You apply online: choose your business activities, give up to three trade name options, upload a passport copy for each shareholder and pay through the portal. Meydan Free Zone says registration is fully online.
One licence can hold up to three activity groups from a list of more than 2,500 activities. NXTSTAR helps you choose the activities correctly and handles visas and banking afterwards.
Last reviewed: by the NXTSTAR team.
Rules are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current position before you apply.
Who Meydan Free Zone suits
Meydan suits founders who want a Dubai free zone company quickly and remotely: consultants, agencies, online businesses and small trading companies, including teams with several shareholders.
It is not designed for businesses that need warehouses or industrial space.
Company structures
- Up to 50 shareholders on one licence.
- Up to 4 directors on one licence.
- Shareholders can be individuals or companies.
Licences and activities
- Activities are grouped. You can select up to three groups under one licence.
- The list covers professional, commercial and industrial activities.
- A general trading licence is available for trading a wide range of goods.
Documents
- Valid passport copy of each shareholder or partner
- Your selected business activities
- A proposed trade name with up to three options
- For a corporate shareholder: certificate of incorporation, certificate of incumbency, memorandum and articles, and a board resolution
The process, step by step
- Select activities and trade name options.
- Upload passport copies and pay online.
- Receive the company documents: business licence, certificate of formation, share register, memorandum and articles, and lease agreement.
- Apply for visas, which Meydan says can usually be done after the licence is issued.
What is particular to Meydan Free Zone
Meydan promotes an express licence that it says can be issued in under 60 minutes. That speed applies to straightforward applications. Activities needing outside approval, or corporate shareholders, take longer.
What NXTSTAR does, and what we do not
- We help you choose the structure, licence and activities.
- We prepare and submit the application.
- We handle the visa and bank account steps afterwards.
- We do not decide approvals. The authority does, and banks decide on accounts.
- We are an independent consultancy and are not part of Meydan Free Zone.
Common questions
Can I set up a Meydan company from abroad?
Meydan Free Zone describes its process as digital-first and fully online, so the company can be formed remotely. Visa steps are completed in the UAE.
How many activities can I have?
Up to three activity groups under one trade licence.
How many shareholders are allowed?
A maximum of 50 shareholders and 4 directors on a licence.
How much does Meydan Free Zone setup cost?
We do not publish prices. Ask us for a written quote that separates authority fees from our service fee.
Sources
The rules on this page come from the authority's own published material, checked on 7 October 2026.
Talk to NXTSTAR about Meydan Free Zone
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you which route fits, what it involves and what we would need from you.