Meydan Free Zone

Meydan is well matched to e-commerce, consultancy and trading businesses that value a prestigious, Downtown-adjacent Dubai address and a straightforward, single-authority process. The right structure still depends on your activities, your budget and where your customers are, so we help you match your business to the zone, reserve a compliant trade name and confirm your shareholding before any fees are paid.

If you also need to sell directly into the local UAE market, it is worth weighing up mainland company formation, where 100% foreign ownership now applies to most (not all) activities under Federal Decree-Law 26/2020; strategic or restricted sectors may still require an Emirati partner, and some professional licences or foreign branches use a 0% equity Local Service Agent. If your aim is purely an international holding structure, note that an offshore company cannot trade inside the UAE. You can also compare Meydan with other zones such as IFZA and DMCC, and read the authority's own details at meydanfz.ae.

UAE Corporate Tax applies from financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023 under Federal Decree-Law 47/2022. The standard rate is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. A free zone company that meets the conditions of a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on non-qualifying income, with no AED 375,000 band. Corporate Tax registration is required, the late-registration penalty is AED 10,000, and returns must be filed and tax paid within nine months of the end of your tax period. Small Business Relief may apply where revenue is under AED 3,000,000 per period, available until 31 December 2026. Always confirm the current position on tax.gov.ae.

VAT is charged at a standard 5%. Registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies reach AED 375,000, with voluntary registration available from AED 187,500. Our accounting, VAT and corporate tax service keeps your registrations, bookkeeping and filings in order, while our PRO and government services team handles renewals and amendments. When you are ready to trade, we can also help with a corporate bank account and your trade licence.

Meydan Free Zone package prices are set by the authority and are not official until quoted, so we always present them as indicative ranges rather than fixed figures, and government fees change from time to time. As an indication only, MOET foreign-branch initial approval is around AED 3,500, a DET trade-name reservation is about AED 620, and ICP residence-permit government fees are roughly AED 100 per year plus medical, Emirates ID and typing charges. Always request an exact, written quote before you proceed; see the official schedules at moet.gov.ae and icp.gov.ae. To plan your budget, try our cost estimator or read our guide on the cost to set up a business in Dubai.

Most free zone licences include a visa quota, so you can sponsor yourself, eligible staff and family members subject to the authority's rules, and we can guide you through investor residence visas and, where you qualify, the Golden Visa. We can also arrange office solutions and protect your brand through trademark and IP registration. Message us on WhatsApp or use our contact page and we will give you an honest plan with no hidden fees.