Meydan vs RAKEZ: 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 RAKEZ (from about AED 6,000) are both UAE free zones — RAKEZ 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). RAKEZ best suits: Cost-conscious SMEs, traders, freelancers and consultants, e-commerce sellers, and especially industrial or manufacturing businesses needing warehouses or land. No single zone pays us more, so the recommendation depends only on your activity, visa count and budget.
Meydan and RAKEZ 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 | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 12,500 | AED 6,000 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah |
| Location | Meydan / Nad Al Sheba, Business Bay catchment, Dubai | Al Hamra Industrial Zone & Al Nakheel, Ras Al Khaimah |
| Visas | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. | Visa allocation is tied to your workspace, not bought freely. |
| Activities | Meydan offers a list of 2,500+ permitted activities. | RAKEZ maintains a comprehensive activity list across manufacturing, trading, services, media, education, IT, logistics and more. |
Lower entry price: RAKEZ.
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 RAKEZ if
Cost-conscious SMEs, traders, freelancers and consultants, e-commerce sellers, and especially industrial or manufacturing businesses needing warehouses or land. A common pick for Dubai-based founders who want a cheaper free zone licence and don't need a Dubai address on the trade licence.
Think twice if
Businesses that need to sell directly to the UAE mainland or take government contracts (a free zone licence alone doesn't allow that — you'd need a mainland licence or local distributor). Also not ideal for founders who want a prestigious Dubai address, or those needing many employee visas on a small flexi-desk.
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
RAKEZ
from AED 6,000
Trade licence (zero-visa, with flexi-desk)
Starter/zero-visa packages; varies by licence type and activities
AED 6,000–9,000/yr
All-inclusive licence with 1 visa (incl. flexi-desk)
Bundled trade licence + 1 visa quota + coworking access
from AED 14,000/yr
Establishment card (immigration registration)
Required once before processing any residence visa
from AED 1,000
Investor / partner residence visa
Approx, excludes medical and Emirates ID below
from AED 4,500
Medical test + Emirates ID
Per person, paid to government / typing centres
approx AED 700
Name reservation + initial approval
Usually bundled in the package; standalone fees are nominal
often included
Flexi-desk / coworking workspace
Included in most starter packages; private offices cost extra
usually included
UAE corporate tax registration
Registration is mandatory; 0% on qualifying free zone income, 9% above AED 375k otherwise
no government fee
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.
RAKEZ
- Genuinely low cost — among the cheapest credible UAE free zones to start and renew
- Excellent for industrial, manufacturing and logistics thanks to warehouses and land plots
- Flexible activity mixing — up to 7 in a category or ~10 mixed on one licence
- Fast issuance, 100% foreign ownership, and full profit repatriation
- Dual-licence option lets a single entity hold both free zone and mainland activities
- It's in Ras Al Khaimah, not Dubai — the trade licence and registered address are RAK, which some clients or banks prefer to see as Dubai
- Like any free zone, you can't sell directly to the UAE mainland without a mainland licence or distributor
- Visa quota is capped by workspace — a cheap flexi-desk limits you to a small number of visas
- Some bank branches and processing happen from RAK, which can mean extra travel or coordination
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan or RAKEZ?+
Meydan licences start from about AED 12,500 (license only, 0 visa, up to 3 activities, includes flexi-desk, approx per year). RAKEZ starts from about AED 6,000 (zero-visa licence, flexi-desk, approx — visa packages cost more). RAKEZ 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 RAKEZ best for?+
Cost-conscious SMEs, traders, freelancers and consultants, e-commerce sellers, and especially industrial or manufacturing businesses needing warehouses or land. A common pick for Dubai-based founders who want a cheaper free zone licence and don't need a Dubai address on the trade licence.
How do I decide between Meydan and RAKEZ?+
Compare licence cost, visa allocation and activity fit. Meydan: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace. RAKEZ: Visa allocation is tied to your workspace, not bought freely. 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 RAKEZ?
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.