Table of Contents
Topic Summary
100% Foreign Ownership Through Meydan Free Zone
Setting up through Meydan Free Zone allows international investors and sports operators to retain full ownership of their business without a local partner. This makes it one of the most attractive entry routes for global sports brands and founders entering Dubai.
Government Strategy Fuels Facility Leasing Demand
The UAE's We the UAE 2031 vision and the Dubai Sports Strategy set explicit targets for sports participation, facility development, and international event hosting. This policy-driven investment creates sustained, long-term demand for licensed sports facility operators.
Know Exactly What This Licence Covers
Activity code 9311.98 covers core facility leasing, training and coaching programmes, tournaments, membership models, and corporate hospitality events. Retail sale of sporting goods and healthcare or physiotherapy services fall under separate activity codes and are not included.
Third-Party Approval Is a Required Step
Before your trade licence is issued, your facility, operational model, staffing, and regulatory documentation must be reviewed and cleared by the relevant authority. Building this approval process into your setup timeline from the start will help avoid delays.
Zero Corporate Tax on Qualifying Income
Businesses licensed through Meydan Free Zone benefit from zero corporate tax on qualifying income and full profit repatriation. Combined with a fully digital licensing process, this keeps both startup costs and ongoing overheads competitive.
AML Compliance Exemption Reduces Administrative Burden
This specific business activity is exempt from Anti-Money Laundering compliance requirements, simplifying your regulatory obligations compared to other licensed categories. This is a practical advantage for operators focused on facility management rather than financial services.
Multiple Revenue Streams Within One Licence
A single educational institutions' sport facilities leasing licence can support memberships and season passes, organised leagues and tournaments, corporate team-building programmes, and structured athlete development. Diversifying across these streams strengthens long-term business resilience.
How to Start a Educational Institutions' Sport Facilities Leasing Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
A licensed educational institutions' sport facilities leasing business serves Dubai's sports and active-lifestyle market.¹
Dubai's investment in sports facilities, event hosting, and community fitness, combined with a young, active population,³ drives sustained demand for licensed sports services.
That combination of active-lifestyle culture, government investment, and a growing population is exactly where the opportunity lies.
The UAE has positioned sport as a strategic pillar under We the UAE 2031 and the Dubai Sports Strategy, with explicit targets for participation, facilities, and international events.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Sports investors | Groups deploying capital into sports facilities, clubs, and event infrastructure in Dubai. |
| Sports founders and operators | Athletes, coaches, and sports professionals launching licensed sports businesses in Dubai. |
| International sports brands | Global sports chains, academies, and event promoters establishing a licensed Dubai presence. |
Setting up through Meydan Free Zone means 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, full profit repatriation, and a fully digital licensing process, giving you a fast and cost-effective route into the Dubai market.
9311.98 - Educational Institutions' Sport Facilities Leasing
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed educational institutions' sport facilities leasing business.
Services are delivered under the relevant regulatory oversight with appropriate facilities, equipment, and qualified personnel.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Core Operations | Primary delivery. Educational Institutions' Sport Facilities Leasing core operational and service delivery. |
| Events and Competitions | Tournaments and fixtures. Organised events, leagues, tournaments, and competitive programming. |
| Training and Development | Coaching and skills. Structured training, coaching, and athlete-development programmes. |
| Membership and Subscriptions | Recurring revenue. Membership packages, season passes, and subscription models. |
| Corporate and Hospitality | B2B services. Corporate team-building, hospitality events, and sponsored programmes. |
There are some things this activity does not cover. Retail sale of sporting goods and equipment falls under trading codes.
Healthcare, physiotherapy, and sports-medicine services are classified under health activity codes.
In short: if you are operating a licensed educational institutions' sport facilities leasing business, you are in. If you are retailing equipment, providing medical services, or operating outside this scope, you are not.
Compliance
THIRD-PARTY APPROVAL
This activity requires pre-approval from the DSC (Dubai Sports Council) before a business license can be issued by Meydan Free Zone.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
