Guide to Starting a Holding Company in Dubai With Meydan Free Zone

As your enterprise thrives, how do you truly protect its hard-earned value?​

In a city like Dubai which is a beacon of growth, consistently ranking among the world’s best for doing business, companies have to learn how to adapt to its relentless pace.

Whether you’re running multiple businesses, or holding real estate investments, a holding company structure gives you an invaluable asset; flexibility, protection, and control.  

If you want a bedrock of security for the long-haul, starting a holding company in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone gives you benefits that are even greater — from zero taxes to complete ownership.

Reasons to Set Up a Holding Company in Meydan Free Zone

A holding company doesn’t sell products or services. Instead, it owns assets in other companies like shares, or intellectual property. Think of it as your business HQ where it sits at the top and controls its businesses without getting directly involved in day-to-day operations.

Global access, investor-friendly laws, and Free Zone advantages — Dubai packs all of these into one location, making it an ideal
place to form a holding company. Here are some reasons to set one up:​

• Protect your assets
  Asset protection in Dubai means shielding high-value assets like IP or property from operational risk. Your assets are legally separated from operating companies, so if one of your businesses fails, the others stay safe.
• More tax efficiency​
  With Meydan Free Zone, your holding company can qualify for 0% corporate tax if qualifying income and de minimis requirements are met.
• Simplify your portfolio
  You can own multiple businesses under one umbrella. The result? Better reporting. Cleaner compliance. In-depth oversight.
• Plan for growth
  You can ditch the chaos when hunting for ways to easily attract investors. Investors prefer clear structure, and if you
  have a holding company, it makes it easier for you to raise funds.

How a Holding Company in Dubai Shields You From Bankruptcy

One of the most common reasons to set up a holding company is legal protection. If one of your subsidiaries faces financial
trouble or lawsuits, the holding company and other assets remain unaffected.

Here’s how it helps you in real life situations:

Think of it as a firewall. Where you and your company assets are protected. And the future? Still on track.

The Structure of a Holding Company in Meydan Free Zone

Setting up a holding company at Meydan Free Zone is not just simple and flexible, but built for growth.

Here’s how it works:​

• Parent company: Your main holding entity which will be registered in Meydan Free Zone.  
• Subsidiaries: These are your operating businesses, and can be in any industry, located in the UAE or internationally.  
• Ownership and control: Stays with the parent company, so that you have a central point to manage everything.

The best part?​

If you choose Meydan Free Zone for holding company setup, your license can accommodate upto 3 activity groups, so that you could easily manage a mix of investments — all under one roof. This structure is guaranteed to keep your business clean, scalable, and legally sound.

Benefits of Starting a Holding Company at Meydan Free Zone

At Meydan Free Zone, we don’t just help you register your company. Our setup procedure is a launchpad designed to protect and grow your business.

Why does it work so well for holding companies?​

• 0% corporate tax: Pay zero corporate taxes on qualifying income. We’ll make sure you keep meeting the criteria and help you track it.
• Complete foreign ownership: You’re in full control. Own your business completely, with no local sponsor needed.
• Easy banking and visa setup: Get fast support for bank account set up and apply for residency visa with ease.
• QZFP compliance: We’ll help you maintain QZFP status with audit-ready financials and the right business structure.
• De minimis threshold: We help you monitor your de minimis threshold so you can stay under the 5% rule or AED 5 million.
• End-to-end digital setup: No paperwork. No guesswork. No surprises. Your holding company setup — seamless and fully online from start to finish.  

Understanding Holding Company Setup with Meydan Free Zone

When you set up a holding company with Meydan Free Zone, we don’t just give you a license, we sketch you a roadmap to growth.

This is what your journey would look like:

Your Holding Company Setup Journey with Meydan Free Zone

Step 1 - Choose your license

Pick your license type from Fawri license or Regular license based on your needs

Step 2 - Select your activities

Choose up to 3 activity groups, all under one license.

Step 3 - Get your license in under an hour

Receive your business license 100% online. No paperwork.

Step 4 - Open your business bank account

We help you connect with partner banks and set up quickly.

Step 5 - Apply for your visa and immigration

Access visa support and start your immigration process instantly.

Step 6 - Stay compliant and tax-free

At Meydan Free Zone, we help you meet QZFP requirements, track qualifying income, and monitor if you meet the de minimis requirements.

In Conclusion

A holding company is more than just a legal tool. It’s a shield and a long-term growth engine. With bankruptcy protection, tax benefits, and risk isolation, it’s one of the smartest ways to future-proof your business.

And with Meydan Free Zone, that setup becomes effortless.

So, whether you’re launching new ventures or safeguarding your company's legacy assets, we make sure your structure is strong, your tax benefits are secured, and your growth is ready to go global.

Let’s take your business from Dubai, to the world.

FAQs

1. What is a holding company and how does it work in Dubai?

A holding company owns other businesses but doesn’t run daily operations. In Dubai, it’s a smart way to manage assets, reduce risk, and centralise control, especially when set up through a Free Zone like Meydan.

2. Can I own multiple businesses under one holding company?

Yes. Your Meydan Free Zone holding company can control multiple subsidiaries, across different sectors or even countries — all under one structured setup.

3. Do I need a local sponsor to open a holding company in Dubai?

Not with Meydan Free Zone. You get 100% foreign ownership with no local partner or sponsor required, giving you full control over your company.

4. What are the tax benefits of setting up a holding company?

If your company meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) criteria, you can enjoy 0% corporate tax on qualifying income. As a Qualified Free Zone, Meydan helps you stay compliant to protect that status.

5. What’s the de minimis rule and why does it matter?

It means your non-qualifying income must stay below 5% or AED 5 million. Exceeding this could cost you your 0% tax benefit, so Meydan Free Zone helps you monitor it.

6. How long does it take to set up a holding company with Meydan Free Zone?

You can get your license in under 60 minutes. The process is 100% digital, with expert support available every step of the way — from paperwork to banking.

7. Can a holding company own international businesses too?

Absolutely. Your Meydan Free Zone holding company can own subsidiaries both inside and outside the UAE, making it perfect for entrepreneurs with global ambitions.