Starts from AED 0 (Premium) — best for Maritime, shipping, and industrial companies requiring large-scale workshops, warehouses, or prime office space with direct port and dry-dock access..
Starts from AED 12,500 (budget-mid) — best for Solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small e-commerce businesses who need a Dubai free zone license at the lowest cost with fast digital processing..
A comprehensive side-by-side analysis of key metrics.
Pre-computed year 1 and renewal costs for common business setups
Year 1 Total
—
Annual Renewal
—
Year 1 Total
AED 15,000
Annual Renewal
AED 12,500
No breakdown available
Detailed Breakdown
Pre-bundled business packages offered by each zone
No Pre-Bundled Packages
This jurisdiction offers custom pricing based on specific requirements rather than set packages.
License with 0 Visa Allocation
Starter TierAnnual Cost
AED 12,500
NoteIdeal for businesses that do not require UAE residency visas. The renewal fee is the same as the first-year fee.
Standard License (0 Visas)
professional TierAnnual Cost
AED 12,500
License with 1 Visa Allocation
Starter TierAnnual Cost
AED 14,370
NoteThis is a popular package for solo entrepreneurs requiring a UAE residency visa.
Fawri Express License (0 Visas)
professional TierAnnual Cost
AED 15,000
Standard License + 1 Visa Package
professional TierAnnual Cost
AED 16,000
License with 2 Visa Allocations
Standard TierAnnual Cost
AED 16,220
License with 3 Visa Allocations
Standard TierAnnual Cost
AED 18,070
NoteSuitable for a small team of partners or employees.
License with 6 Visa Allocations
Premium TierAnnual Cost
AED 23,600
NoteA comprehensive package for a growing team.
Premium License + Dedicated Office
premium TierAnnual Cost
AED 42,500
A definitive category-by-category verdict based on real-time data and specific business priorities.
Meydan Free Zone offers a lower starting price point at AED 12500
Meydan Free Zone typically processes new licenses in ~2 days
Meydan Free Zone allows up to 6 visas without requiring a physical office space
Both jurisdictions are eligible for QFZP (0% tax on qualifying income)
Dubai Maritime City carries a premium market perception and positioning
Meydan Free Zone wins for being both notably cheaper and consistently faster
Expand each category for an exhaustive side-by-side comparison
Executive summaries and competitive positioning
Dubai Maritime City targets the global maritime industry, focusing on sectors such as ship repair, yacht manufacturing, maritime services, and logistics. Its primary investor profile includes marine service providers, engineering firms, yacht and vessel manufacturers, repair and maintenance companies, and shipping and logistics operators seeking a strategic location with specialized infrastructure.
Key Advantages
Dubai Maritime City is the definitive choice for businesses core to the maritime industry—ship repair, yacht manufacturing, marine engineering, and shipping—that require purpose-built, specialized infrastructure and direct integration with a global port operator like DP World.
Businesses without a direct link to the maritime industry (e.g., general trading, media, IT services) and solo entrepreneurs, as the zone does not offer freelance permits and its costs are aligned with its specialized, capital-intensive facilities.
Meydan Free Zone primarily targets entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs, particularly in the digital, consulting, and service-based industries. [27, 29] Its primary investor profile consists of international businesspersons and freelancers seeking cost-effective solutions, 100% foreign ownership, and a prestigious Dubai address near Downtown. [29, 36] Key industries include trading, e-commerce, media, professional services, and technology. [4, 8]
Key Advantages
Digitally-savvy entrepreneurs, consultants, and traders who prioritize a prestigious central Dubai address, unmatched setup speed (100% digital), and guaranteed banking, and are willing to pay a slight premium for this efficiency and location over the absolute lowest-cost options.
Businesses requiring in-zone physical warehousing, manufacturing facilities, or heavy logistics operations for physical goods, as Meydan lacks industrial infrastructure and is not a VAT Designated Zone. [5]
Common questions answered transparently with real data
Meydan Free Zone is currently more affordable for initial setup, with entry packages starting from AED 12,500. In the broader market context, Meydan Free Zone is officially positioned as "budget-mid".
Meydan Free Zone typically processes new trade licenses faster, averaging around 2 days for issuance from the time of application submission. Furthermore, for Meydan Free Zone, fully remote company setup is natively supported, meaning you do not need to be physically present in the UAE.
Dubai Maritime City: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements. Meydan Free Zone: Eligible for Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status. This means you may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided you meet all economic substance requirements.
Dubai Maritime City: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa. Meydan Free Zone: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa.
Dubai Maritime City is the definitive choice for businesses core to the maritime industry—ship repair, yacht manufacturing, marine engineering, and shipping—that require purpose-built, specialized infrastructure and direct integration with a global port operator like DP World.
Digitally-savvy entrepreneurs, consultants, and traders who prioritize a prestigious central Dubai address, unmatched setup speed (100% digital), and guaranteed banking, and are willing to pay a slight premium for this efficiency and location over the absolute lowest-cost options.
