How To Transfer Your Mainland Company To Meydan Free Zone In Dubai

Most founders in Dubai don’t start out planning to “re-domicile” their company. They start by setting up wherever feels best at the time, often mainland, and only later realise that how your company is licensed affects everything from visas to banking, compliance, and day-to-day operations.

At some point, the question comes up, Can I move my existing mainland company into a free zone like Meydan, without shutting it down and starting over?

The answer is yes.
But the process is more regulated, more sequential, and more misunderstood than most founders expect.

This guide explains what transferring a mainland company to Meydan Free Zone actually means, how the process works in practice, and what you need to prepare before considering it.

What Does “Transferring” a Company Actually Mean in Dubai?

In the UAE, moving a company from one jurisdiction to another is formally called re-domiciliation.

This is not a new company setup, a business license amendment, or a simple address change.

Instead, it is a legal migration of an existing company from one licensing authority to another.

From a regulatory standpoint:

• The company continues to exist
• The licensing authority changes
• Compliance obligations reset under the new jurisdiction

This distinction is important, because federal systems in the UAE - immigration, tax, and compliance - are authority-specific, not company-wide.

Why Founders Consider Moving From Mainland to a Free Zone

Founders usually start thinking about re-domiciliation not because something is “wrong,” but because the business begins to outgrow the structure it started with.

What once felt simple gradually becomes heavier. Compliance requirements increase across multiple portals, a single license starts to limit how business activities can scale or evolve, banking reviews become more frequent and less predictable, and operational tasks take longer than they should. At the same time, many founders begin looking for a more digital operating environment, one designed for ongoing governance and growth, not just initial setup. It’s at this point that moving a mainland company into a structured free zone framework, such as Meydan Free Zone, becomes a practical consideration rather than a theoretical one.

Meydan Free Zone operates as a fully digital free zone, supports over 2,500 business activities, and is structured for companies that want clean governance as they grow.

How the Mainland-to-Meydan Free Zone Transfer Process Works

The process happens in two distinct phases, and understanding this upfront prevents most founder frustration.

Phase 1: Exiting the Mainland Authority

Before Meydan Free Zone can accept a company, the existing mainland authority must formally release it.

This requires two key documents:

1. No Objection Certificate (NOC)

Issued by the current licensing authority, confirming there are no objections to the company exiting the jurisdiction.

2. Exit Certificate

This is issued only after all exit requirements are completed, which typically include:

• Cancellation of all active residence visas
• Cancellation of the establishment card
• Completion of authority-specific closure procedures

Because each mainland authority follows its own internal process, timelines vary and cannot be standardised.

Phase 2: Re-Domiciliation Into Meydan Free Zone

Once the Exit Certificate is issued, the company can apply to re-domicile into Meydan Free Zone.

This stage is different from a new business license application:

• Applications are reviewed primarily by Meydan Free Zone’s legal team‍
• The focus is on validating the existing company, not creating a new one
• The Fawri license is not applicable to re-domiciling companies

A critical rule founders must understand: You cannot change your company’s structure during re-domiciliation.

Business activities, ownership, and capital structure must already align with Meydan Free Zone’s requirements - or be amended before the process starts. Structural changes can be made only after migration is complete.

What Happens to Your Company After the Move

Once the company is re-domiciled, it becomes a Meydan Free Zone entity, governed by free zone regulations rather than mainland rules.

Company Identity and Contracts

• Existing contracts and commercial engagements may continue, provided counterparties are notified
• The company retains its legal identity, subject to the new jurisdiction

This continuity is one of the key reasons founders choose re-domiciliation instead of liquidation and re-incorporation.

Business Activities and Licensing Scope

A re-domiciling company may hold up to three activity groups under a single business license, if the activities allow such grouping.

However, all restrictions that apply to new companies also apply here. For example, RERA-regulated activities cannot be combined with unrelated activities.

Meydan Free Zone offers a broad business activity list, which founders use to consolidate operations under one license.

Visas and Establishment Card: What Founders Need to Know

This is where expectations often need resetting.

Under current UAE regulations residence visas cannot be transferred, and establishment cards cannot be transferred. New visas must be issued under Meydan Free Zone after re-domiciliation. Companies may use mResidency, Meydan Free Zone’s visa processing system, for this stage.

Banking During and After Re-Domiciliation

Banking treatment is determined by the bank, not the free zone. Some banks allow existing corporate accounts to continue after license migration. Others require a fresh onboarding and KYC review.

Meydan Free Zone provides optional bank account support services during re-domiciliation, which founders can use to streamline the process and obtain a UAE IBAN.

Compliance Resets After Migration

Compliance obligations do not migrate automatically.

After re-domiciliation, companies must re-file:

• ‍VAT registration with the Federal Tax Authority‍
• UBO declaration with the Ministry of Economy

Business license renewal obligations remain unchanged and follow Meydan Free Zone’s cycle.

What Founders Should Clarify Before Starting Redomiciliation

Before transferring a mainland company to Meydan Free Zone, founders should confirm:

• All mainland exit requirements can be completed
• The company’s current structure aligns with Meydan Free Zone rules
• The business is prepared for visa and compliance re-registration

Re-domiciliation is not a shortcut - it is a regulated legal migration.

In Conclusion

Transferring a mainland company to Meydan Free Zone is a regulated legal migration rather than a restart, and understanding that distinction is critical. The company continues to exist, but the licensing authority, regulatory framework, and compliance relationships change - which is why visas, VAT registration, and certain filings must be re-established under the new jurisdiction.

For founders unfamiliar with re-domiciliation, the process can feel complex at first, largely because it sits at the intersection of licensing, immigration, and federal compliance systems. When approached with proper preparation and sequencing, however, re-domiciliation allows an existing business to transition into a fully digital free zone environment without liquidation, aligning the company’s structure with how it intends to operate and scale going forward.

FAQs

Can a mainland company be transferred to Meydan Free Zone without closing it?

Yes. A mainland company can move to Meydan Free Zone through a legal process called re-domiciliation, which allows the company to migrate jurisdictions without liquidation or re-incorporation.

What is the difference between re-domiciliation and setting up a new company?

Re-domiciliation transfers an existing company to a new licensing authority, while a new setup creates a separate legal entity. During re-domiciliation, the company’s legal existence continues, but its regulatory framework changes.

How long does it take to transfer a mainland company to Meydan Free Zone?

There is no fixed timeline. The duration depends on how quickly the current mainland authority issues the Exit Certificate after all exit procedures, such as visa and establishment card cancellation, are completed.

Can I change shareholders or business activities during the transfer process?

No. Company structure, ownership, capital, and activities cannot be amended during re-domiciliation. Any required changes must be completed before starting the process or after the transfer is finalised.

Do visas and establishment cards transfer to Meydan Free Zone?

No. UAE authorities do not permit the transfer of visas or establishment cards between jurisdictions. New visas must be issued under Meydan Free Zone after re-domiciliation.

Does VAT registration transfer when moving from mainland to Meydan Free Zone?

‍No. VAT registration is jurisdiction-specific. After re-domiciliation, companies must submit a new VAT registration with the Federal Tax Authority.