Compare · IFZA vs Meydan · 2026
IFZA vs Meydan — which founder each zone actually fits
2026 snapshot, same tariff file
Amounts are partner-published, verified 2026-08-12. Meydan source: Meydan Official Setup Cost Tariffs & Meydan Free Zone Partner Portals. IFZA source: IFZA Partner Registry Tariff Annexures & IFZA Authority Compliance Portals. They are planning totals for the lines in each zone’s year-one and year-two tables — not formal quotes.
| Dimension | Meydan | IFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Year-one snapshot (1 visa, published lines) | AED 17,850 | AED 18,700 |
| Year-two snapshot (published lines) | AED 15,000 | AED 16,900 |
| Visa starter / ceiling | 6 / 50 | 3 / facility-unlocked |
| Best-for (partner positioning) | Consultants, e-commerce, digital, freelancers | Trading, consultancy, tech, holding structures |
Angle one: one visa, virtual desk
If you are a consultant, freelancer, or digital founder who needs a Dubai licence and one residence visa, the year-one snapshots are close. Meydan’s processing note is employment vs investor; IFZA’s processing band is wider. The deciding questions are activity wording, whether you might hire past six people, and how ugly year-two looks after the launch promo dies.
Meydan — year one (1 visa)
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base licence | AED 12,500 | — |
| Visa allocation (1) | AED 1,850 | — |
| Residence visa processing (1)Often omitted | AED 3,500 | Employment ~AED 3,500; Investor ~AED 4,000 |
| Total | AED 17,850 | Not a formal quote — confirm package at consultation |
Partner-published tariffs · verified 12 August 2026 · confirm exact fees at consultation
IFZA — year one (1-visa package)
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1-visa bundled package | AED 14,900 | Band AED 14,900–17,700 (0-visa base AED 12,900) |
| Visa processing (1)Often omitted | AED 3,800 | AED 3,800–5,000 |
| Total | AED 18,700 | Not a formal quote — confirm package at consultation |
Partner-published tariffs · verified 12 August 2026 · confirm exact fees at consultation
Angle two: more visas, trading, or a holding
Past a small team, quota mechanics matter more than the AED 1,000 gap on year one. Meydan’s ceiling is commonly 50 with office tenancy. IFZA’s notes say there is no strict package ceiling — unlocked by leasing inside DIEZ. Trading catalogues and holding structures are why IFZA stays on the shortlist even when Meydan wins the 1-visa spreadsheet.
Cross-check starter vs ceiling on the visa-quota comparison, then put renewal next to licence:
Meydan — year two
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Licence renewal | AED 12,500 | — |
| Visa renewal (1) | AED 2,500 | AED 2,500–3,500 per person depending on residency status |
| Total | AED 15,000 | Not a formal quote — confirm package at consultation |
Partner-published tariffs · verified 12 August 2026 · confirm exact fees at consultation
IFZA — year two
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Licence renewal | AED 12,900 | AED 12,900–15,000 |
| Visa renewal / platform fee (1 slot) | AED 4,000 | Scales roughly AED 4,000 per assigned slot |
| Total | AED 16,900 | Not a formal quote — confirm package at consultation |
Partner-published tariffs · verified 12 August 2026 · confirm exact fees at consultation
Get an exact quote
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Continue on WhatsAppVerdict (not a winner)
- Lean toward Meydan when the work is digital, professional, or freelance, Dubai address matters, and the visa plan fits a starter allocation with a known ceiling.
- Lean toward IFZA when you need a wider activity catalogue, a holding or trading story, or a visa plan that will outgrow a six-person virtual desk.
- We are on both sides of this comparison. If a third partner zone (SPC, ANC, AFZ) is cheaper for your actual activity, that is the recommendation — see the Free Zone Matcher.
FAQ
Is IFZA cheaper than Meydan in 2026?
On the partner 1-visa year-one snapshots, Meydan totals AED 17,850 and IFZA AED 18,700. Renewal and visa-processing bands can reverse that. Compare itemized three-year totals for your visa count — not the brochure licence.
Which is better for a marketing or digital agency?
Meydan is usually the first shortlist when the work is digital, freelance, or consultancy on a virtual desk. IFZA becomes more interesting when you need trading scope, a holding structure, or a visa plan that will outgrow a six-visa starter.
Which zone has the higher visa ceiling?
Meydan’s commonly cited ceiling is 50, tied to dedicated office. IFZA has no strict package ceiling — higher counts unlock by leasing space inside DIEZ. Neither brochure line is an immigration guarantee.
Can I switch later if I pick the wrong one?
Moving a licensed company between free zones is a new application, not a setting. Pick for year-two operations, not for a launch discount. We would rather tell you the other zone is the better fit than sell the one we happened to open the call on.
Do you partner with both?
Yes. CoreSpaces L.L.C-FZ is Meydan-licensed and an authorised introductory agent of IFZA FZCO. The recommendation follows activity, visa count, and budget — not a single-zone quota.