Applying for a MEYDAN Free Zone license is a straightforward digital process. There are two paths: direct application via MEYDAN portal (DIY, cheapest) or through a MEYDAN-approved corporate service provider (typical additional fee $500-1,500 for handholding).
Path 1: DIY Direct Application
- Create account on portal.meydanfz.ae with your email.
- Select company type: Free Zone Establishment (FZE) — single shareholder, or Free Zone Company (FZC) — 2-50 shareholders.
- Select activity: pick from the MEYDAN approved activity list. See our activities list guide.
- Propose trade name: submit 3 options in order of preference. Rejection reasons: existing conflict, government terminology, offensive terms.
- Upload documents: passport copies (each shareholder), passport-size photo, CV or LinkedIn URL.
- Pay initial deposit: AED 5,500 (~$1,500) to reserve your name and start the application review.
- Wait for initial approval: typically 24-48 hours.
- Pay balance: remaining ~AED 8,500 to trigger license issuance.
- Receive license: digital PDF delivered via portal, typically day 5-7 from initial application.
Path 2: Via Corporate Service Provider
MEYDAN maintains a list of ~40 approved corporate service providers (CSPs). They handle the application on your behalf, plus typically bundle:
- Name check assistance (avoid rejection)
- Document preparation (MOA, board resolutions)
- Establishment card + e-channel setup
- Investor visa coordination
- Bank introduction (some CSPs have Wio/Mashreq referral partnerships)
Typical CSP fee: AED 3,000-6,000 ($820-1,635) on top of MEYDAN's own fees. Worth it if you value the handholding; unnecessary if you can DIY document prep.
Which CSPs Are Legit?
MEYDAN publishes its approved CSP list at meydanfz.ae/business-service-providers. Any CSP not on that list should be verified before you pay them. Common scam pattern: fake "MEYDAN agents" charging AED 20,000+ upfront then disappearing.
Post-License Steps
Once your license PDF is in hand, next steps in order:
- Establishment Card application (5-7 days)
- E-channel registration (2-3 days)
- Investor visa Entry Permit → medical → Emirates ID → visa stamping (2-3 weeks total)
- Bank account application (2-3 weeks with Wio; longer with tier-1)
Total time from initial application to fully operational (license + visa + bank): 3-6 weeks for a straightforward setup.