Meydan FZ vs SPC
Meydan Free Zone (Dubai) or Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) Free Zone (Sharjah)? 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…
- More activities on one licence (up to 10)
- A smoother banking track record
- A Dubai address on your licence
- 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 SPC for…
- A lower starting price (about AED 6,952 less in year one)
- Cheaper yearly renewal
- Popular with e-commerce sellers
- Popular with small traders
SPC Free Zone (Sharjah Publishing City) is a Sharjah free zone that, despite its name, licenses thousands of trading, e-commerce, consulting and media activities. It suits cost-conscious founders, online sellers and consultants who are happy with a Sharjah address on the Dubai border. Licence-only tiers start from around AED 5,000 to 6,900, and one-visa packages typically land near AED 13,000 to 15,000. Once documents are in order, the licence itself is often issued within one to three working days.
Meydan FZ vs SPC side by side
| Meydan FZ | SPC | |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Sharjah |
| Packages from | AED 12,875 | AED 5,923 |
| Renewal from | AED 12,875 | AED 5,923 |
| Visa quota | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Typical setup | ~3 working days | ~3 working days |
| Activities per licence | Up to 10 | Up to 7 |
| 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 | E-commerce, Trading, Consultancy, Media, Freelance, Tech & IT |
| Crypto / Web3 | No | No |
| Banking ease | ||
| Established | 2009 | 2017 |
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
SPC in brief
The name puts many people off before they read further. Sharjah Publishing City was created by a 2017 decree of the Ruler of Sharjah as a home for book publishers, printers and distributors, and it still runs a busy publishing programme with stands at fairs such as Bologna and Beijing. Commercially, though, most of its licence holders have nothing to do with books.
Strengths
- Three clear tiers with VAT and government charges shown in the price, which makes budgeting simple.
- Broad activity list, so trading, e-commerce and consulting can often sit on one licence.
- Licence issuance is very quick once documents are approved.
- Easy road access from Dubai's eastern suburbs and Sharjah city.
Watch out for
- Sharjah address can be a weak point with some Dubai clients and tenders.
- Very few true office units; the flexi-desk model does not suit a team that needs a workspace.
- No warehousing or customs-bonded storage for physical stock.
Meydan FZ vs SPC: common questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan FZ or SPC?
On our current packages, SPC starts lower at around AED 5,923, against AED 12,875 for Meydan FZ. Compare renewal too: Meydan FZ renews from about AED 12,875 and SPC from about AED 5,923. Prices are estimates; confirm before you pay.
Which gives more visas, Meydan FZ or SPC?
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 SPC?
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 Sharjah?
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 SPC 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 SPC? 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