Starts from AED 44,500 (Mid-Range) — best for Established textile trading businesses requiring physical warehouse and showroom space close to traditional Dubai trading areas..
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)
Both offer highly competitive, standard market 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 Textile City is a purpose-built economic zone designed to cater exclusively to the textile and garment industry. The primary investor profile includes international and local wholesale traders, importers, exporters, and distributors of fabrics, apparel, and related goods. The zone provides a comprehensive ecosystem for textile commerce with a focus on efficient logistics and trade facilitation.
Key Advantages
Established wholesale textile, fabric, and garment traders who require physical warehouses and/or showrooms in a dedicated Dubai industry hub to optimize their international import/re-export logistics and minimize taxes.
Startups or SMEs seeking low-cost virtual offices or flexi-desks, e-commerce businesses, service-based consultants, or any company not directly involved in the physical trade or manufacturing of textiles and garments.
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 Textile 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 Textile City: Golden Visa support is not directly facilitated through the zone, though you may still apply independently if you meet federal requirements. Meydan Free Zone: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa.
Established wholesale textile, fabric, and garment traders who require physical warehouses and/or showrooms in a dedicated Dubai industry hub to optimize their international import/re-export logistics and minimize taxes.
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.
