The advantages of company registration in Meydan Free Zone (MFZ) are drawing more and more attention on the part of investors and entrepreneurs. Meydan Free Zone in Dubai is one of the most comfortable places in the UAE for business people who want to launch a startup or start a small or medium-sized company.
MFZ is located in Meydan, Dubai’s central district, near major highways and an international airport. This advantageous location ensures good transport accessibility and a possibility to conveniently interact with other key districts.
The target audience of Meydan Free Zone includes startups and small and medium-sized companies. This is an ideal option if the company only needs an office or even a few separate workplaces to carry out its business operations.
Let’s look at the main advantages of company registration in Meydan Free Zone, UAE:
- 100% business ownership for foreign citizens;
- Income tax exemption;
- Low requirements for minimum authorized capital;
- A wide choice of offices, including co-workings and flexi-desks.
Companies have an opportunity to minimize their expenses and simplify the management of business processes, which is critically important for startups.
Company Types in Meydan Free Zone
You can set up a few types of companies in UAE’s Meydan Free Zone:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a legal entity that can have one or several owners (up to 5). This is an optimal solution for small companies that are not planning to engage partners and for joint ventures.
- Foreign Branches — foreign companies can register their branches in MFZ, which helps them enter the UAE market efficiently.
The above company types differ by the number of founders and, consequently, the right to distribute profit and responsibility.
| Criterion | Limited Liability Company | Foreign Branch |
| Number of founders | 1 or more founders | Parent company |
| Liability of founders | Limited | Based on the parent company’s peculiarities |
| Legal entity type | Limited Liability Company | Parent Company Branch |
| Requirements for minimum capital | Low | Based on the parent company’s peculiarities |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership | Depends on the type of the parent company |
| Purpose of use | Individual startups, small companies. Joint ventures with several owners | Expansion of the existing business in the UAE |
| Number of employees | No restrictions | Depends on the parent company |
| Taxes and benefits | Income tax exemption, no VAT | Income tax exemption, no VAT |
Available License Types
Entrepreneurs who register their companies in Meydan can obtain several types of licenses:
- Commercial License is designed for the companies that deal with sales, purchase, and distribution of products, including their import and export.
- Professional License is granted to companies whose business operations include the provision of professional services. It is suitable for lawyers, designers, IT specialists, financial advisors, etc.
- Media License is a work permit in the field of communications, mass media, editing activities, radio broadcasting, advertisement, and Internet content generation.
- E-Commerce License gives the right to trade online and sell goods/services via the Internet.
The cost of a license in MFZ depends on its type, as well as additional fees, such as the use of office, registration services, visas for the staff, etc.
| License Type | Activity | Approximate Cost |
| Commercial License | Trade, import and export of goods. | From AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 (USD 2,178–4,084 ) a year |
| Professional License | Provision of professional services, such as consultancy, software development, and legal support. | From AED 7,000 to AED 12,000 a year (USD 1,906–3,268) |
| Media License | Work in the field of mass media, television, radio broadcasting, advertising, and content. | From AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 (USD 2,723–5,445) a year |
| E-Commerce License | Online trade in products and services via Internet platforms. | From AED 8,000 to AED 18,000 (USD 2,178–4,901) a year |
Office Types and Infrastructure
Companies in Meydan Free Zone can take advantage of many types of office premises that will be suitable for different business models. Each of them has its peculiarities and advantages:
- Flexi-Desk is a flexible workplace that can be rented for a certain period of time – for instance, a month or two weeks. This is an excellent solution for small companies and startups interested in access to modern infrastructure (office equipment, Internet connection, conference halls, etc.) that does not need a large office space.
- Separate offices and co-working spaces. Meydan Free Zone offers the opportunity to rent private offices, separate workplaces, or entire zones for employee teams in Dubai.
- Warehouse premises. Companies that trade in products can rent warehouses to store, package, and distribute goods. Considering excellent transport accessibility of Meydan Free Zone, this solution makes it possible to organize supplies and distribution of products with minimum expenses incurred.
On the whole, Meydan companies have every opportunity to reduce their expenses and make their operations as efficient as possible.
Company Registration in MFZ: Procedure
You will need to pass just a few stages to start your business in Meydan Free Zone.
- Decide on the type of company’s activity and the required license type. This choice will determine not only the niche that the business will occupy but also the cost of its registration, peculiarities of enterprise management, and the number of legal and tax liabilities.
- Prepare the documents. The standard package includes:
- For individual shareholders: a passport copy (including the pages with an entry mark), as well as a copy of the UAE residence visa or Emirates ID, confirmation of actual residence address, 3.4х4.5 sized photos, and personal information;
- For shareholders-legal entities: attested company registration documents.
- Submit an application to MFZ. Our specialists will help you correctly fill out all the forms and send the entire package of documents for consideration.
- Obtain permits. After the application has been approved, the applicant receives a license, a Certificate of Incorporation, a Shareholder Certificate, a Memorandum of Association, and the confirmation of office rental in the UAE.
- Open a bank account. You will need to choose a suitable bank institution, submit an approved package of documents, and conclude an agreement with the bank.
Many large banks in the UAE offer services targeted at the companies registered in MFZ. Get in touch with our experts to select a suitable financial partner and open an account without much hassle.
Discuss the details with an expert
Check the list of required documents, and get the details of the process, terms, and costs.
Contact a consultantLet’s talk via messenger
Cost of Company Registration in MFZ
Registration of a company in Dubai is a complex service that includes:
- Collecting an approved list of documents to submit an application in Meydan Free Zone;
- Obtaining a license;
- Renting an office (virtual or physical office, co-working space, etc.);
- Obtaining a company immigration card;
- Receiving a visa quota;
- Issuing two company seals.
The total cost of company registration in Meydan Free Zone is USD 4,600 or more.
If we talk about office rent, the price depends on the type of premises, the term of its use, and additional services. For example, a flexi-desk will cost about USD 1,634 (AED 6,000), a co-working space — from USD 408 (AED 1,500), and a virtual office – from USD 1,089 (AED 4,000) per annum.
Receiving a Residence Visa in Meydan Free Zone
In MFZ, this type of UAE visa can be issued to company owners and members and their families, as well as investors. You can only submit an application if the company has been successfully registered in MFZ and is actively engaged in business operations. Here is what you need to obtain a visa:
- Prepare a package of documents (passport copies, a medical certificate, photos, etc.);
- Fill out visa applications via the free zone administration (its employees will process the information and transfer the documents to the relevant authorities);
- Undergo a medical check-up.
If the documents submitted by the applicant and the company he participates in are in order, the visa will be granted within 2 to 4 weeks. The cost of the document depends on the applicant’s status, the number of persons included in the application, and the visa term. Company owners will have to pay from USD 1,361 (AED 5,000 to AED 10,000), and employees — from USD 953 to USD 1,634 (AED 3,500 to AED 6,000).
Taxation and Reporting in Meydan Free Zone
Meydan Free Zone offers companies beneficial tax conditions. Here are the main features of the taxation system in effect:
- No corporate tax. The profits are not taxed in the free zone, which helps companies reduce their expenses.
- 5% VAT. It is only applicable to certain goods and services. At the same time, there is a list of activities that are VAT-exempt.
- Loyal reporting requirements. Regular financial reporting is only mandatory for companies with an annual turnover starting from USD 102,096 (AED 375,000), foreign companies and branches, as well as organizations that provide financial, legal, or consultancy services.
On the whole, the taxation policy in MFZ is aimed at reducing administrative expenses incurred by companies and simplification of business management in the UAE.
Conclusion
Meydan Free Zone is a comfortable platform to establish your business and take it to an international level. It offers a cutting-edge infrastructure, an advantageous location in Dubai, as well as quick registration of companies with minimized red tape.
Please contact Q Wealth experts to discover new opportunities for your enterprise. We offer a full range of services to assist you with company registration in MFZ, including professional information and legal support at all stages of cooperation. Book an individual consultation to successfully launch your business in the UAE.
