Meydan vs DMCC: 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 DMCC (from about AED 35,484) 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). DMCC best suits: Commodities and trading houses (gold, diamonds, metals, energy, agri), crypto/Web3 and blockchain founders, fintech, established SMEs and serious entrepreneurs who want a prestige Dubai address, a credible ecosystem and smoother banking. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
Meydan and DMCC 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 | DMCC |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,500 | AED 35,484 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Meydan / Nad Al Sheba, Business Bay catchment, Dubai | Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) / Uptown Dubai |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. | DMCC visa allocation is tied to your office solution, not a fixed package number. |
| Activities | Meydan offers a list of 2,500+ permitted activities. | DMCC offers more than 900 business activities across 20 sectors, including commodities trading, gold and precious metals, diamonds and gemstones, energy, general trading, financial and professional services, technology, media, gaming, AI and crypto/Web3. |
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 DMCC if
Commodities and trading houses (gold, diamonds, metals, energy, agri), crypto/Web3 and blockchain founders, fintech, established SMEs and serious entrepreneurs who want a prestige Dubai address, a credible ecosystem and smoother banking. Ideal when reputation, sector clustering and a physical presence in central Dubai matter more than the lowest possible licence price.
Think twice if
Budget-conscious solo founders, freelancers and early-stage consultants who simply need the cheapest legal entity — cheaper zones like IFZA or RAKEZ start far lower. Also not the natural fit for businesses that must trade directly on the UAE mainland (retail, F&B, clinics) or that need a regulated financial-services address (DIFC/ADGM) for asset management or banking licences.
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
DMCC
from AED 35,484
Company registration
One-time incorporation fee; varies by company structure
AED 9,000–10,000 (approx)
Trade licence (annual)
Service/freelance licences at the low end; trading and regulated activities higher
AED 15,000–50,000
Cheapest official package (Basic Biz, 1 year)
Bundles registration, licence, establishment card and a Special Flexi Desk; eligible for one residence visa
AED 35,484 (from)
Flexi-desk package (Jump Start)
Standard flexi desk (upgrade from the Basic Biz Special Flexi Desk); eligible for up to 3 visas, one 2-year visa included
AED 43,780 (approx)
Establishment / immigration card
Required to sponsor visas; renewed annually
AED 1,800 (approx)
Residence visa (per person, all-in)
Includes entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping; insurance extra
AED 4,000–6,000
Dedicated / serviced office (annual)
Only needed for larger visa quotas or specific activities; quota scales with area
AED 45,000–90,000+
Crypto / Web3 licence (non-regulated, Crypto Centre)
Technology/proprietary track without a full VARA licence; regulated VASP activity is far higher
AED 60,000–120,000 (yr 1)
UAE corporate tax registration
Federal Tax Authority registration is free; 9% applies above AED 375,000, with 0% on qualifying free-zone income
Government fee: AED 0
Realistic first-year total (1 visa, flexi-desk)
Approx — flexi-desk package, one visa, card, medical, Emirates ID and insurance combined
AED 48,000–55,000
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.
DMCC
- Top-tier reputation and a prestige JLT/Uptown Dubai address that opens doors with banks, partners and investors.
- Unmatched ecosystem for commodities, gold and diamonds, plus the region's leading Crypto Centre for Web3 founders.
- Smoother corporate banking than most low-cost free zones — banks recognise the DMCC name.
- Visa quota scales cleanly with office space, so growing teams can expand without changing free zone.
- 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation and 0% corporate tax on qualifying free-zone income.
- Dedicated sector ecosystems, networking and physical infrastructure (vaults, trade floors, coworking) you won't find in cheaper zones.
- Premium pricing — the cheapest official package is about AED 35,484 and a realistic first year with a flexi-desk and one visa is roughly AED 48,000–55,000, far above budget zones.
- No true zero-visa, ultra-cheap entry point — DMCC is not built to undercut IFZA, RAKEZ or SHAMS on price.
- No direct mainland trade — selling goods or operating premises on the UAE mainland needs a distributor, branch or dual licence.
- Regulated crypto (exchange, custody, advisory) requires a separate VARA licence on top of DMCC, adding months and significant cost.
- For regulated finance and asset management, DIFC or ADGM carry more weight as financial-district jurisdictions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan or DMCC?+
Meydan licences start from about AED 12,500 (license only, 0 visa, up to 3 activities, includes flexi-desk, approx per year). DMCC starts from about AED 35,484 (from / approx — cheapest official one-year package (registration, licence and establishment card); flexi-desk, visas and government fees added on top). 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 DMCC best for?+
Commodities and trading houses (gold, diamonds, metals, energy, agri), crypto/Web3 and blockchain founders, fintech, established SMEs and serious entrepreneurs who want a prestige Dubai address, a credible ecosystem and smoother banking. Ideal when reputation, sector clustering and a physical presence in central Dubai matter more than the lowest possible licence price.
How do I decide between Meydan and DMCC?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. Meydan: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. DMCC: DMCC visa allocation is tied to your office solution, not a fixed package number. 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 DMCC?
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.