You can set up a company in Meydan Free Zone fully online, with 100% ownership and up to 3 business activities on a standard licence. Your Meydan free zone company setup ends with a trade licence issued within a day, or in under 60 minutes with the Fawri instant licence.
Key Takeaways
- Meydan’s standard digital trade licence includes 100% ownership, up to 3 business activities and a flexi-desk.
- Published licence prices run from AED 12,500 (0 visas) to AED 18,050 (3 visas), with add-ons priced separately.
- Meydan describes a four-step online process: activity, company name, documents and payment, then licence.
- Applicants need a passport copy and basic KYC, completed online.
- Confirm current fees and timelines with Meydan before you pay, because the figures below come from captured web pages.
Who is Meydan for?
Meydan presents its setup as open to founders anywhere. The process runs fully online “from anywhere in the world”. That suits owners who want to apply remotely and keep full ownership of their company.
Meydan’s pages also describe a professional business licence, so the zone covers service and professional activities as well as trade. You choose from over 2,500 activity options.
The excerpts we reviewed do not say who Meydan is unsuitable for. Whether it fits your plan depends on your activity, your visa needs and where you want to operate. If you plan to trade on the UAE mainland (the part of the country outside the free zones), compare options first. Our guide to the general trading licence in the UAE is a good starting point. If you are weighing other zones, see the guides to DAFZA, JAFZA and Dubai Silicon Oasis.
What do you get with Meydan?
Meydan lists an LLC-FZ licence on its professional price list. That is a limited liability company licence issued inside the free zone. Its homepage also describes a standard digital trade licence and the Fawri instant licence.
For the professional licence, each package includes:
- an LLC-FZ licence
- a visa allocation (0, 1 or 3, depending on the package)
- 3 business activity groups
- a lease agreement
- a flexi-desk
The standard digital trade licence includes 100% ownership, up to 3 business activities, a flexi-desk and visa allocation eligibility. The Fawri licence comes with one free amendment and a money-back guarantee if it is delayed.
A visa allocation is the number of residence visas the licence allows you to apply for. It is not the visa itself. Visas, bank account assistance and other services are priced separately.
If your business is software or technology, read our guide to the IT and software licence in the UAE alongside Meydan’s activity list.
Steps for Meydan free zone company setup
Meydan describes four online steps. Here is how they map to what you do.
1. Choose your business activity. Select up to 3 activity groups from over 2,500 options. Reserve your company name at the same stage. Meydan says you can check availability and reserve it instantly. Pick activities that match what you will actually invoice for.
2. Choose the licence type and package. Compare the standard digital licence, the professional licence packages and the Fawri instant licence. The main difference is how many visas you need allocated. Decide this before you buy, because it changes the price.
3. Submit the application and documents. Meydan asks for a passport copy and basic KYC, completed online. KYC means “know your customer”: identity and background checks on the owners.
4. Pay the fees and sign the agreements. Payment is part of the same online step as document submission. The professional packages list a lease agreement. Ask Meydan which other agreements you will sign before the licence is released.
5. Receive the licence and complete the registrations. The trade licence is issued within a day, or in under 60 minutes with Fawri. Bank account opening, residence visa and Emirates ID can be added during the same process, all handled by Meydan. A Dubai free zone residence visa is typically valid for 2 years and is renewable. For what happens after the visa is issued, see our UAE residence visa checklist and timelines.
What does it cost in Meydan?
The figures below come from Meydan’s own pages, captured on 27 October 2026. The excerpts carry no publication date, so check Meydan’s professional licence page for today’s prices before you commit.
| Item | Fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| LLC-FZ licence, 0 visa allocation | 12,500 |
| LLC-FZ licence, 1 visa allocation | 14,350 |
| LLC-FZ licence, 3 visa allocation | 18,050 |
| Fawri instant licence | 15,000 |
| Establishment card (add-on) | 2,000 |
| Medical and Emirates ID (add-on) | 2,250 |
| Investor visa (add-on) | 4,000 |
| Change of status (add-on) | 1,500 |
Change of status only applies if you are already in the UAE. It lets your visa be processed locally without leaving and re-entering. An establishment card is the immigration registration for your company.
Your total depends on how many visas you need and whether you add the services above. Meydan says a first investor visa typically adds around AED 7,850. That covers the visa fee, allocation and a one-time immigration establishment card. It also says multi-year licences save up to 15%. Bank account help and other services are priced separately. See Meydan’s homepage for the latest wording.
How long does it take?
Meydan says the trade licence is issued within a day. The Fawri instant licence is issued in under 60 minutes. Fawri includes a money-back guarantee if it is delayed.
The excerpts do not give processing times for visas, Emirates ID or bank accounts. Ask Meydan for current timelines on each, as they are separate from licence issue.
Delays usually come from the inputs. Unclear activity choices, an unavailable company name or incomplete documents can all slow an application. Meydan can confirm which of these apply to your case.
Which documents do you need?
For owners and shareholders, Meydan’s pages name a passport copy and basic KYC, completed online. If you add a residence visa, expect further personal documents. Ask Meydan for the full list before you apply, as the excerpts do not spell them out.
For the business, you provide your chosen activities and a company name. Beyond that, the sources do not list company documents. Confirm any extra requirements with Meydan, especially for multiple shareholders or corporate owners.
How does Meydan compare with other free zones?
Each of these has its own rules, fees and licence types, so check them with the authority before you choose.
| Name | Location | Authority website | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIFC | Dubai | difc.ae | Coming soon |
| Dubai South | Dubai | dubaisouth.ae | Coming soon |
| Dubai Internet City | Dubai | dic.ae | Coming soon |
| Dubai CommerCity | Dubai | dubaicommercity.ae | Coming soon |
| DMCC | Dubai | dmcc.ae | Coming soon |
| JAFZA | Dubai | jafza.ae | JAFZA guide |
What is the next step?
Start by deciding how many visas you need and which activities you will run. Those two choices drive the licence and the price.
A licensed advisor can then check your plan against Meydan’s current requirements. For a Meydan free zone company setup, Al Ain Business Center can walk you through the steps, the fees and the paperwork. You can also browse our UAE business setup guides, or compare other emirates such as business setup in Ajman. When you are ready, book a free consultation and move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meydan Free Zone Company Setup
What is Meydan and who is it for?
Meydan Free Zone runs its company setup fully online, from anywhere in the world. Its standard digital trade licence includes 100% ownership, up to 3 business activities and a flexi-desk. It also lists a professional licence with an LLC-FZ licence and 3 business activity groups. The excerpts do not say who it is unsuitable for, so check your activity and visa needs with Meydan.
What documents do I need to set up in Meydan?
Meydan’s setup process asks for a passport copy and basic KYC, completed online. If you add a residence visa, expect further personal documents. The exact details depend on your situation and can change, so confirm them with the responsible official authority before you act.
How long does setting up in Meydan take?
Meydan says the trade licence is issued within a day, or in under 60 minutes with the Fawri instant licence. Fawri includes a money-back guarantee if it is delayed. The excerpts give no timelines for visas, Emirates ID or bank accounts, so ask Meydan for current times on each.
How much does it cost to set up in Meydan?
Meydan says setup starts from AED 12,500 for a standard digital trade licence, and the Fawri instant licence starts from AED 15,000. The professional LLC-FZ licence is listed at AED 12,500, 14,350 and 18,050 for 0, 1 and 3 visa allocations. Add-ons are priced separately, such as the establishment card at AED 2,000 and the investor visa at AED 4,000. A first investor visa typically adds around AED 7,850.
Can a foreign owner set up in Meydan?
Meydan says the setup process runs fully online from anywhere in the world. Its standard digital trade licence includes 100% ownership. The excerpts do not state nationality or residency rules for owners, so confirm your specific case with Meydan before applying.