Table of Contents
Topic Summary
100% Foreign Ownership With No Local Partner
Setting up through Meydan Free Zone allows international operators to retain full ownership of their insurance business without requiring a UAE national sponsor. This makes it a straightforward entry point for global insurers and reinsurers targeting the MENA region.
Zero Corporate Tax on Qualifying Income
Businesses licensed through Meydan Free Zone benefit from zero corporate tax on qualifying income, alongside full profit repatriation. This significantly improves the financial case for establishing a Dubai-based insurance entity.
Clear Regulatory Framework From Day One
The Central Bank of the UAE provides direct insurance supervision, giving licensed operators a well-defined compliance structure to work within. This regulatory clarity reduces uncertainty for both new entrants and established international groups.
Covers Life, Non-Life, Takaful, and Reinsurance
Activity code 6510.00 encompasses a broad range of insurance operations, including life, non-life, health, specialty, takaful, and retakaful business. Operators across all major insurance segments can structure their UAE presence under a single licence.
No Third-Party Approval Required to Operate
Unlike some regulated financial activities, this insurance business activity does not require additional third-party approval beyond the Meydan Free Zone trade licence. That streamlines the setup process and reduces time to market.
Fully Digital Licensing Process Speeds Entry
Meydan Free Zone offers a completely digital licensing process, cutting down the administrative burden typically associated with financial services registration. This is particularly valuable for international groups looking to establish a regional presence quickly.
Strong Regional Distribution Reach From Dubai
A Dubai-based insurance licence provides access not just to the UAE market but to broader regional distribution across the Gulf and wider MENA. Combined with growing takaful demand and government investment in the sector, the market opportunity is substantial.
How to Start a Insurance Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
A licensed insurance business serves the UAE's insurance and risk-transfer market.¹
Regional demand, government investment in the sector, and strong enterprise and consumer need drive sustained demand for licensed insurance businesses.²
For operators, this activity benefits from Central Bank of the UAE insurance supervision, a clear regulatory framework, and strong regional distribution reach.³
That combination of market size, takaful growth, and regulatory depth is exactly where the opportunity lies.
The UAE has positioned insurance as a strategic pillar of its financial services sector, with explicit support for life, non-life, reinsurance, and takaful activities.
Who is this for?
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 insurance market.
6510.00 - Insurance
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed insurance business.
Services are delivered under the relevant regulatory oversight with appropriate facilities, systems, and qualified personnel.¹
There are some things this activity does not cover. Related but distinct services fall under separate activity codes.
Activities that are separately regulated or that belong to a different industry class are classified under their own codes.
In short: if you are operating a licensed insurance business, you are in. If you are delivering a related but distinct service that falls under another activity, you are not.
Third-Party Approval
No third-party approval is required for this business activity. Your Meydan Free Zone trade licence is sufficient to begin operations under this activity code.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
