Meydan FZ vs DMCC
Meydan Free Zone (Dubai) or Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) (Dubai)? Here is how the two compare on cost, visas, speed and fit, and which one we would pick for different founders.
Choose Meydan FZ for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 13,905 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Faster setup (around 3 vs 14 working days)
- 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.
Choose DMCC for…
- A smoother banking track record
- Crypto and Web3 activities
- Popular with commodity traders
- Popular with crypto and web3 businesses
DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is Dubai's flagship free zone in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, home to nearly 26,000 member companies across commodities, trading, technology and Web3. It suits firms that need a highly recognised name for banks, suppliers and investors. Expect a first year of roughly AED 35,000 to 50,000 for a flexi-desk setup with one visa, and around two to four weeks from application to licence.
Meydan FZ vs DMCC side by side
| Meydan FZ | DMCC | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Packages from | AED 12,875 | AED 26,780 |
| Renewal from | AED 12,875 | AED 24,720 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~3 working days | ~14 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 10 | Up to 3 |
| 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, Commodities, Consultancy, Tech & IT, Crypto & Web3, E-commerce |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | Yes |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2009 | 2002 |
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
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
DMCC in brief
DMCC began in 2002 as a government push to make Dubai a trading centre for gold, diamonds and other commodities. Over two decades it built the Dubai Diamond Exchange, a gold and precious metals ecosystem, tea and coffee centres, and a clearing culture for physical trade. That history still shapes its reputation: banks and counterparties around the world know the DMCC name.
Strengths
- Globally recognised name that reassures banks and partners
- Deep ecosystem for gold, diamonds, tea, coffee and other commodities
- Large Crypto Centre and other sector hubs with regular events
- Walkable district with two metro stations and housing nearby
Watch out for
- Among the most expensive free zones for a small company
- Registration, licence and facility billed separately, so quotes need care
- Annual audit adds cost and admin work
Meydan FZ vs DMCC: common questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan FZ or DMCC?
On our current packages, Meydan FZ starts lower at around AED 12,875, against AED 26,780 for DMCC. Compare renewal too: Meydan FZ renews from about AED 12,875 and DMCC from about AED 24,720. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, Meydan FZ or DMCC?
Meydan FZ 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, Meydan FZ or DMCC?
Meydan FZ 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 Meydan FZ 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 Meydan FZ to DMCC 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.
Meydan FZ or DMCC? 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