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How to Start a Discount Cards Services Business with Meydan Free Zone
In the UAE, saving money is not a sign of restraint. It is a lifestyle strategy.
With a retail market worth USD 145.3 billion in 2024 according to IMARC Group¹, 18.72 million international visitors passing through Dubai each year according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism², and consumer spending rising 4.8 percent year-on-year according to NielsenIQ³, the volume of daily transactions across retail, dining, and entertainment is enormous. Discount card services sit on top of that spending, turning every purchase into a channel for structured
Government-backed programmes like Fazaa and Esaad serve hundreds of thousands of cardholders across thousands of brands, while commercial platforms like The Entertainer and Shukran Rewards have built large consumer followings. According to McKinsey⁴, top-performing loyalty programmes boost annual revenue by 15 to 25 percent.
Deloitte's 2025 Consumer Loyalty Survey⁵ found that 72 percent of consumers say such programmes make them more likely to spend with a brand. Globally, Fortune Business Insights⁶ values the loyalty management market at USD 15.19 billion in 2025, projecting USD 51.65 billion by 2034.
Whether you are building a digital discount platform, launching a membership privilege card, or creating a white-label loyalty solution for corporate clients, this is a market where recurring revenue meets mass-market demand.
With 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, full profit repatriation, and an entirely digital licensing journey, Meydan Free Zone makes it simple to establish a discount card operation in one of the world's highest-spending consumer markets.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Discount platform operators | |
| Loyalty tech providers | |
| Membership and privilege card issuers | |
| Entrepreneurs building physical or digital discount card programmes that connect consumers with merchant offers across retail, dining, travel, and entertainment. | |
| Businesses developing white-label or SaaS loyalty management solutions for corporate clients, hospitality groups, or retail chains in the UAE and GCC. | |
| Companies launching subscription-based privilege cards targeting residents, tourists, or specific community groups with curated deals and exclusive access. |
4540.90 - Discount Cards Services
Under this activity, you are in the business of issuing, managing, and operating discount card programmes. That covers the creation and distribution of physical or digital discount cards, the curation of merchant partnerships and offers, the management of membership databases, and the operation of the platforms through which cardholders access and redeem their benefits.
But remember, there are limits. This activity does not cover the wholesale or retail sale of bicycles and related parts and accessories.
It also excludes renting of motorcycles and the repair and maintenance of bicycles.
This activity covers the service of connecting consumers with merchant discounts through a card or platform. If you are issuing, managing, or operating that programme, you are in.
If you are providing financial products, processing payments, or only developing software without running the service, you are not.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Consumer discount cards | Consumer discount cards Issuing discount cards to individual consumers offering savings across dining, retail, entertainment, health, and lifestyle categories through merchant partnerships. ESTABLISHED UAE MODELS The Entertainer, Shukran Rewards (Landmark Group), Club Apparel, Amber by Al Tayer, WAFI Rewards. |
| Corporate and B2B programmes | Corporate privilege programmes Designing and managing privilege card programmes for employers, government entities, or membership organisations that offer benefits to employees or members. UAE MARKET CONTEXT Fazaa (Ministry of Interior) and Esaad (Dubai Police) serve hundreds of thousands of government and private-sector employees with tiered discount programmes. |
| Tourism and visitor cards | Tourist and visitor cards Creating discount cards targeted at tourists and short-term visitors, bundling offers on attractions, dining, transport, and hospitality into a single product. UAE TOURISM CONTEXT Al Saada tourist card offers visitors exclusive deals during their stay; Dubai's 18.72 million annual visitors represent a large addressable market for visitor-focused cards. |
| Digital platforms and apps | Digital loyalty platforms Building and operating mobile apps or digital platforms that deliver discount card functionality, including offer discovery, digital redemption, and membership management. EMERGING TREND App-based platforms are rapidly replacing physical cards as consumers shift to mobile-first discovery and redemption. |
Third-Party Approval
No third-party approval is required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
References
- ¹ IMARC Group — UAE Retail Market Size & Outlook (2024–2033) — cited via Vocal Media / Futurism (2026)
- ² Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) — Tourism Performance Report 2024 — https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/research-and-insights/tourism-performance-report-june-2025
- ³ NielsenIQ — UAE Retail Spend Barometer Q3 2024 — https://nielseniq.com/global/en/landing-page/retail-spend-barometer-uae/
- ⁴ McKinsey & Company — loyalty programme performance data, cited via DontPayFull (2026) and Open Loyalty (2025)
- ⁵ Deloitte — 2025 Consumer Loyalty Program Survey — https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/retail-distribution/reshaping-customer-loyalty-programs.html
- ⁶ Fortune Business Insights — Loyalty Management Market Size, Share & Forecast (2025–2034) — https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/loyalty-management-market-101166
