Consulting0vSRTIP 5,500QUOTEStarter package · licence-only14m ago
IT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400LICENCELicence issued · day 447m ago
Trading1vRAKEZ 10,500REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed1h 12m ago
Consulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGCBI pack routed · KYC2h agoE-commerce0vSHAMS 5,750LICENCEMedia package · 4h express2h 44m ago
General Trading3vRAKEZ 18,500QUOTE3 visas bundled · Portal 3603h ago
Consulting1vIFZA 16,700REROUTEDRAKBANK declined → HSBC pending3h 18m agoFreelance1vAFZ 10,800BANKINGADCB pack ready · KYC4h ago
Marketing0vSPC 5,750LICENCE24-hour express issue5h ago
Fintech0vADGM 44,000QUOTERegLab application opened6h agoConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500BANKINGWio checklist ready8h ago
Freelance1vUAQ 11,000LICENCEUAQ START · day 29h ago
Trading2vANCFZ 15,200QUOTEUpgraded from zero-visa package11h agoCrypto / Web30vDMCC 31,000LICENCEVARA sandbox licence · day 813h agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400EIDEID issued · founder + partner14h ago
Marketing0vSHAMS 5,750QUOTEInstallment · 12 × 57316h ago
Consulting1vSRTIP 9,690LICENCEStarter · day 518h agoGeneral Trading4vDMCC 51,684REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed20h ago
Consulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGEmirates NBD pack readyyesterdayE-commerce1vANCFZ 10,800LICENCE15-min registration · same-dayyesterdayLogistics3vJAFZA 25,000QUOTEFZE Type 1 + warehouse leaseyesterday
Consulting0vIFZA 12,200BANKINGMashreq pack routed2d agoIndustrial4vKIZAD 145,000LICENCEIndustrial + 2,000 sqm plot2d agoInnovation0vInnovation City 6,600LICENCEIdea package · on-chain issuejust nowConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500QUOTEStarter package · licence-only14m agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400LICENCELicence issued · day 447m agoTrading1vRAKEZ 10,500REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed1h 12m agoConsulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGCBI pack routed · KYC2h agoE-commerce0vSHAMS 5,750LICENCEMedia package · 4h express2h 44m agoGeneral Trading3vRAKEZ 18,500QUOTE3 visas bundled · Portal 3603h agoConsulting1vIFZA 16,700REROUTEDRAKBANK declined → HSBC pending3h 18m agoFreelance1vAFZ 10,800BANKINGADCB pack ready · KYC4h agoMarketing0vSPC 5,750LICENCE24-hour express issue5h agoFintech0vADGM 44,000QUOTERegLab application opened6h agoConsulting0vSRTIP 5,500BANKINGWio checklist ready8h agoFreelance1vUAQ 11,000LICENCEUAQ START · day 29h agoTrading2vANCFZ 15,200QUOTEUpgraded from zero-visa package11h agoCrypto / Web30vDMCC 31,000LICENCEVARA sandbox licence · day 813h agoIT / SaaS2vIFZA 23,400EIDEID issued · founder + partner14h agoMarketing0vSHAMS 5,750QUOTEInstallment · 12 × 57316h agoConsulting1vSRTIP 9,690LICENCEStarter · day 518h agoGeneral Trading4vDMCC 51,684REROUTEDWio declined → Mashreq routed20h agoConsulting0vDIFC 5,500BANKINGEmirates NBD pack readyyesterdayE-commerce1vANCFZ 10,800LICENCE15-min registration · same-dayyesterdayLogistics3vJAFZA 25,000QUOTEFZE Type 1 + warehouse leaseyesterdayConsulting0vIFZA 12,200BANKINGMashreq pack routed2d agoIndustrial4vKIZAD 145,000LICENCEIndustrial + 2,000 sqm plot2d agoInnovation0vInnovation City 6,600LICENCEIdea package · on-chain issueCompare · No signup
Meydan and IFZA are Dubai's two most popular cost-efficient free zones for founders. Both bank well, both have modern portals, both deliver fast. The deciding factor is usually activity allowance, address type (Meydan = Nad Al Sheba, IFZA = Silicon Oasis), and quota flexibility.
Verdict: Choose Meydan if you want a single all-in published rate (AED 12,500). Choose IFZA if you want multi-activity flexibility (up to 7 activities per licence) and Dubai Silicon Oasis address.
Live channel-partner figures from Formenzo's pricing engine. Authority + Formenzo service scope only — visas, EID and medicals are extra and shown on each zone page.
| Metric | Meydan FZ | IFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Starting priceAuthority licence + bundled flexi-desk; visas + EID extra. | 12,500 | 12,200 |
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Visas (default → max) | 1 → 6 | 3 → 6 |
| Licence in | 7 days | 5 days |
| Visa complete in | 16 days | 14 days |
| Banking scorePre-screened bank fit. Final approval is bank-side. | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Prestige score | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Activities allowed | 2,500 | 1,500 |
| Bank panel | Emirates NBD · WIO · Mashreq NeoBiz | WIO Bank · Mashreq NeoBiz · Emirates NBD |
Pick Meydan FZ when
Pick IFZA when
Almost. Meydan's published all-in is AED 12,500. IFZA's channel-partner rate is AED 12,200 (Professional / 1-year / 0-visa / Flexidesk). The AED 300 difference is rounding — bank fees, visa fees, EID and medicals are extra and similar across both.
Both score 7/10 on Formenzo's banking-readiness rubric. Both onboard well at WIO, Mashreq NeoBiz, Emirates NBD and RAKBANK. If your activity is regulated (fintech, crypto, asset management), neither is the right answer — pick DMCC or DIFC instead.
IFZA: up to 7 activities per licence (first 3 included; +AED 1,500 each thereafter). Meydan: typically single-activity — combining activities requires picking a different package and pays a per-activity surcharge. If you run consulting + e-commerce + IT services on one entity, IFZA is the cleaner fit.
Yes — both zones publish a 0-visa starter (Meydan AED 12,500, IFZA AED 12,200). You can add visas later when needed without re-issuing the licence; visas at IFZA are AED 3,750 each, at Meydan AED 4,500–5,000 depending on package.
Use Formenzo's homepage Atlas — filter all 46 UAE free-zone routes by activity, visa quota, banking and budget without signing up or providing email. Then narrow to 2–3 candidates and run /start for an exact AED quote.
Compare
If you're considering IFZA, the next question is usually: do I jump to DMCC for the brand?
See side-by-sideCompare
If cost is the deciding factor, RAKEZ at half the price is the alternative.
See side-by-sideCompare
Sharjah media-zone matchup at AED 5,750 — same range as Meydan but different positioning.
See side-by-sideStop comparing, start filing
Seven questions — passport, activity, visas, budget, banking expectation. We return the 2–3 best-fit zones with full all-in pricing. No callback unless you ask.