another company will hold shares, obtain its document requirements early.

03. Confirm the name and commercial terms

Submit suitable name options for checking. Review the written quote, workspace arrangement, residency needs and renewal conditions together. Keep a copy of the accepted package scope.

04. Submit a complete application

Upload the requested information and complete checks and payments through the authorised process. Respond promptly to questions. Timing depends on the route, file completeness and any additional approvals.

05. Check the issued company documents

Verify names, ownership, activities and dates. Store the documents securely and record the licence expiry. Resolve errors before progressing bank or immigration applications.

06. Prepare the business to operate

Progress the relevant residency applications, corporate banking, accounting and tax registration. Arrange contracts, invoicing and any sector permissions. Licensing is a milestone; operating readiness requires these practical steps too.

Workspace, remote setup and residence visas

Meydan's published guidance allows digital company applications and describes flexible workspace arrangements. Confirm the facility agreement and actual access included in your selected package. A registered address, a shared desk and an exclusive office provide different facilities.

Do not choose a package using an assumed desk-to-visa ratio. Ask for written confirmation of the visa allocation available for your application, the immigration services needed and the costs for each person.

If you expect to hire staff, include recruitment timing, employment documentation and payroll in your operational plan. If you need stock storage or a customer-facing location, assess those facilities before choosing a shared-workspace package.

Corporate bank account preparation

Banking support does not guarantee an approved account. Meydan's regular licence page expressly leaves final approval to the bank's policies and compliance requirements.

Prepare an understandable business file: company documents, ownership details, expected customer and supplier locations, funding evidence and a realistic transaction profile. Add genuine contracts, proposals or trading records where available; do not create documents simply to fill a checklist.

Ask prospective banks about eligibility, minimum balances, monthly charges, currencies and payment services. Keep sufficient cash for the period before account activation. Read our UAE corporate bank account guide for further preparation.

Operating outside the free zone

A Meydan licence does not automatically authorise every activity throughout Dubai. Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 provides a DET licence or permit framework for free zone establishments conducting activities outside their free zone in Dubai, subject to its conditions and relevant approvals.

Assess your delivery model before opening mainland premises or carrying out operations there. Cross-border sales, invoicing customers and operating a physical establishment raise different questions; obtain advice for the specific arrangement.

Corporate Tax, VAT and ongoing compliance

Free zone status does not automatically mean 0% Corporate Tax

A Qualifying Free Zone Person can receive 0% Corporate Tax on Qualifying Income only when the applicable conditions are met, including adequate substance. Other income and activities need separate assessment. Register for Corporate Tax within the applicable timeline, maintain records and meet the relevant return obligations.

Discuss your actual revenue streams with a tax adviser before relying on a tax position. Licence activities and customer locations alone do not settle the full analysis.

VAT registration depends on the statutory tests

For a UAE-resident business, mandatory VAT registration generally applies when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months or are expected to exceed it in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration may be available above AED 187,500, including qualifying taxable expenses. Voluntary registration is not automatically compulsory.

ESR reporting has changed

The Ministry of Finance announced cancellation of ESR notification and reporting requirements for financial years ending after 31 December 2022. Earlier-period obligations can still require attention. This change does not remove the separate substance conditions relevant to Qualifying Free Zone Person status.

Maintain a practical compliance calendar

• Record licence, facility and immigration-document expiry dates.
• Keep beneficial ownership and company information current.
• Maintain bookkeeping and supporting transaction records from the start.
• Track tax registration, return and payment deadlines applicable to the company.
• Confirm financial-statement and audit requirements for the applicable authority and tax position.

Before renewal, review changes in activities, owners, staffing and premises. Request a fresh breakdown rather than assuming the first-year promotional offer will repeat.

Frequently asked questions