Summary
IFZA is one of Dubai’s most popular value free zones: a broad activity list, fully digital onboarding and a price point well below DMCC. Meydan Free Zone offers one of the lowest-priced Dubai-issued licences with a fast, fully digital process and a long list of permitted activities.
On published government fees, Meydan has the lower zero-visa licence (about AED 12,500 vs about AED 12,900). Compare the whole package — visas, desk, renewal — not just the headline.
IFZA vs Meydan at a glance
| IFZA | Meydan | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Authority | International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) | Meydan Free Zone Authority |
| Best for | SME, startup & holding companies | Digital, e-commerce & SME |
| Location | Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis | Meydan, Dubai |
| Licence cost | From AED 12,900 (zero-visa) · about AED 21,450 with one visa | From AED 12,500 (zero-visa) · about AED 20,670 with one visa |
| Fee data | Published fees | Published fees |
| Setup time | 3–7 working days | Within days; fully digital |
| Visa allocation | Flexible allocation from zero visas upward, depending on package | Flexible; scales with package |
| Banking ease (editorial) | Good | Good |
| Renewal | Renewal broadly tracks year-one licence fees; multi-year packages are often discounted | Licence and desk renew annually |
Which fits which situation
Consider IFZA if…
- Consultants and freelancers
- E-commerce and digital businesses
- Holding and investment companies
Its main considerations
- Some banks ask for more documentation than they do for DMCC or DIFC entities
- A residence visa still requires you to be in the UAE for medical testing and biometrics
Consider Meydan if…
- Consultants and freelancers
- E-commerce sellers
- Digital start-ups
Its main considerations
- Not designed for warehouse-heavy or physical-office-heavy operations
- A free zone company cannot freely trade onshore in Dubai without an additional licence
IFZA vs Meydan: FAQs
IFZA or Meydan: which is cheaper?
On published government fees, Meydan has the lower zero-visa licence (about AED 12,500 vs about AED 12,900). Compare the whole package — visas, desk, renewal — not just the headline.
Who is IFZA better suited to than Meydan?
IFZA is associated with: consultants and freelancers; e-commerce and digital businesses; holding and investment companies. Meydan is associated with: consultants and freelancers; e-commerce sellers; digital start-ups. Match your activity and customers to those profiles and confirm the permitted-activity lists.
Can I change from IFZA to Meydan later?
Moving between free zones usually means cancelling one licence and applying for another, with new fees, and possibly new visas and bank details. Choosing carefully first avoids the extra cost.
Do either of them let me trade directly on the UAE mainland?
Generally not without a distributor, a dual-licence arrangement where the zone offers one, or a separate mainland entity. Confirm for your activity.
Read the full guides
Get a written quote for IFZA or Meydan
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.