MEYDAN Free Zone does not issue freelance permits. Every MEYDAN license is a company (Free Zone Establishment or FZE), which means you have a legal entity with shareholders, directors, and corporate obligations — not a personal freelance work permit.
This trips up many first-time researchers because MEYDAN's marketing emphasizes solo-founder and small-team packages. But structurally, a MEYDAN license is always corporate.
UAE Freelance License Alternatives That Are Actually Freelance
- IFZA Freelance Permit — $1,900 all-in for a 1-year freelance visa; no company setup required.
- GoFreelance (twofour54, Abu Dhabi) — AED 7,500 (~$2,040) for freelance permit in media/creative activities.
- Dubai Media City Freelance Permit — AED 20,000+ (~$5,450) but includes DMC address prestige.
- Dubai Design District (d3) Freelance — AED 15,000 (~$4,080) for design/fashion/architecture.
- RAKEZ Freelance — AED 6,500 (~$1,770), cheapest emirates-wide option.
Should You Get a MEYDAN Company Instead of a Freelance Permit?
If your annual UAE-based revenue is expected to exceed $50,000 and you plan to stay in Dubai for 2+ years, a MEYDAN company can be more advantageous than a pure freelance permit despite the higher setup cost:
- Better bank account acceptance (freelance permits struggle with corporate banking).
- Can hire employees under your license.
- Can issue invoices in company name (freelance invoices are in your personal name — some enterprise clients reject).
- Better residency visa structure for family sponsorship.
For pure part-time or startup freelancing where total revenue is under $30,000/year, IFZA freelance is the right choice.