Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Which costs fall outside the Business License at Meydan Free Zone?
Residency visas, medical fitness tests, Emirates ID, medical insurance, bank account support, accounting and mail services are billed separately from the Business License. Meydan Plus groups these services into mCore, mAssist, mResidency and mAccounting. Each is priced on its own, so a first-year budget should list them as separate lines.
Can a license payment be refunded after the license has been issued?
Charges tied to completed license and registration actions are generally not recoverable once the license is issued. Amounts for services not yet started may be treated differently. The refund terms in your signed agreement set what you can reclaim, so read them before you pay.
Does a Meydan Free Zone package include a residency visa?
No. Visa flexibility means a visa can be arranged, not that one is included in the license cost. mResidency covers residency visas, medical fitness tests, Emirates ID, medical insurance, dependent visas and return permits. Each owner, employee and dependant adds a separate cost.
Is the Meydan Free Zone license a one-off payment or an annual cost?
It is an annual cost. The license and the workspace are renewed each year, so renewal belongs in the budget from the first day. Setting aside a reserve at setup avoids an unplanned charge in month twelve.
Is the total from the Setup Cost Calculator a guaranteed price?
No. The Setup Cost Calculator gives an indicative estimate that helps you frame the total before you apply. The signed quotation sets the figure you pay. Treat the calculator as a planning tool and the quotation as the binding amount.
What does mAccounting cover for a free zone company?
mAccounting covers bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and payroll. It is one of the four Meydan Plus pillars and is priced separately from the Business License. A small trading company often adds it to keep records and filings in order.
Do free zone companies need to register for VAT in the UAE?
VAT registration is mandatory when taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 a year. Free zone status does not remove registration duties, and the Federal Tax Authority administers VAT and Corporate Tax. Crossing the threshold adds registration and filing costs to your budget.
Which payment records should a founder keep before and after setup?
Keep the signed quotation, the agreement with its refund terms, and a receipt for every paid item. Written confirmation of each charge helps if you need to dispute or reclaim an amount later. File these together with your licensing documents for easy reference.
Topic Summary
What Meydan Free Zone Fees Cover
Meydan Free Zone fees are the charges paid to register a company and hold a Business License in the free zone. They typically include registration, license issuance and workspace, with visas and support services billed separately. Meydan Free Zone issues the license documents digitally after registration.
Meydan Free Zone Fees by Cost Stage
Meydan Free Zone Fees by Cost Stage
Added Costs Beyond the License
Costs outside the license include residency visas, medical fitness tests, Emirates ID, medical insurance, bank account support, accounting and mail services. Meydan Plus groups these into mCore, mAssist, mResidency and mAccounting, each priced separately from the Business License.
Steps to Estimate Your Meydan Free Zone Fees
To estimate your fees, choose your activity, select a workspace, count visas, add support services, and reserve for renewal. The Setup Cost Calculator on the Meydan Free Zone website helps frame the total, though the signed quotation sets the figure you pay.
Meydan Free Zone Refund Policy Explained
Refunds depend on what has already been processed. Charges tied to completed government or license actions are generally not recoverable. Read the refund terms in your signed agreement before payment, as they set what you can reclaim under the Meydan Free Zone refund policy.
What This Means for Your Budget Decision
Treat the license as the first cost, not the total. Add visas, support services, tax compliance and renewal, then confirm refund terms in writing before paying. A complete budget protects cash flow after the license is issued.
Meydan Free Zone Fees and Refund Policy Explained
Founders in Dubai often assume a free zone fee schedule is a single figure on a single invoice. Then they find they need to plan for charges that fall due at different stages, and for refund terms that are narrower than expected.
This guide explains what Meydan Free Zone fees cover, which costs sit outside the license, how the refund policy treats paid amounts, and how to compare your options before applying for your business license with Meydan Free Zone.
What Meydan Free Zone Fees Cover
Meydan Free Zone fees are the charges paid to register a company and hold a Business License in the free zone. They typically include registration, license issuance and workspace, with visas and support services billed separately. Meydan Free Zone issues the license documents digitally after registration.
Registration and License Charges
Registration is a setup charge. The license is charged annually. Keep them apart in your budget. After registration, Meydan Free Zone issues the Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register, and Memorandum and Articles of Association digitally.
The Flexi Desk starts at AED 12,500 for setup, as published by Meydan Free Zone. Say a consultant opens a solo practice. The license and workspace appear on one invoice, and visa costs arrive later.
Cost Stages and What Each Typically Includes
| Cost Stage | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Setup | Registration, Business License and workspace |
| Residency | Visas, medical fitness test, Emirates ID and medical insurance |
| Support | mCore, mAssist and mAccounting services |
| Tax | VAT and Corporate Tax registration and filing |
| Renewal | Annual license and workspace |
Fawri for Solo Entrepreneurs
Fawri is Meydan Free Zone's fully digital licensing solution for solo entrepreneurs. It issues a business license in under 60 minutes. Speed does not remove other costs. A solo designer licensed through Fawri still budgets for a visa and bank account support.
Official Fees Versus Estimates
Published fees are fixed figures. Indicative totals are not guaranteed costs. A founder should treat a calculator output as an estimate and the signed quotation as the binding figure.
Meydan Free Zone Fees by Cost Stage
Costs fall due in stages: registration and license at setup, visas and medicals when staff or owners relocate, and renewal every year. Treating the license as a recurring cost, not a one-off payment, keeps first-year and ongoing budgets accurate.
Setup Stage Costs
The activity you select affects the license charge. A trader choosing a trading activity and a Flexi Desk should confirm both before paying, and have documents ready first. The company documents requirement sets out what to prepare.
Annual Renewal as a Recurring Cost
The license renews each year, with workspace renewed alongside it. A founder who sets a reserve at setup avoids finding the charge in month twelve.
Added Costs Beyond the License
Costs outside the license include residency visas, medical fitness tests, Emirates ID, medical insurance, bank account support, accounting and mail services. Meydan Plus groups these into mCore, mAssist, mResidency and mAccounting, each priced separately from the Business License.
Visa and Residency Costs
Visa flexibility does not mean a visa is included. mResidency covers:
- Residency visas
- Medical fitness test
- Emirates ID
- Medical insurance
- Dependent visas and return permits
A founder relocating with a spouse budgets for two visas, two medicals and insurance.
Meydan Plus Support Services
- mCore: business bank account support, company stamps, business cards, e-commerce setup.
- mAssist: relationship management, virtual assistant, mail management, PO Box, document translation, meeting rooms.
- mAccounting: bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax, payroll.
Bank account support does not guarantee approval. A small trading company might add mAccounting for VAT and bookkeeping every month to keep costs in check.
Tax and Compliance Costs to Plan For
VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 a year. Corporate Tax is administered by the Federal Tax Authority. Free zone status does not remove registration duties. A consultancy crossing the threshold adds a registration and filing cost.
Steps to Estimate Your Meydan Free Zone Fees
To estimate your fees, choose your activity, select a workspace, count visas, add support services, and reserve for renewal. The Setup Cost Calculator on the Meydan Free Zone website helps frame the total, though the signed quotation sets the figure you pay.
- Confirm your activity and workspace. Activity drives the license charge. A freelancer compares a Flexi Desk against a larger workspace first. See the Flexi Desk cost detail.
- Count visas and support services. List owners, staff and dependants. Two partners and one employee means three visas.
- Use the Setup Cost Calculator. Run two scenarios, with and without an employee visa, then compare against the written quotation.
- Reserve for renewal. Give renewal one line in the budget and review it every year.
The company setup cost breakdown adds further detail.
Meydan Free Zone Refund Policy Explained
Refunds depend on what has already been processed. Charges tied to completed government or license actions are generally not recoverable. Read the refund terms in your signed agreement before payment, as they set what you can reclaim under the Meydan Free Zone refund policy.
What Is Usually Refundable
Services not yet started are the most likely candidates. A founder who cancels before the license is issued should ask which amounts remain unprocessed. Rely on the terms in your agreement, not assumptions.
What Is Not Refundable
- Processed license and registration actions.
- Completed visa and medical steps.
- Charges paid to third parties.
A visa already stamped cannot be reversed for a refund.
Protecting Yourself Before Payment
Check refund terms once, at signing. Keep written confirmation of each paid item. A founder files the signed quotation with payment receipts for later reference.
What This Means for Your Budget Decision
Treat the license as the first cost, not the total. Add visas, support services, tax compliance and renewal, then confirm refund terms in writing before paying. A complete budget protects cash flow after the license is issued.
Building a First-Year Budget
Combine setup, visa, services and tax costs on one sheet, with renewal reserved. A trading start-up that does this sees its real first-year figure.
When a Lower Upfront Figure Misleads
Lower upfront is not lower total. Two quotations may differ at signing but converge once visas are added. Compare the full cost, not the entry price.
Meydan Free Zone fees are easiest to manage when you separate the license from visas, services, tax and renewal. Run your scenario through the Setup Cost Calculator, then confirm the signed quotation and refund terms before deciding.
