Meydan vs DAFZA: which free zone fits you?
A neutral comparison — no single free zone pays us more than another.
In short
Meydan (licences from about AED 12,500) and DAFZA (from about AED 15,020) are both UAE free zones — Meydan has the lower entry price. 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). DAFZA best suits: Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
Meydan and DAFZA side by side
Approximate budgeting figures — your final quote is confirmed in writing. Government fees are passed through at cost, never marked up.
| Criteria | Meydan | DAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,500 | AED 15,020 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Meydan / Nad Al Sheba, Business Bay catchment, Dubai | Dubai Airport Free Zone, next to Dubai International Airport (DXB), Deira |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. | Visa allocation is tied to the office space you lease, not bought as a flat add-on. |
| Activities | Meydan offers a list of 2,500+ permitted activities. | DAFZA licences cover Trading, Service, Industrial and General Trading categories, with roughly 15 broad industry groups (aviation, electronics, pharma, logistics, consulting, insurance, chemicals, auto parts and more). |
Lower entry price: Meydan.
Which one should you pick?
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.
Choose DAFZA if
Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. Suits funded businesses that value reputation over the lowest possible cost.
Think twice if
Solo founders, freelancers and early-stage startups chasing the cheapest licence. DAFZA's mandatory office and higher fees make it poor value if you do not need airport proximity or the prestige - cheaper Dubai zones like IFZA or Meydan are better-fit there.
Cost breakdowns
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
DAFZA
from AED 15,020
Trade / Service licence (annual)
From; Industrial / General Trading runs higher (approx AED 20,000+).
AED 15,020+
Registration / incorporation fee
One-time, approx.
AED 7,000
Establishment card
Annual; renewal slightly lower (approx AED 1,870).
AED 1,500 - 2,020
Immigration / e-channel registration
One-time, only if hiring / sponsoring visas, approx.
AED 1,000 - 2,000
Smart-desk / office (mandatory)
Annual; the smallest smart-desk (~6.65 sq.m) starts around AED 16,600 and is required to issue any licence. Larger offices / warehouses cost more.
AED 16,000 - 24,000+
Name reservation + initial approval
One-time, approx.
AED 1,000
Knowledge + postal / PO Box fee
Annual, included in most DAFZA packages, approx.
AED 1,010 - 1,125
Medical test + Emirates ID (per visa)
Per person; includes visa stamping, medical and Emirates ID, approx.
AED 1,200 - 3,500
Corporate tax registration (FTA)
Registration is free; 9% applies on taxable income above thresholds. Qualifying free-zone income may be 0%.
AED 0 (govt)
Strengths and trade-offs
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.
DAFZA
- Unmatched airport proximity - ideal for time-sensitive cargo, perishables and pharma.
- Prestige address that signals scale and credibility to partners and banks.
- 100% ownership, profit repatriation and no personal income tax.
- Dual-licence route to also trade on the Dubai mainland.
- Premium on-site infrastructure: Grade-A offices, warehouses and logistics units.
- Higher cost than most Dubai free zones - you pay a premium for location and prestige.
- A smart-desk or office is mandatory; there is no true zero-rent licence here, and office rent alone starts around AED 16,600.
- Visa quota is fixed by office size, so scaling headcount can mean leasing more space.
- Overkill for solo founders and budget startups who do not need airport access.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan or DAFZA?+
Meydan licences start from about AED 12,500 (license only, 0 visa, up to 3 activities, includes flexi-desk, approx per year). DAFZA starts from about AED 15,020 (Licence fee only, approx. A mandatory smart-desk plus registration and establishment fees pushes a realistic complete setup (smallest package, 1 visa) to around AED 40,000.). 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 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).
Who is DAFZA best for?+
Aviation, freight forwarding, logistics, electronics, pharma, luxury goods and trading companies that need physical airport proximity, a prestige Dubai address, and an office or warehouse on-site. Suits funded businesses that value reputation over the lowest possible cost.
How do I decide between Meydan and DAFZA?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. Meydan: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. DAFZA: Visa allocation is tied to the office space you lease, not bought as a flat add-on. 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 Meydan and DAFZA?
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.