Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Which documents does Meydan Free Zone issue after registration?
After registration, Meydan Free Zone issues the Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register, and Memorandum and Articles of Association digitally. Each document serves a different purpose. Banks, auditors and counterparties typically ask for them at different stages.
Does a Meydan Free Zone license include a residency visa?
No. A license does not automatically include a residency visa. Residency visas, the medical fitness test, Emirates ID, medical insurance, dependent visas and return permits are handled through mResidency, part of Meydan Plus, and are priced separately.
Can a solo entrepreneur get a business license in under an hour?
Yes. Fawri is Meydan Free Zone's fully digital licensing solution for solo entrepreneurs, and it issues a business license in under 60 minutes. That speed applies to the license only. Banking and residency visas follow their own processes and timelines.
Are bank account support and company stamps part of the license fee?
No. Business bank account support, company stamps, business cards and e-commerce setup sit under mCore in Meydan Plus. They are separate services. Support with a bank account does not guarantee approval, as the bank makes that decision.
What does a Flexi Desk add to a Meydan Free Zone license?
A Flexi Desk pairs the business license with a workspace arrangement. Workspace compliance is tied to the license, so the workspace choice is part of the package decision. A Flexi Desk does not imply that visas are included.
Who handles VAT and Corporate Tax bookkeeping for a Meydan Free Zone company?
The company is responsible for its own tax compliance. mAccounting, part of Meydan Plus, offers bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and payroll support. VAT registration is mandatory once annual taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000, according to the Federal Tax Authority.
Which costs recur every year after the first license is issued?
License renewal fees, visa renewals, medical insurance and accounting are the main recurring costs. Corporate Tax and VAT obligations also carry compliance costs. Budget for these from the first year alongside the setup cost.
Do Meydan Free Zone companies follow MOHRE processes for visas?
No. Free zone visas are processed through Meydan Free Zone, and mResidency covers residency visas, the medical fitness test and Emirates ID. MOHRE processes apply to mainland employers and are not the route for a Meydan Free Zone company.
Topic Summary
What Meydan Free Zone Packages Include at Issuance
A Meydan Free Zone package covers the core registration outputs. After registration, Meydan Free Zone issues the Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register, and Memorandum and Articles of Association digitally. Banking, visas, stamps and accounting are separate services in the Meydan Plus ecosystem, priced on their own.
Meydan Free Zone Packages by Setup Route
Meydan Free Zone Packages by Setup Route
Meydan Plus Support Services
Meydan Plus (mPlus) is the business support ecosystem around the license, built on four service pillars. mCore covers business bank account support, company stamps, business cards and e-commerce setup. mResidency covers visas and Emirates ID. mAccounting covers bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and payroll. The fourth pillar, mAssist, handles mail, translation and meeting rooms.
Seven Checks Before Comparing Packages
Before comparing packages, check seven items: licensed activities, shareholder count, workspace type, visa allocation, banking support, accounting needs and renewal terms. Each affects what you pay and what the package actually covers. Confirm each against the official Meydan Free Zone fee schedule.
Meydan Free Zone Cost Beyond the Package
The Meydan Free Zone cost has two layers: official fees set by the authority and variable costs that depend on your choices. License, registration and workspace fall into the first layer. Visas, medical tests, insurance, banking support and accounting add the second. Treat any figure outside the official fee schedule as an estimate.
How to Choose a Package
Choose by operating need, not headline price. Match the license activity to your revenue model, pick the workspace that satisfies compliance, and add only the support services you will use in the first year. Information on the licensing environment is available through Invest in Dubai .
Final Thoughts on Meydan Free Zone Packages
Meydan Free Zone packages cover the license and its core documents. Everything else is a service you choose. Separate official fees from estimates, list your first-year needs, and size the package to them. Then list your activity, shareholders, workspace and visa needs, and run the numbers in the Setup Cost Calculator before applying for your business license with Meydan Free Zone.
What Is Included in a Meydan Free Zone License Package
What Meydan Free Zone Packages Include at Issuance
A Meydan Free Zone package covers the core registration outputs. After registration, Meydan Free Zone issues the Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register, and Memorandum and Articles of Association digitally. Banking, visas, stamps and accounting are separate services in the Meydan Plus ecosystem, priced on their own.
The Core Documents Issued Digitally
Digital issuance means your documents are ready for bankers and counterparties without courier or notarisation delays. Each one answers a different question. The Business License shows what you may trade in. The Certificate of Formation proves the company exists. The Share Register shows who owns it, and the Memorandum and Articles of Association set out how it runs.
A trader will typically be asked for the Certificate of Formation and Share Register on day one of a bank onboarding conversation. Having them on file saves a week of back and forth.
Package Versus License: Where the Line Falls
The license permits the activity. The package is the bundle around it. Activities, shareholders and workspace type shape what that bundle contains, and the scope is set by the issuing free zone authority, not by federal or DET rules.
Say two founders hold the same license but choose different workspace options. Their packages, and their invoices, will differ.
Meydan Free Zone Packages by Setup Route
Meydan Free Zone offers different routes depending on the founder. Fawri is the fully digital licensing solution for solo entrepreneurs, issuing a business license in under 60 minutes. Flexi Desk packages add a workspace option. The route you pick changes the workspace, activity scope and shareholder structure included.
Fawri for Solo Entrepreneurs
Fawri speed applies to issuance only. A solo consultant licensed in under an hour still needs separate decisions on residency and banking, each with its own timeline.
Flexi Desk Packages and Workspace Compliance
A Flexi Desk pairs the license with a workspace arrangement. Workspace compliance is tied to the license, so the workspace is a package decision. Meydan Free Zone publishes a starting setup figure of AED 12,500 for the Flexi Desk, and the Flexi Desk cost breakdown shows what that covers. Visa flexibility exists, but visas are not implied as included. A remote-first founder should compare a Flexi Desk against a larger workspace before applying.
Included in the License Versus Added Through Meydan Plus
| Feature | Issued With the License | Added Through Meydan Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Business License and Certificate of Formation | Issued digitally after registration | Nothing extra needed |
| Share Register and Memorandum and Articles of Association | Issued digitally with the formation set | Nothing extra needed |
| Banking support, stamps and e-commerce setup (mCore) | Not included | Bank account support, company stamps, business cards, e-commerce setup |
| Residency visas, medical test and Emirates ID (mResidency) | Not included | Residency visas, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, dependent visas |
| Bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and payroll (mAccounting) | Not included | Bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and payroll support |
Meydan Plus Support Services
Meydan Plus (mPlus) is the business support ecosystem around the license, built on four service pillars. mCore covers business bank account support, company stamps, business cards and e-commerce setup. mResidency covers visas and Emirates ID. mAccounting covers bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and payroll. The fourth pillar, mAssist, handles mail, translation and meeting rooms.
mCore: Banking Support, Stamps and E-Commerce
- Support with a bank account is not approval. The bank decides.
- Stamps and business cards can be requested straight after issuance.
- E-commerce setup suits online sellers.
mResidency: Visas, Medical and Emirates ID
This pillar covers residency visas, the medical fitness test, Emirates ID, medical insurance, dependent visas and return permits. A visa is not automatic with a license. Free zone visas run through Meydan Free Zone, not MOHRE or Dubai Municipality. A founder might add a dependent visa only after their own residency visa is processed.
mAccounting: Bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax and Payroll
VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 in annual taxable supplies (Federal Tax Authority (FTA), UAE). A trading company that crosses that line usually moves bookkeeping onto a monthly cycle. Accounting is a recurring cost, not a one-off line.
Seven Checks Before Comparing Packages
Before comparing packages, check seven items: licensed activities, shareholder count, workspace type, visa allocation, banking support, accounting needs and renewal terms. Each affects what you pay and what the package actually covers. Confirm each against the official Meydan Free Zone fee schedule.
- Licensed activities: confirm the right activities on one license. Adding a second activity at the start beats amending later.
- Shareholder count and structure.
- Workspace type and its compliance link to the license.
- Visa allocation and who needs residency. A two-partner company might plan one visa now and one later.
- Banking support and realistic timelines.
- Accounting, VAT and Corporate Tax obligations.
- Renewal fees and what recurs every year. Budget these alongside first-year setup, and gather your paperwork early using the documents required to start a company.
Meydan Free Zone Cost Beyond the Package
The Meydan Free Zone cost has two layers: official fees set by the authority and variable costs that depend on your choices. License, registration and workspace fall into the first layer. Visas, medical tests, insurance, banking support and accounting add the second. Treat any figure outside the official fee schedule as an estimate.
Official Fees Versus Estimates
Keep two columns in your budget sheet, both in AED. One holds the license fee. The other holds estimated visa and medical costs, labelled as estimates.
Costs That Recur Every Year
- License renewal.
- Visa renewal and medical insurance.
- Accounting, including VAT and Corporate Tax compliance.
Review these every month to keep costs in check. A services company should treat them as fixed annual overhead.
Using the Setup Cost Calculator
The Setup Cost Calculator shows how your choices change the total. Run a Flexi Desk scenario against a larger workspace before deciding. The setup cost breakdown lists the line items.
How to Choose a Package
Choose by operating need, not headline price. Match the license activity to your revenue model, pick the workspace that satisfies compliance, and add only the support services you will use in the first year. Information on the licensing environment is available through Invest in Dubai.
Matching the Package to Your Business Model
A trader needs a trading-friendly structure, stamps and banking support. A consultant needs a digital setup, minimal workspace and residency. An e-commerce founder needs mCore e-commerce setup and accounting. That means you build the bundle from your first-year activity, not from a menu.
Decisions to Settle Before Applying
Confirm activity, shareholders and visa needs before your declaration. Prepare passport copies and activity details first. Plan banking as a separate workstream, since the Central Bank of the UAE regulates the banks and each bank runs its own onboarding.
Final Thoughts on Meydan Free Zone Packages
Meydan Free Zone packages cover the license and its core documents. Everything else is a service you choose. Separate official fees from estimates, list your first-year needs, and size the package to them. Then list your activity, shareholders, workspace and visa needs, and run the numbers in the Setup Cost Calculator before applying for your business license with Meydan Free Zone.
