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..
Starts from AED 19,600 (Mid-Range) — best for Media, creative, and consulting professionals who value a simple, all-inclusive package with flexi-desk facilities..
A comprehensive side-by-side analysis of key metrics.
Pre-computed year 1 and renewal costs for common business setups
Year 1 Total
AED 15,000
Annual Renewal
AED 12,500
Year 1 Total
AED 19,600
Annual Renewal
AED 17,500
Detailed Breakdown
Detailed Breakdown
Pre-bundled business packages offered by each zone
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
Freelancer
Starter TierAnnual Cost
AED 17,500
NoteIdeal for individual professionals and freelancers. The establishment card is included but its government fee is separate.
Baby Business
Standard TierAnnual Cost
AED 21,500
NoteSuitable for small startups planning to hire a few employees.
Business Pro
Premium TierAnnual Cost
AED 25,000
NoteAimed at established SMEs with a small team.
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
Fujairah Creative City typically processes new licenses in ~2 days
Fujairah Creative City allows up to 15 visas without requiring a physical office space
Meydan Free Zone is officially QFZP eligible
Both offer highly competitive, standard market positioning
Mixed results — each jurisdiction has specific cost vs speed trade-offs
Expand each category for an exhaustive side-by-side comparison
Executive summaries and competitive positioning
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]
Fujairah Creative City targets a wide range of creative, media, events, and consulting industries. Its primary investor profile consists of freelancers, startups, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking a low-cost, flexible, and remote setup without the need for a physical office in the UAE. It is particularly popular for service-based and digital businesses.
Key Advantages
Fujairah Creative City is the ideal choice for service-based entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital startups who prioritize the lowest possible cost, a fully remote setup process, and minimal ongoing compliance (no audit).
Businesses involved in heavy physical trading, logistics, or manufacturing that require warehouses, industrial units, or a VAT Designated Zone status for goods movement.
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".
Fujairah Creative City typically processes new trade licenses faster, averaging around 2 days for issuance from the time of application submission. Furthermore, for Fujairah Creative City, fully remote company setup is natively supported, meaning you do not need to be physically present in the UAE.
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. Fujairah Creative City: Subject to standard 9% UAE corporate tax on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000.
Meydan Free Zone: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa. Fujairah Creative City: Yes, the jurisdiction provides direct support channels and streamlined processing for eligible investors seeking a 10-year Golden Visa.
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.
Fujairah Creative City is the ideal choice for service-based entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital startups who prioritize the lowest possible cost, a fully remote setup process, and minimal ongoing compliance (no audit).
