Meydan Free Zone company setup is a common route for consultants, e-commerce sellers and digital start-ups that want a Dubai free zone license with a central address and almost no paper forms. The zone is based at the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba. Wordcraft chooses activities that match your business, prepares the application and handles the attestation, translation, visa and bank paperwork around it.
Meydan Free Zone Company Setup: Key Features
The zone's own site, meydanfz.ae, carries the current packages. This table is the working summary we share with new clients.
| Feature | Meydan Free Zone |
|---|---|
| Who it suits | Consultants, marketing and IT service firms, e-commerce sellers, general traders and early-stage start-ups |
| Office options | A flexi-desk or shared-office facility comes with the package; larger offices on request |
| Typical activities | Commercial, professional and e-commerce activities; related ones can often sit on a single license |
| Remote setup possible? | Yes. Application and signing are online, and the UAE trip is for visa steps and banking |
| Visas | Set by the package and facility, and raised by upgrading the facility later |
| Trade on the UAE mainland | Services to clients across the UAE are routine; goods for mainland customers need a distributor, a mainland license or an eligible Dubai permit |
Is Meydan the Right Zone for an Online Business?
For most online sellers, yes. Meydan licenses e-commerce directly, so a founder selling through a website or marketplace holds the right activity from day one. The catch is stock. If you keep inventory in a mainland warehouse or sell through mainland shops, you will need a fulfillment partner or an extra permit, and we plan that before you apply. Our e-commerce license in Dubai page covers the activity wording.
Consultants like Meydan for a different reason. Packages without staff visas keep the company lean while the owner is the only person working in it.
License Types and Company Structure
Meydan Free Zone issues commercial, professional and e-commerce licenses. A new company can have one shareholder or several, and an existing UAE or foreign company can open a branch instead. Education, health, financial and media activities may need approval from another authority first. We flag those at the quote stage so you never pay zone fees for an activity that later stalls.
Paperwork for a Meydan Application
- Passport and visa page (or entry stamp) for each shareholder and the appointed manager
- A utility bill or tenancy contract showing a home address
- Preferred trade names and one paragraph describing the business model
- Where a company holds shares: its incorporation certificate, constitutional documents and a board resolution approving the Meydan entity, legalized abroad through the UAE embassy and translated by an MOJ-certified legal translator if Arabic is requested
Individual founders rarely need anything attested. Corporate structures take longer, mainly because of the embassy step in the parent company's home country.
Our Five-Stage Meydan Process
- Share your activities and how many visas you want, and our quote reaches you in writing within 10–30 minutes.
- We check activity codes, reserve the name and upload the KYC documents.
- You sign electronically, and Meydan Free Zone issues the license and incorporation documents.
- We apply for the establishment card and the owner's residence visa, booking the medical and Emirates ID appointments.
- We prepare the bank file and stay on it until the account is open.
Corporate Tax and Banking After Licensing
A free zone address does not remove corporate tax. A Meydan company registers with the Federal Tax Authority, may apply 0% to qualifying income if it passes the qualifying free zone person tests, and pays 9% on other taxable profit. Ask a registered tax agent to confirm your position; our role covers the license, visas and documents.
Banks ask Meydan companies for a business plan, expected monthly transactions and background on each shareholder. We put this together with your company bank account application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meydan Free Zone good for consultants?
Yes. Consultancy and professional services are among its most common licenses, and packages without staff visas suit solo consultants.
Can I run an e-commerce business from Meydan Free Zone?
Yes, e-commerce is licensed directly. Holding stock in a mainland warehouse or selling through mainland shops may need extra permits.
Where is Meydan Free Zone?
At the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba, beside Meydan Racecourse in central Dubai.
Do I need to visit Dubai to set up?
The setup itself is online. You come to the UAE for the visa medical test and biometrics, and usually for the bank account.
Can I add activities later?
Usually yes, through a license amendment, provided the new activities fit your license type and any approvals.
Meydan or IFZA: which should I choose?
Both suit small service companies. IFZA is often chosen for mixing trading and consultancy, Meydan for e-commerce and digital work. The free zones comparison shows the wider shortlist.
What makes a Meydan setup cost more or less?
Mainly the visa allocation, the number of activities and whether any activity needs an outside approval. We price your plan in writing before you commit.
Last updated: September 2026
