Meydan vs JAFZA: 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 JAFZA (from about AED 15,000) 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). JAFZA best suits: Import-export and trading houses, distribution and re-export businesses, logistics and freight-forwarding firms, manufacturers and light-industrial operations, and regional headquarters serving Asia, Africa and Europe. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
Meydan and JAFZA 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 | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,500 | AED 15,000 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Location | Meydan / Nad Al Sheba, Business Bay catchment, Dubai | Jebel Ali, beside Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. | JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. |
| Activities | Meydan offers a list of 2,500+ permitted activities. | JAFZA licences are grouped by activity. |
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 JAFZA if
Import-export and trading houses, distribution and re-export businesses, logistics and freight-forwarding firms, manufacturers and light-industrial operations, and regional headquarters serving Asia, Africa and Europe. Ideal for companies that physically move, store or process goods and want to sit on top of Jebel Ali Port with bonded warehousing and on-site customs.
Think twice if
Solo consultants, freelancers, online-only service firms and early-stage startups testing an idea — JAFZA's mandatory office/warehouse and higher fees make it overkill and expensive for them. Anyone wanting a true zero-visa, flexi-desk-only setup should look at a cheaper zone like IFZA. Businesses selling directly to the UAE mainland still face the usual free-zone restrictions.
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
JAFZA
from AED 15,000
Logistics / general-trading licence
Per year. Standard trading/service licences are cheaper (~AED 5,000–5,500). Licence fee only — facility is separate and mandatory
AED 15,000 (from)
General trading licence
Per year; allows unlimited trading activities across groups
AED 20,000 (from)
Office / warehouse / plot (mandatory)
Flexi/smart desk from ~AED 15,000; private office ~AED 60,000+; warehouse from ~AED 48,000 (200–300 sqm); plots quoted per sq ft
AED 15,000–200,000+
Establishment / immigration card
Year 1; renewal around AED 1,910. Required to sponsor visas
AED 1,975 (approx)
Residence visa (per person)
All-in including medical and Emirates ID; health insurance from ~AED 600/person
AED 3,500–5,000
Name reservation & initial approval
Usually bundled into the registration and licence package
Included / nominal
UAE corporate tax registration
FTA registration is free; 9% applies on profit above AED 375,000. Qualifying free-zone income may be 0% if conditions are met
Government fee: AED 0
Realistic first-year total (trading + warehouse + ~3 visas)
Approx — licence, mandatory warehouse/office, cards, visas and insurance. Industrial/large-scale setups are quote-based and can run well above this
AED 90,000–150,000+
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.
JAFZA
- Unmatched logistics location — on top of Jebel Ali Port and next to Al Maktoum International Airport, with on-site customs clearance.
- Bonded warehousing and duty suspension on re-exports make it ideal for import-distribute-re-export models.
- Real estate at scale — warehouses, temperature-controlled units, and large industrial land plots you cannot get in a desk-only free zone.
- High visa capacity for large teams — warehouse and plot leases unlock 15–50+ visas.
- Globally recognised, established free zone — a credible address for trading houses and regional headquarters.
- 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation and FZE/FZCO flexibility.
- Expensive versus low-cost zones — a mandatory office/warehouse pushes realistic first-year cost to AED 90,000–150,000+, not the licence headline.
- No genuine flexi-desk-only path for operational companies — a physical facility is required, so it is overkill for solo or online businesses.
- Industrial, warehousing and plot pricing is quote-based and varies by size and location — harder to budget upfront than a fixed package.
- Visas are tied to leased space, so scaling headcount usually means leasing more area.
- Still a free zone for direct mainland sales — selling goods inside the UAE mainland needs a distributor, branch or dual licence.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan or JAFZA?+
Meydan licences start from about AED 12,500 (license only, 0 visa, up to 3 activities, includes flexi-desk, approx per year). JAFZA starts from about AED 15,000 (from / approx — this is the logistics / general-trading licence fee; a standard trading or service licence is cheaper (~AED 5,000–5,500). A physical office, warehouse or plot is mandatory and quote-based, so real first-year setups run far higher (AED 90,000–150,000+). Industrial and warehousing projects are priced on a bespoke quote). 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 JAFZA best for?+
Import-export and trading houses, distribution and re-export businesses, logistics and freight-forwarding firms, manufacturers and light-industrial operations, and regional headquarters serving Asia, Africa and Europe. Ideal for companies that physically move, store or process goods and want to sit on top of Jebel Ali Port with bonded warehousing and on-site customs.
How do I decide between Meydan and JAFZA?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. Meydan: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. JAFZA: JAFZA does not use a fixed package quota — your visa allocation is tied to the physical space you lease. 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 JAFZA?
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.