IFZA vs Meydan: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
IFZA (licences from about AED 12,900) and Meydan (from about AED 12,500) are both UAE free zones — Meydan has the lower entry price. IFZA best suits: Consultants, freelancers, service firms, marketing/IT agencies, holding companies and traders who want an affordable Dubai free zone with flexible visa numbers and a wide activity list. Meydan best suits: E-commerce sellers, freelancers, consultants, agencies, small service businesses and holding companies that want a credible Dubai address, a low starting cost and a quick online setup, while keeping their visa needs modest (up to three on a flexi-desk). No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
IFZA and Meydan side by side
Approximate budgeting figures — your final quote is confirmed in writing. Government fees are passed through at cost, never marked up.
| Criteria | IFZA | Meydan |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,900 | AED 12,500 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Dubai Silicon Oasis / Dubai Digital Park | Meydan / Nad Al Sheba, Business Bay catchment, Dubai |
| Visas | IFZA uses a package-based visa quota. | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. |
| Activities | IFZA offers more than 2,000 business activities across professional, commercial, consulting, trading, media, IT and general-trading categories. | Meydan offers a list of 2,500+ permitted activities. |
Lower entry price: Meydan.
Which one should you pick?
Choose IFZA if
Consultants, freelancers, service firms, marketing/IT agencies, holding companies and traders who want an affordable Dubai free zone with flexible visa numbers and a wide activity list. Ideal for solo founders and small teams who do not need a physical mainland storefront.
Think twice if
Businesses that must sell directly to the UAE mainland (retail shops, restaurants, clinics), need a large physical office or warehouse, or require a prestige financial-district address (DIFC/ADGM). Companies needing many visas may find dedicated-office requirements push costs above the headline figure.
Choose Meydan if
E-commerce sellers, freelancers, consultants, agencies, small service businesses and holding companies that want a credible Dubai address, a low starting cost and a quick online setup, while keeping their visa needs modest (up to three on a flexi-desk).
Think twice if
Businesses that need a large team of more than three visas without renting a physical office, or that sell goods and services directly to the UAE mainland market. Those cases usually fit a private office, a different zone, or a Dubai mainland (DET) licence better.
Cost breakdowns
IFZA
from AED 12,900
Trade licence (zero-visa, base package)
Two-year package including flexi-desk access (best value); one-visa packages from ~AED 15,000
AED 12,900 (from)
Establishment / immigration (e-channel) card
Required once you take any visa
AED 2,000 (approx)
Residence visa processing (per visa)
Inside-country processing; varies by visa type
AED 3,500–4,500
Flexi-desk / office
Flexi-desk access included; dedicated office AED 5,000–20,000+/yr
Included (base)
Company name reservation & initial approval
Typically bundled in the licence package
Included
Medical test + Emirates ID (per visa)
Medical ~AED 350–400, Emirates ID ~AED 370; health insurance extra (AED 600+)
AED 700–800
UAE corporate tax registration
Federal Tax Authority registration is free; 9% tax applies on profit above AED 375,000. Advisor/filing fees separate
Government fee: AED 0
Realistic first-year total (1 visa)
Approx — licence, card, one visa, medical, Emirates ID and insurance combined
AED 21,000–26,000
Meydan
from AED 12,500
Trade licence (zero-visa, up to 3 activities, incl. flexi-desk)
Approximate starting package; rises with extra activities or visas.
from AED 12,500 / year
Establishment card (immigration/e-channel registration)
Required before any company visa can be issued.
approx AED 1,800 - 2,500
Residence visa (investor or employment), per person
All-in for entry permit, status change and stamping; varies by type.
approx AED 4,500 - 6,200
Medical test + Emirates ID, per person
Often included in the all-in visa figure above; confirm per quote.
approx AED 700 - 1,200
Name reservation + initial approval
Generally bundled into the licence package at Meydan.
usually included
Flexi-desk / shared workspace (registered address)
Private office is extra and unlocks a higher visa quota.
included in base
Private office (optional, for more visas/space)
Price depends on size; roughly one visa per 9 sqm.
from approx AED 15,000+ / year
Corporate tax registration (Federal Tax Authority)
Registration is mandatory; 0% on qualifying income, 9% above AED 375,000 of non-qualifying profit.
no government fee
Strengths and trade-offs
IFZA
- Among the lowest-cost Dubai free-zone licences, with a true zero-visa entry point.
- Very flexible — scale visas and activities up or down without changing free zone.
- Fast, paperwork-light setup with remote (no-visit) formation possible.
- 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital and profits.
- Wide activity list (2,000+) and up to 7 activities bundled on one licence.
- Multi-year licences reduce the effective annual cost.
- The headline AED 12,900 is licence-only; real first-year cost with one visa, cards, medical and insurance is typically AED 21,000–26,000.
- No direct mainland trade — selling to the UAE mainland needs a distributor, dual licence or extra approvals.
- Higher visa counts can trigger dedicated-office requirements that raise cost.
- Not a prestige financial-district address — DIFC/ADGM carry more weight for regulated finance.
- Some activities (e.g. regulated or specialised ones) need extra external approvals and fees.
Meydan
- Low starting cost with a credible Dubai address and three activities included.
- Fully online incorporation — fast and remote-friendly.
- 100% foreign ownership and full profit repatriation.
- Wide activity list and the option to combine compatible activities.
- Qualifying Free Zone status enabling a potential 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income.
- The flexi-desk caps you at around three visas; a larger team means renting an office, which raises the real cost.
- You cannot sell directly to the UAE mainland from a free zone licence without a local distributor or a separate mainland licence.
- The advertised starting price is a base figure — visas, establishment card and add-ons push the real first-year total higher.
- Holding a Qualifying Free Zone 0% rate requires meeting substance, audit and qualifying-income conditions, which adds compliance work.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, IFZA or Meydan?+
IFZA licences start from about AED 12,900 (from / approx — zero-visa, two-year package with flexi-desk access; government and visa fees added on top). Meydan starts from about AED 12,500 (license only, 0 visa, up to 3 activities, includes flexi-desk, approx per year). Meydan has the lower headline price, but your real total depends on visa count and office needs — always compare a written, itemised quote.
Who is IFZA best for?+
Consultants, freelancers, service firms, marketing/IT agencies, holding companies and traders who want an affordable Dubai free zone with flexible visa numbers and a wide activity list. Ideal for solo founders and small teams who do not need a physical mainland storefront.
Who is Meydan best for?+
E-commerce sellers, freelancers, consultants, agencies, small service businesses and holding companies that want a credible Dubai address, a low starting cost and a quick online setup, while keeping their visa needs modest (up to three on a flexi-desk).
How do I decide between IFZA and Meydan?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. IFZA: IFZA uses a package-based visa quota. Meydan: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. If you are still unsure, our free zone selector or a free 30-minute PRO Health Check will confirm the better fit for your case.
Still torn between IFZA and Meydan?
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need, and we'll confirm the better-fit zone and its real cost — in writing, line by line.