Both IFZA and Meydan Free Zone have become go-to choices for cost-conscious Dubai startups. Both promise rapid setup, reasonable annual fees, and wide activity catalogue. Subtle differences worth understanding before you commit.
IFZA vs Meydan at a glance
IFZA: AED 12,500, Dubai Silicon Oasis, up to 7 visas, 2,500+ activities, 3-5 day setup.
Meydan FZ: AED 14,000, Meydan City central Dubai, up to 3 standard visas, 1,500+ activities, 5-7 day setup.
About IFZA
IFZA targets high-volume, low-cost segment. Standard: 1 license + 1 visa for AED 12,500. Up to 7 visas without physical office. Broad catalogue — consulting, e-commerce, marketing, IT, education, services. Fully digital setup in 3-5 days.
About Meydan Free Zone
Part of Meydan City development (home to Meydan Racecourse and Meydan Hotel). Closer to central Dubai than IFZA’s Silicon Oasis. Appeals to companies wanting Dubai-prestige address without DMCC pricing. Standard package AED 14,000, up to 3 visas on basic option.
Cost comparison
Year 1: IFZA ~AED 12,500; Meydan ~AED 14,000. Annual renewal: IFZA ~AED 11,000; Meydan AED 13,000-14,000. Visa cost similar — AED 3,500-4,000 per investor visa.
4th visa: IFZA stays in standard quota; Meydan requires office upgrade adding AED 8,000-15,000.
Location and prestige
Meydan City: 15-20 min from Downtown Dubai, near Sheikh Zayed Road. The address carries some weight. Dubai Silicon Oasis (IFZA): eastern edge, 30-40 min from downtown. Most clients won’t visit either physical location.
Visa quotas detail
IFZA: 7 visas standard, no office upgrade. Meydan: 3 standard, scaling to 5-7 with smart-office options at higher cost. Fast-growing 8-person consultancy — IFZA materially cheaper.
Best fit for…
Choose IFZA: extremely cost-sensitive, 4-7 employees on visas, max activity flexibility, don’t care about address.
Choose Meydan: want central Dubai address, only 1-3 visas (no office upgrade needed), value Meydan brand association.
FAQs
Will banks treat them differently?
No meaningful difference. Banks evaluate business model and founder profile.
Which is faster?
IFZA: 3-5 days online. Meydan: 5-7 days, with one in-person visit recommended.
Final verdict
Pure cost optimization with multiple visas: IFZA wins. More central Dubai address with comparable cost on small operations: Meydan competitive.
Use our cost calculator or browse all UAE free zones.