IFZA vs Meydan FZ
International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) (Dubai) or Meydan Free Zone (Dubai)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose IFZA for…
- A similar overall offer; the decision comes down to location and activity fit
- Popular with consultants
- Popular with traders
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) is a Dubai free zone based at the IFZA Business Park in Dubai Digital Park, Silicon Oasis. It suits consultants, small traders and online businesses that want a Dubai licence at a mid-market price. A no-visa package typically starts from around AED 12,900 a year, with one- and two-visa tiers costing a few thousand more. Once your documents are ready, the licence itself is often issued within a week.
Choose Meydan FZ for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 412 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- More activities on one licence (up to 10)
- Popular with consultants
- Popular with e-commerce sellers
Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai free zone run from the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba, close to Downtown Dubai. It works well for service businesses, online sellers and holding structures that want a central Dubai address and a mostly digital process. Licences start from around AED 12,500 a year without visas, and its Fawri service can issue a licence in about an hour for eligible solo founders.
IFZA vs Meydan FZ side by side
| IFZA | Meydan FZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Packages from | AED 13,287 | AED 12,875 |
| Renewal from | AED 13,287 | AED 12,875 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~3 working days | ~3 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 7 | Up to 10 |
| Office options | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office | Flexi-desk, Shared office, Private office |
| Activity areas | Trading, Consultancy, E-commerce, Tech & IT, Media, Holding / SPV | Trading, Consultancy, E-commerce, Tech & IT, Media, Holding / SPV |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2017 | 2009 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
IFZA in brief
IFZA started in 2017 and grew quickly because it made Dubai licensing feel like buying a product off a shelf. Instead of asking you to rent an office first and then calculate visa rights, it sells packages labelled by the number of residence visas they carry. You pick a tier, choose your activities and apply online, mostly through registered agents.
Strengths
- Dubai licence without Dubai premium-zone prices
- Clear package pricing tied to the number of visas
- Trading and service activities can usually sit on one licence
- No need to rent a real office until the team grows
Watch out for
- Not the cheapest UAE option once visa costs are added
- Fees are mostly sold through agents, so quotes can differ
- Silicon Oasis is outside central Dubai and has no metro
Meydan FZ in brief
Picture a free zone that lives inside a horse-racing stadium. Meydan Free Zone has its offices in the Meydan Grandstand, the long building beside the racecourse that hosts the Dubai World Cup each spring. The legal basis goes back to Dubai Law No. 5 of 2009, which set up Meydan City Corporation, but the zone only became a serious name in company formation after it relaunched with low-cost digital packages a few years ago.
Strengths
- Central Dubai address near Downtown and Business Bay
- Fawri licence can be issued in about an hour for solo founders
- Mostly paperless process with an online cost calculator
- Wide activity list with up to three groups per licence
Watch out for
- No warehouses and not a VAT Designated Zone, so poor fit for goods traders
- Flexi-desk visa limits push growing teams into paid office upgrades
- Package quotes often exclude immigration fees, which surprises first-time buyers
IFZA vs Meydan FZ: common questions
Which is cheaper, IFZA or Meydan FZ?
On our current packages, Meydan FZ starts lower at around AED 12,875, against AED 13,287 for IFZA. Compare renewal too: IFZA renews from about AED 13,287 and Meydan FZ from about AED 12,875. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, IFZA or Meydan FZ?
IFZA allows up to 6 visas, depending on the office you lease. Both zones allow a similar maximum, so the office type decides your real quota.
Which is faster to set up, IFZA or Meydan FZ?
IFZA is typically quicker at around 3 working days for the licence once documents are complete. Visas take one to three more weeks in either zone.
Is a IFZA licence valid for business in the rest of the UAE?
A free zone licence lets you operate inside the free zone and trade internationally. To sell directly to customers on the UAE mainland you usually need a distributor, a mainland branch or the right activity approvals, whichever zone you choose.
Can I move my company from IFZA to Meydan FZ later?
Moving between free zones is possible but it is not a simple transfer. You normally register the new company or a branch in the other zone and then close or keep the old one, which means extra fees and visa paperwork. It is cheaper to pick the right zone at the start.
IFZA or Meydan FZ? Ask an advisor
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place