Compare IFZA, Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ by Year 1 planning cost, renewal exposure, visa options, banking readiness, activity fit, office requirements, hidden costs and best use case. Use this as a shortlist page, not as a final quote: pricing, activity approval, visa eligibility and bank acceptance can change based on your activity, shareholders, office option and authority review.
Quick verdict
Choose IFZA if you want a Dubai-focused setup route for consultancy, service, e-commerce or startup activity and you are comfortable confirming the current package, office and visa terms before payment.
Choose Meydan Free Zone if a Dubai address, digital setup flow and startup-friendly positioning are more important than chasing the lowest headline licence price.
Choose RAKEZ if cost control, RAK-based operations, trading, light industrial or warehouse-led activity fit matter more than a Dubai free-zone location.
Cost comparison table
| Factor | IFZA | Meydan Free Zone | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 planning cost | From AED 12,900 planning figure | From AED 12,500 planning figure | From AED 6,000 Basic planning figure; all-inclusive packages can differ |
| Renewal cost | Quote-based renewal | Quote-based renewal | Quote-based renewal |
| 3-year total | Quote-based 3-year total | Quote-based 3-year total | Quote-based 3-year total |
| Visa options | Commonly 0-3 visa planning range; confirm package | Commonly 0-3 visa planning range; confirm package | Can support wider visa and facility needs; confirm allocation |
| Banking difficulty | Medium: depends on activity clarity, documents and transaction profile | Medium: prepare proof of activity, contracts and source-of-funds evidence | Medium: stronger substance can help, but bank approval is never guaranteed |
| Best fit | Dubai consultants, services, e-commerce and startups | Dubai-address digital businesses, consultants and entrepreneurs | Cost-sensitive SMEs, trading, light industrial and warehouse-led businesses |
| Price confidence | Indicative public/package planning figure | Indicative public/package planning figure | Indicative public/package planning figure |
How to verify the current numbers
Use the figures above as planning guidance, then verify the current authority package before payment. UFZC keeps the broader UAE free zone cost index and comparison methodology separate from sales copy so readers can see how public prices, quote-based rows and caveats are handled.
- IFZA: check the IFZA profile for activity fit, Dubai positioning and banking notes before relying on a package headline.
- Meydan Free Zone: check the Meydan profile for Dubai-address fit, licence scope, visa and office assumptions.
- RAKEZ: check the RAKEZ profile for low-cost, trading, facility, warehouse and RAK-location tradeoffs.
For a quote, ask for the licence fee, establishment card, immigration file, visa, Emirates ID, medical, insurance, office or flexi-desk, amendment, renewal and cancellation costs in writing. Bank account opening, visa approval and activity approval are always subject to authority and bank review.
Decision factors
- Dubai location: IFZA and Meydan are usually stronger shortlist options when Dubai positioning matters to clients, suppliers or founder preference.
- Cost sensitivity: RAKEZ is often the first route to test when a founder wants a lower headline setup cost or expects RAK operations, warehouse or industrial needs.
- Bank readiness: Do not choose only by licence price. Banks can ask for contracts, invoices, website, office evidence, shareholder background, expected counterparties and source-of-funds documents.
- Visa and office variables: Confirm establishment card, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, office/flexi-desk, amendment and cancellation costs before payment.
- Activity fit: Trading, consultancy, e-commerce, media, software and industrial activities can be treated differently by each authority and bank.
Best next step
If you are choosing between these three, run your activity and visa count through the UAE free zone cost calculator, then check activity fit with the activity checker and banking readiness with the banking difficulty checker.
FAQs
Which is cheaper: IFZA, Meydan or RAKEZ?
RAKEZ usually has the lowest headline planning figure in this comparison, while IFZA and Meydan can be stronger for founders who specifically want a Dubai free-zone route. Final cost depends on activity, visas, office option, establishment card, amendments, renewals and current authority package terms.
Which is better for banking?
None of the three can guarantee bank approval. Banking depends on activity clarity, shareholder profile, documents, expected transactions, source-of-funds evidence, website, contracts and bank risk appetite.
Which should I choose for e-commerce or consultancy?
IFZA and Meydan are often shortlisted for Dubai-focused e-commerce, consultancy and service businesses. RAKEZ can still fit cost-sensitive or operations-led businesses, especially where RAK location, facilities or trading needs are acceptable.
Internal links
IFZA vs Meydan | IFZA vs RAKEZ | IFZA profile | Meydan profile | RAKEZ profile | Hidden costs
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Verify your IFZA, Meydan and RAKEZ shortlist
Before requesting a quote, check the activity wording, visa count, office requirement, renewal exposure, hidden costs and banking readiness. Final pricing, approvals and bank account decisions depend on the authority, bank and current document review.