What Meydan Free Zone does

Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai government-established free zone authority operating under Meydan City Corporation, incorporated as Meydan Free Zone L.L.C-FZ by Emiri Decree no.5 of 2009. It provides company formation, trade licensing, visa and residency services, and corporate banking access for international entrepreneurs, freelancers, and SMEs seeking to establish a UAE business presence. The entity is headquartered within the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai, and reports having served over 200,000 entrepreneurs with a community network exceeding 83,000 professionals.

The core product is a fully digital, 100% paperless company formation platform that operates 24/7 and supports over 2,500 business activities across 18 categories. The flagship offering is Fawri, an instant LLC license issued in under 60 minutes and backed by a money-back guarantee, priced from AED 15,000. A standard digital trade license starts from AED 12,500, and a non-resident license allows remote formation without UAE travel. The platform integrates with 26+ banking and fintech partners supporting 17 currencies to deliver guaranteed corporate IBAN access, and with multiple BNPL/EPP providers (Tabby, Tamara, Emirates NBD, ADCB, Emirates Islamic, CBD, FAB) for installment-based fee payment. Adjacent services include visa processing, accounting, business support, warehouse, co-working, and office facilities.

Meydan Free Zone monetizes primarily through one-time and multi-year trade license fees, with secondary revenue from visa services, ancillary Meydan Plus subscriptions, facility rentals, and a referral program paying AED 1,500 per successful conversion. The customer mix spans international founders, freelancers, SMEs, and agencies, with no publicly disclosed revenue or external shareholders. The entity holds a UAE Corporate Tax qualifying free zone designation, Dubai Chamber of Commerce accreditation, VARA virtual asset licensing, and was recognized as UAE's Best Digital Free Zone at the 2022 Global Business Outlook Awards.

Name

Meydan Free Zone

Legal name

Meydan Free Zone L.L.C-FZ

Website

https://meydanfz.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai government free zone authority offering 100% digital, 100% paperless company formation, trade licensing, visa services, and guaranteed corporate banking access for international entrepreneurs, freelancers, and SMEs across 2,500+ business activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Free Zone Business Setup and Licensing Services

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Free zone business setup
• Trade license issuance
• Company formation services
• UAE residency visa services
• Corporate banking facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trade License Fees: Primary revenue stream from issuance and renewal of digital trade licenses. Standard license starting from AED 12,500 includes ownership, up to 3 activity groups, and flexi-desk. Fawri instant license starts from AED 15,000 with 60-minute issuance and money-back guarantee. Non-resident license from AED 12,500. Multi-year licenses available with up to 15% discount.
2. Visa and Residency Services: Investor visa from AED 4,000, employee visa from AED 3,500, immigration establishment card from AED 2,000, medical and Emirates ID assistance from AED 2,250. Revenue generated per visa issued. First investor visa typically adds approximately AED 7,850 including visa fee, allocation, and establishment card.
3. Meydan Plus Ancillary Services: Bundled support services including mCore (business setup support, bank account), mResidency (residence visa), mAssist (business support), and mAccounting (financial services). Optional add-ons layered on top of base license.
4. Referral and Channel Partner Program: Channel partners and referrers earn AED 1,500 per successful client referral upon completion of a business license transaction of at least one year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Meydan Free Zone issues digital trade licenses (instant and standard), processes visa and residency applications, and delivers bundled business support services for company formation in Dubai. Through its 100% digital platform operating 24/7, it enables entrepreneurs to incorporate an LLC company remotely, select from 2,500+ licensed activities, and access corporate banking through 26+ partner banks supporting 17 currencies, all without requiring physical presence in the UAE.

Product overview

Meydan Free Zone operates as a digital business hub offering a unified free zone company formation platform with multiple licensing tiers. The core portfolio centers on two licensing products: Fawri (instant LLC license issued in under 60 minutes with AED 15,000 starting price) and the Standard Trade License (digital trade license from AED 12,500 with 24-hour issuance and up to 3 activity groups). These are supported by Meydan Plus add-on modules including mCore (business setup support), mResidency (visa services), mAssist (business support), and mAccounting (financial services). Self-service digital tools include Cost Calculator, Company Name Check, and Business Activity Selection. The ecosystem also encompasses physical facilities (warehouse, co-working, retail, office spaces, meeting rooms), administrative services (mail management, phone answering), and a referral loyalty program. The platform integrates with 26+ banking partners for corporate account access and multiple BNPL/EPP payment providers for flexible fee settlement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fawri: Instant business license product that can be issued in under 60 minutes through a fully paperless process, backed by a money-back guarantee. Offers LLC license with limited liability protection.
• mCore
• mResidency
• mAssist
• mAccounting

Products and services

• Fawri Instant Business License Instant business license issued in under 60 minutes through a fully digital, paperless process. Provides limited liability protection with a legally recognized LLC structure, allowing one individual to act as shareholder, manager, director, and UBO. Starting from AED 15,000 with money-back guarantee if delayed. Covers 1,800+ approved activities including e-commerce, fintech, consulting, trading, and education.
• Standard Trade License Digital trade license starting from AED 12,500, including 100% ownership, up to 3 activity groups from 2,500+ options, flexi-desk, visa allocation eligibility, and access to 26+ banking partners. Standard issuance within 24 hours. Multi-year licenses available with up to 15% discount.
• Non-Resident Business Setup Fully remote company formation enabling international entrepreneurs to establish licensed UAE businesses and open corporate bank accounts without visiting the UAE. Includes selection from over 2,500 business activities, trade license issuance within 60 minutes to 24 hours, and banking access through 26+ partners supporting up to 17 currencies. Starting from AED 12,500.
• mCore Business Setup Support Business setup support service providing essential services for entrepreneurs including banking document assistance, document handling, medical biometrics, Emirates ID services, meeting rooms, and flexi-desk access. Bundled within the Meydan Plus add-on suite.
• mResidency Visa Services Residence visa services for investors, employees, and families. Handles entry permits, medical examinations, Emirates ID registration, and visa stamping. Investor visas starting from AED 4,000, employee visas from AED 3,500. Immigration establishment card from AED 2,000. Medical and Emirates ID assistance from AED 2,250.
• mAssist Business Support Business support service offering tailored solutions for businesses of every size, including administrative assistance and operational support. Bundled within the Meydan Plus add-on suite.
• mAccounting Financial Services Financial business services ensuring compliance and accuracy, including accounting support and financial management assistance for licensees. Bundled within the Meydan Plus add-on suite.

Quantifiable outcome

• Company formation in 60 minutes (vs. 3–14 days at other Dubai free zones)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dubai Chamber of CommercecoreOthersDubai Chamber of Commerce accreditation is part of the MoFA-approved LLC license issued by Meydan Free Zone. The license carries official recognition by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, enhancing credibility and acceptance of businesses formed under the free zone.
• Dubai MunicipalityminorOthersDubai Municipality provides post-license approval for certain activities licensed by Meydan Free Zone. For example, pet sitting license activities under code 9609.02 require Dubai Municipality approval before operations can commence.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority): Dubai free zone focused on trading, logistics, and industrial licensing with on-site infrastructure; competes with Meydan for trading and professional service company formations across the UAE.
• RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone): UAE free zone authority offering business setup, licensing, and visa services with a strong SME and startup focus; competes with Meydan for cost-sensitive international founders.
• IFZA (International Free Zone Authority): Dubai-based free zone offering streamlined company formation, licensing, and visa services aimed at international entrepreneurs — the closest direct competitor to Meydan Free Zone in the same Dubai free zone category.
• DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre): Largest free zone in the UAE by number of member companies; offers trade licensing, visa services, and a wide activity catalogue — directly comparable to Meydan's business formation and licensing offering.
• Ajman Free Zone Authority (AFZA): UAE free zone offering low-cost trade and service licenses targeted at SMEs and startups; directly comparable to Meydan's SMB and freelancer license offerings.
• Sharjah Free Zones Authority: Regulator of multiple free zones in Sharjah (SAIF, Hamriyah, Shams) providing business licensing and visa services; competes with Meydan for regional UAE company formations.
• DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre): Dubai-based free zone focused on financial services, fintech, and professional services licensing; overlaps with Meydan's financial and professional activity licensing under one jurisdiction.
• ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market): Abu Dhabi-based free zone with financial services focus; competes with Meydan (and DIFC) for financial, fintech, and professional service company formations in the UAE.

Emerging players

• Firstbase: US-focused digital company formation platform that incorporates Delaware/C-Wrap LLCs and provides banking and tax add-ons — adjacent comparable to Meydan for global founders weighing non-US vs US formation destinations.
• Doola: Digital formation and tax-compliance platform supporting US and international entities, with banking access — comparable to Meydan's 'formation + banking + compliance' bundled offering for remote founders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/meydanfreezone
• Facebookfacebook.com/MeydanFreezone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meydanfreezone
• Instagraminstagram.com/meydanfreezone
• TikToktiktok.com/@meydanfreezone
• Xx.com/MeydanFreezone

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meydan Free Zone