MEYDAN is one of Dubai's most flexible free zones on office requirements. Unlike DAFZA or DIC (physical office mandatory) or DMCC (physical for larger operations), MEYDAN lets you keep a virtual "Flexi Desk" essentially indefinitely — until you exceed 6 visa slots or your business activity specifically requires client meetings on-site.
The Three Office Tiers at MEYDAN
- Flexi Desk (Virtual) — AED 3,500/year, included in most packages. Access to MEYDAN business center for occasional use, mail handling, and meeting room booking (pay-per-use). Max 3 visa slots.
- Flexi Desk Plus (Shared) — AED 6,000/year, dedicated seat in the MEYDAN co-working area. Unlimited access. Max 6 visa slots.
- Private Office — from AED 900/sqm/year (starting ~12sqm minimum). Own key, own furnishing, up to 9 visas per 9sqm. No upper visa limit.
When You Must Upgrade
- Visa count exceeds 3: upgrade to Flexi Desk Plus.
- Visa count exceeds 6: upgrade to Private Office.
- Client meetings expected on-site: optional but professional. Flexi Desk includes 4 hours/month meeting room; beyond that, private office is more economical.
- Regulated activity requires physical inspection: some activities (e.g., financial advisory, licensed professional services) may require a physical premises inspection by DDA — check activity-specific rules.
Bank Impact
UAE banks do not distinguish between Flexi Desk and physical office when evaluating a MEYDAN license. Bank approval depends more on your source of funds and business plan than office tier. Some banks (e.g., ADCB Business) do prefer physical-office tenants, but Wio, Mashreq NEO, and Emirates NBD treat all MEYDAN tiers equally.
Freelance Alternative
If you are a solo consultant with no team, and you don't need company-level features (issuing invoices in a company name, sponsoring dependents), a UAE freelance permit (IFZA, GoFreelance, or Dubai Media City) can be cheaper than MEYDAN's smallest package. See our freelance license alternatives guide.