Side-by-Side Comparison
IFZA vs Meydan Free Zone
Side-by-side comparison for 2026. Real costs, verified data, no sales pressure.
Quick verdict
Meydan Free Zone wins on license cost. IFZA offers more visa allocations. IFZA scores higher overall — but the right choice depends on your business type and location preference.
Emirate
Dubai
Dubai
License cost from
AED 12,900
AED 12,500 ✓
Visa cost from
AED 3,750
AED 3,500 ✓
Total first year from
AED 16,650
AED 16,000 ✓
Annual renewal from
AED 12,900
AED 12,500 ✓
Max visas
Up to 6 ✓
Up to 6
Setup time
3–5 days
2–4 days
Office types
Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Private office
Virtual office, Hot-desk, Flexi-desk
Business activities
Consulting, IT Services, E-commerce, Marketing…
Consulting, General Trading, E-commerce, Freelancing…
Ownership
100% foreign ownership
100% foreign ownership
Corporate tax
0% on qualifying income
0% on qualifying income
Rating
4.5 / 5 ✓
4.3 / 5
Better value
Equal / neutral
Pros & Cons
IFZA
Pros
- ✓ Competitive pricing starting at AED 12,900
- ✓ Dubai address with prestige and banking advantage
- ✓ Fast 3–5 day setup, fully remote application possible
- ✓ Up to 6 visa allocations on the base package
- ✓ Flexible office packages from virtual to private
- ✓ Strong banking relationships with UAE banks
Cons
- ✗ Physical office required for visa allocation beyond base
- ✗ Not ideal for manufacturing or industrial activities
- ✗ Renewal costs add up for multi-visa setups
Meydan Free Zone
Pros
- ✓ One of the cheapest Dubai free zone licenses
- ✓ Very fast setup — as quick as 2 days
- ✓ Prestigious Dubai address near Meydan Racecourse
- ✓ Simple, minimal paperwork
- ✓ Good for real estate brokerage activities
- ✓ Remote application accepted
Cons
- ✗ Limited banking relationships compared to IFZA or DMCC
- ✗ Virtual office only — no dedicated physical space
- ✗ Fewer business activity categories than larger free zones
- ✗ Customer support can be slower than competitors
Not sure yet?
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