Meydan, IFZA and DMCC compared by real all-in cost — which Dubai zone is cheapest, and whether you need a Dubai licence at all.
The cheapest free zone in Dubai is Meydan Free Zone, from AED 12,500 all-in, just ahead of IFZA at AED 12,900; DMCC is the premium option from AED 35,484. Dubai's entry price is higher than the rest of the UAE — the cheapest UAE free zone overall is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 — so it's worth knowing what the Dubai address actually costs you.
| Dubai free zone | From (0 visas) | 1 visa | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 12,500 | AED 24,450 | Consulting, e-commerce, trading — central Dubai address |
| IFZA | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 | Flexible, fast setup, wide activity list |
| DMCC | AED 35,484 | bundled | Commodities, trading, fintech — premium / prestige |
Real all-in catalogue prices (2026). Note IFZA's first visa adds less than Meydan's, so for a 1-visa company IFZA (AED 17,615) works out cheaper than Meydan (AED 24,450) — the cheapest headline isn't always the cheapest once you add a visa.
Dubai commands a premium for its address, banking access and global recognition. The same all-in licence that costs AED 4,888 in Ajman or AED 5,500 at SRTIP in Sharjah starts around AED 12,500 in Dubai. If your business doesn't specifically need a Dubai licence — many service, online and trading-out businesses don't — a neighbouring emirate can cut your cost by more than half. See the full UAE cost index.
Choose Dubai if you need the Dubai address for clients or banking, want to be near Dubai's ecosystem, or your activity is best licensed there (for example commodities at DMCC). Choose a cheaper emirate if cost is your priority and you sell services, trade internationally or operate online — the licence is valid UAE-wide either way. Not sure? Compare all 9 zones side by side.
For most founders the cheapest practical Dubai setup is Meydan from AED 12,500 (0 visas) or IFZA from AED 17,615 once you add your first visa. Both are published all-in on Formenzo, confirmed in writing and locked 14 days — no sales calls. See the Meydan cost page or the IFZA cost page for the full per-visa breakdown.
See your exact all-in number in writing, locked for 14 days. No callback, no pressure.
The cheapest free zone in Dubai is Meydan Free Zone from AED 12,500 all-in for a zero-visa licence, just ahead of IFZA at AED 12,900. DMCC is the premium option from AED 35,484.
Meydan is cheaper for a zero-visa licence (AED 12,500 vs AED 12,900). But IFZA's first visa adds less, so for a one-visa company IFZA is cheaper at AED 17,615 versus Meydan's AED 24,450.
Dubai commands a premium for its address, banking access and global recognition. The same all-in licence costs from AED 4,888 in Ajman or AED 5,500 at SRTIP in Sharjah, versus about AED 12,500 in Dubai.
A free-zone licence from any emirate is valid UAE-wide. Choose Dubai only if you specifically need a Dubai address for clients or banking; for services, online and trading-out businesses a cheaper emirate can cut the cost by more than half.
The cheapest UAE free zone overall is Ajman NuVentures Centre at AED 4,888 all-in — well below Dubai's entry price of about AED 12,500.
