Meydan Free Zone · Nad Al Sheba, Dubai
Meydan Free Zone PRO services: visas, renewals, Immigration Card and portal filings
Licence and Immigration Card renewals, visa allocations, employee and investor visas from entry permit to cancellation, dependants, letters and amendments for Meydan companies. Every Meydan rule and fee here was checked against meydanfz.ae and its 2022 regulations; we only act on written instructions from you.
- Meydan charges paid straight from your portal
- New visa: AED 750 from us, VAT in
- Your login stays yours
Quick answer · sources checked 30 October 2026
Meydan Free Zone PRO services in brief
In short: Meydan Free Zone PRO services cover what a licensed Meydan company must keep current: the licence renewal before expiry, the yearly Immigration Card, visa allocations, employee, investor and partner visas from entry permit to cancellation, dependants, Emirates ID, letters, amendments and the annual compliance dates. Almost all of it runs through Meydan's Customer Portal, with GDRFA Dubai issuing the residence visas and ICP the Emirates IDs. On your written instructions we prepare each filing and see it through to the issued document. Meydan is one zone among many in our PRO services in Dubai, which span mainland companies and Dubai's other free zones.
Checked by Mir Ali, MIRDXB PRO's founder, on 30 October 2026 against meydanfz.ae and the Meydan Free Zone Companies and Licensing Regulations 2022
- LicenceFrom AED 12,500Meydan's published starting price for the regular licence with a flexi desk; renew before expiry
- Immigration CardAED 2,000Meydan's line for the company's immigration file; its investor visa guide says it is renewed every year
- Visa allocationAED 1,850per visa slot, up to 6 per licence, valid until the licence expiry date
- Employment visaFrom AED 3,500plus the allocation; medical and Emirates ID through Meydan Plus AED 2,250
- Visa cancellation1 to 2 daysbusiness days, Meydan's figure once the papers are complete; grace typically 30 days
- Non-renewal line30 daysafter expiry Meydan may cancel the licence, Immigration Card, employment contracts and visas
Roles on a Meydan file
Three desks behind every Meydan request
Meydan Free Zone is run by the Meydan City Corporation under Dubai Law No. 5 of 2009, last amended by Law No. 7 of 2024. Its 2022 regulations make the Authority the sponsor of the people who work for its companies, and Meydan says its companies need no MOHRE registration or separate work permit before a visa. Three parties share the work.
Meydan Free Zone
The licence, lease and flexi desk, visa allocations, the Immigration Card, employment contracts, amendments and the company registry. Meydan sets how many people a company may employ and sends visa applications to immigration.
GDRFA Dubai, ICP and Dubai Health
A Meydan visa is Dubai residence, so GDRFA handles the entry permit, the residence and its cancellation. Emirates IDs are ICP's job, and fitness tests happen at Dubai Health centres.
Your company, and us
Requests start in the company's Customer Portal, where documents are uploaded and Meydan's invoices paid. We put each file together, book fitness tests and fingerprints, watch the deadlines and follow up until the document arrives.
Labour law still applies to Meydan staff
No MOHRE file does not mean no labour law. Meydan's own guide to visa cancellation points to Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 for final salary, end of service benefits and leave, and Meydan runs a grievance channel for labour complaints against its companies. Contracts, notice and gratuity follow the federal law.
Meydan Free Zone PRO services
The Meydan filings we take on
Meydan's own published figure is on each card. Where Meydan publishes no figure, the card says so: the amount appears in your Customer Portal at submission, and we confirm it in writing before you pay. Our own fee is separate.
Meydan licence renewal
Outstanding invoices cleared, activities and allocations reviewed, renewal filed and the new Business License downloaded.
From AED 12,500Before expiry
Quote for licence renewalImmigration Card renewal
Meydan's name for the establishment card. Without a valid one, no visa can be issued or renewed.
AED 2,000Yearly
Book the Immigration CardNew Meydan employment visa
Allocation, entry permit or status change, medical, Emirates ID and the residence visa.
From AED 3,500+ AED 1,850 slot
Book a new visaInvestor and partner visas
For shareholders: Investor if you own the company alone, Partner if there are other shareholders.
About AED 4,000AED 50,000 capital
Book an investor visaMeydan visa renewal
Started before expiry, with the allocation kept, a new medical and the Emirates ID renewed.
Fee shown in the portalEvery 2 years
Book a visa renewalMeydan visa cancellation
Dues settled, dependants first, then the employee's visa and Emirates ID, and the slot released.
Fee shown in the portal1 to 2 business days
Book a cancellationDependant visas
Spouse and children sponsored by a Meydan investor or employee, filed through the portal.
AED 6,000 Meydan PlusPer dependant
Quote for a family visaEmirates ID and Meydan cards
Biometrics, renewals, replacements and data updates, and what the Meydan "ID card" really is.
AED 2,250 with medicalMeydan Plus line
Book an Emirates IDSalary certificates and NOCs
Arabic or English salary certificates, bank and embassy letters, employer NOCs and experience letters.
Company letterheadArabic or English
Request a letterCompany documents
Business License, Certificate of Formation, Share Register, MoA, good standing and incumbency requests.
Issued digitallyPer request
Order a Meydan documentLicence and company amendments
Activities, name, shareholders, director or manager, capital and address, with the deadlines to notify.
AED 1,000 per extra activity1 business day
Get an amendment quoteCustomer Portal management
Requests prepared and tracked, invoices planned, returned items answered before the 60-day cut-off.
portal.meydanfz.aeOngoing
Get portal helpVisa quota and allocations
Buying, keeping and adding allocations, and what Meydan asks for above six.
AED 1,850 eachUp to 6 published
Quote for more visasCompliance, UBO and audits
UBO register, change notices, audited accounts on request, corporate tax dates and record keeping.
15-day noticesEvery year
Ask about complianceVisa status checks
Where a Meydan visa application stands, and how to check a visa's validity by passport number.
GDRFA and ICPAny time
Ask us to track a visa
Forming a Meydan company rather than running one? Licence routes, packages and costs sit in our Meydan Free Zone company setup guide, and closing a company is covered under company liquidation in Dubai.
Licensing
Meydan licence renewal: steps, cost and the 30-day line
Clause 13.1 of Meydan's 2022 regulations says a licensee must renew its licence before the current term expires. The renewal is a declaration filed in the Customer Portal: Meydan's renewal guide lists reviewing the activities, settling outstanding balances, confirming visa and workspace status, submitting online, paying and receiving the renewed Business License digitally. The owner does not need to be in the UAE.
Before you submit the renewal
- Overdue invoices cleared. Meydan's terms let it suspend all services to a company with an overdue invoice
- Activities reviewed. Three activity groups are included; each activity outside them costs AED 1,000
- Allocations decided. Every slot you keep is paid again for the new licence year
- Workspace confirmed. The flexi desk lease comes with the licence; an upgraded office has its own contract
- Records current. Shareholder and manager passports, the UBO register and the Dubai Unified License (DUL) number
Choosing the term
- Up to 10 years. Meydan's FAQ gives that as the maximum licence validity
- Up to 15% off the licence line on multi-year terms, per Meydan's home page
- Allocations are paid upfront. Meydan's terms say a multi-year licence pays the visa allocation fees for all the years at once
- Visas keep their own dates. The Immigration Card and each visa still renew on their own cycles
- Instalments: Tabby or Tamara can pay the licence fee only, with a fixed admin fee added; visa, immigration, medical and Emirates ID fees are paid separately
Meydan lines at renewal
| Line | AED |
|---|---|
| Regular licence with flexi desk published starting price, 3 activity groups | From 12,500 |
| Each activity outside the 3 groups | 1,000 |
| Visa allocation per slot, per licence year | 1,850 |
| Immigration Card its own yearly cycle | 2,000 |
| Multi-year licence licence line only | Up to 15% off |
| Late renewal charge | Not published |
Meydan publishes no separate renewal price: its renewal guide says only fees it publishes are official. Your exact renewal invoice appears in the Customer Portal.
Renewing a Fawri licence
Fawri is Meydan's instant route for a single owner. Its FAQ says that after the one amendment included in the first year, or at renewal, the licence becomes a standard Meydan licence on the regular terms. That is the moment to add shareholders or activities that Fawri did not allow.
Meydan's channel partner terms also say it may contact a company directly within five calendar days of its licence expiry date, so a renewal reminder from Meydan is normal. Check the sender against Meydan's official domain before you pay.
The 30 days after expiry are not spare time
Meydan's renewal guide says the licence is not valid for trading from the expiry date, and late charges may apply. Its terms define "Non-Renewal" as a licence not renewed 30 days after expiry, and on Non-Renewal Meydan may cancel the Business License and every related service, naming the Immigration Card, employment contracts and visas. Renew before the date on the licence, not inside the window.
Mainland licences renew with DET, not Meydan: see our trade licence renewal guide.
The company's immigration file
Meydan Immigration Card: the establishment card renewal
What other zones call an establishment card, Meydan calls the Immigration Card. Meydan's FAQ says a company can apply for visas after incorporation once it has the Immigration Card and a visa allocation, and Meydan says the company's immigration profile is activated when the licence is issued, so there is no separate e-channel registration to make.
Immigration Card
| Line | AED |
|---|---|
| Immigration Card investor visa guide, updated 29 July 2026 | 2,000 |
| Validity same guide | 1 year |
| First investor visa bundle visa, allocation and card, home page | About 7,850 |
| Refund admin fee if Meydan accepts a refund | 2,000 |
Meydan's home page calls the card "one-time", while its investor visa guide says it is "valid for one year, renewed annually". Plan for a yearly renewal and check the expiry date in your portal.
How we time it
- We keep the card's expiry in the same diary as the licence, so it never lapses in the middle of a hire
- We renew it before any visa renewal that falls after its expiry date
- After a company name change we have the card's details updated, so immigration records match the licence
- Meydan's terms let it refuse a refund when GDRFA rejects the card over a pending criminal or civil case against anyone linked to the company
The mainland establishment card and its GDRFA rules are covered in establishment card explained.
Residence
Hiring on a Meydan employment visa: steps, documents and cost
A Meydan employment visa is a two-year Dubai residence visa, with Meydan as the sponsoring authority and GDRFA Dubai as the issuer. The company needs an active licence, a valid Immigration Card and an unused allocation. Meydan's investor visa guide puts full processing at 5 to 7 working days once documents are in, and the employee has to be physically in the UAE for the fitness test and fingerprinting.
Allocation and visa request
Company in the portal
One allocation is assigned to the person. The request carries a passport copy, a photo, the job title and the salary, plus an attested degree where the title needs one.
Entry permit
MeydanGDRFA
Meydan files the application and immigration issues the entry permit. The employee travels on it and enters while it is still valid.
Or a change of status
GDRFA
Someone already in the UAE on a visit visa, or with a cancelled visa still inside its grace period, changes status without leaving.
Medical fitness test
Dubai Health
Required for residence applicants aged 18 and over. Meydan Plus sells it bundled with the Emirates ID service at AED 2,250.
Emirates ID biometrics
ICP
Fingerprints and photo at an ICP centre where needed. The Emirates ID is linked to the residence file and ends with it.
Residence visa and employment contract
GDRFAMeydan
Immigration issues the residence electronically, and the employment contract sits on Meydan's file for that person. Meydan's terms list employment contracts among the services tied to the licence.
Meydan's published visa lines
| Line | AED |
|---|---|
| Employment visa | From 3,500 |
| Visa allocation per person, per licence year | 1,850 |
| Medical and Emirates ID Meydan Plus | 2,250 |
| Category A medical insurance investors and staff on over AED 4,000 | 1,680 |
| Immigration Card once per company, per year | 2,000 |
Meydan home page, setup cost breakdown (30 June 2026) and investor visa guide (29 July 2026). Meydan's calculator calls its estimates indicative; the portal invoice is final.
A first hire on Meydan's own lines
AED 9,280 visa, slot, medical with Emirates ID, and insurance
That is 3,500 + 1,850 + 2,250 + 1,680 for one employee earning over AED 4,000, before our fee. Add AED 2,000 if the company's Immigration Card is not yet issued. A lower salary may need a different insurance category, so the insurance line can change.
- Hiring someone already in Dubai? File the status change before their visa or grace ends, or overstay fines begin (see the grace period guide)
Documents we collect
- Passport copy with enough validity left, and a recent photo on a white background
- Current visa page, visit visa or cancellation paper for a hire already in the UAE
- Degree certified in the home country, then by UAE MOFA, if the title needs it
- Agreed salary and job title, so the contract, the visa and any later salary certificate match
Investor and partner visas
- Investor visa if you are the sole shareholder; Partner visa if the company has other shareholders (Meydan FAQ)
- AED 50,000 share capital or more is Meydan's condition for either
- About AED 4,000 for the visa, plus the allocation and the Immigration Card
- Validity: Meydan's home page says 2 years; one line of its investor guide says 3, so check the period on the issued visa
How free zone visas differ from mainland work permits, zone by zone: our free zone visa services page. The 10-year route is separate, through ICP: Golden and investor visa.
Residence
Meydan visa renewal: the allocation, the medical and the portal fee
Meydan's terms say that issuing a visa creates no entitlement to its renewal: every renewal is checked again by Meydan or the relevant authority under the rules in force at the time. In practice that means the licence, the Immigration Card and the person's allocation must all be valid on the day you file, and the renewal starts before the visa expires.
Renewal in three steps
Request in the Customer Portal
Passport, photo, current visa and health insurance, with any change of job title or salary agreed first.
Medical fitness test
Taken again for the new residence, then uploaded to the request.
Emirates ID and renewed visa
The Emirates ID is renewed with the visa, and the renewed residence is issued electronically.
What a renewal costs
| Line | AED |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | Shown in the portal |
| Medical and Emirates ID Meydan Plus | 2,250 |
| Health insurance Category A example | 1,680 |
| Allocation for the year billed at licence renewal | 1,850 |
Meydan publishes no separate visa renewal price. We read it from your portal and confirm it in writing before you pay.
Four renewal traps
New passport? Meydan's own passport guide says to update the visa record, the Emirates ID record and the company's shareholder and manager files. Licence due the same month? Meydan advises sequencing any visa due in that month behind the licence renewal. Slot dropped? An allocation not paid at the licence renewal leaves the renewal with nothing to sit on. Already expired? Overstay fines of AED 50 a day start once the grace period ends.
Mainland renewals, with the MOHRE work permit step, are on our employment visa renewal page.
Residence
Cancelling a Meydan employment visa
Meydan's terms put full responsibility for cancelling a visa on the company that sponsors it. Meydan's cancellation guide says the request takes 1 to 2 business days once the paperwork and approvals are complete, and that the usual causes of delay are missing papers, unsettled dues and the wrong cancellation route.
Meydan's sequence
- Final salary, gratuity and leave are settled first, and any family visas closed before the employee's; our visa cancellation page has the general rules
- Slot back. Cancelling the visa withdraws the Emirates ID and frees the allocation for the next hire
- Closing the company? Meydan's closure guide cancels employees, then dependants, then the investor visa, before the licence
Cancellation at a glance
| Line | Meydan says |
|---|---|
| Processing time | 1 to 2 business days |
| Cancellation fee | Shown in the portal |
| Grace after cancellation | Typically 30 days |
| Overstay after the grace | AED 50 a day |
| Allocation | Released for a new hire |
Meydan's 30-day figure
Meydan's cancellation guide says typically 30 days, in line with Dubai's standard 30; certain categories get 60, 90 or 180, and the period on the cancellation document is final. More in our grace period guide.
One article, the wrong route
Meydan's general article on employment visa cancellation describes lodging the request through MOHRE. That is the mainland route. A Meydan employee has no MOHRE file, so the cancellation goes through Meydan's own portal, as Meydan's licence closure guide says. Employee already abroad? Tell us before filing: the documents differ and Meydan confirms them in the portal.
Need the end-of-service figure? Our gratuity calculator follows the Labour Law.
Families
Dependant visas for Meydan investors and employees
A Meydan investor, partner or employee with a residence visa can sponsor a spouse and children, and Meydan says dependants are filed through its online portal. The family rules themselves are GDRFA's, the same as on the mainland, and the family visa ends when the sponsor's visa does.
What changes for a Meydan sponsor
- AED 6,000 per dependant is Meydan Plus's processing line (investor visa guide, 29 July 2026)
- The sponsor's salary proof comes from the Meydan company, so the letter must match the salary on the sponsor's visa and contract
- The sponsor's own visa must stay valid for the whole family file
- Cancelling or moving the sponsor first leaves the family file stranded, so plan dependants before any sponsor change
Away for more than six months?
Meydan Plus lists return permit assistance at AED 850 for residents who have been outside the UAE for more than six months. The same permit can be applied for through the usual GDRFA and ICP channels, and our re-entry permit guide explains when it is needed.
Salary thresholds, documents and government fees for a Dubai family visa: our family visa page.
Cards
Meydan ID cards: the Immigration Card, Emirates ID and no labour card
People search for a "Meydan ID card", a "Meydan labour card" and a "Meydan work permit". Meydan publishes none of these as separate products. A Meydan employee's working status rests on four records, and each has its own owner.
| Card or record | Issued by | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration Card | Meydan, with Dubai immigration | The company's immigration file; one per company |
| Residence visa | GDRFA Dubai | The person's right to live in Dubai, issued electronically |
| Emirates ID | ICP | The physical ID card, linked to the residence file |
| Employment contract | Recorded with Meydan | The job title and salary on Meydan's file for that person |
| MOHRE labour card or work permit | Not issued | Meydan says its companies need no MOHRE registration or work permit |
| Digital business card | Meydan Plus | A marketing card with a phone extension, email and one-page site, valid to 31 December; not an ID |
Emirates ID work we handle
- Biometrics booked for new and renewed visas
- Replacement of a lost or damaged card, through ICP
- Data updates after a new passport, in the order Meydan's passport guide sets
- Our fee when no visa work is needed: AED 150
Building access
Meydan publishes no staff access card or permanent identity card scheme like DMCC's PIC. Flexi desk and office users work from the Meydan Business Centre; ask Meydan's customer service about access arrangements for your workspace before staff arrive.
Salary letters and NOCs
Meydan salary certificate in Arabic, NOCs and employee letters
At DMCC the authority prints employee letters. At Meydan most of them come from the company itself: Meydan's guide on experience certificates says a Meydan company issues them on its own letterhead, with its registered name and licence number, signed by a signatory authorised under its Memorandum and Articles and stamped. Letters only Meydan can give, such as those about the licence or the immigration file, are requested in the portal.
| Letter | Who issues it | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Salary certificate in Arabic | The company, with a legal translation | Family visa, tenancy or a Dubai authority that asks for Arabic |
| Salary certificate in English | The company | Bank accounts, loans and credit cards |
| Salary transfer letter | The company | A bank's own form for salary credit |
| Employment or experience certificate | The company | Proof of service, a new employer or a credential check |
| Embassy or travel letter | The company | Visa applications abroad, with leave dates |
| Employer NOC | The company | A side business, a course or a third party that asks |
| Letters about the licence or immigration file | Meydan, through the portal | Fee and format shown at submission |
Getting the Arabic version right
The figures, job title and name must match the visa and the employment contract to the letter, or the receiving office sends it back. We draft the bilingual text, arrange a legal translation where an authority needs one, and check it against the visa before your signatory signs. Meydan Plus also sells certified Arabic and English translation under mAssist.
An NOC Meydan does not ask for
Meydan says a person on an employment visa needs no NOC from their employer to get licensed in Meydan Free Zone. If one of your staff wants to open their own company, the NOC is not a Meydan step, but their employment contract and any non-compete clause still apply.
Ten-year visa? See Golden and investor visa. Arabic versions for a court or authority: legal translation.
Company records
Meydan company documents: licence pack, good standing and incumbency
Meydan issues the core company documents digitally after registration, and the same set is updated after each amendment. Banks, foreign registries and tender evaluators usually ask for some of them, and sometimes for a certified copy rather than a download.
What Meydan issues
- Business License, read with the Dubai Unified License (DUL) number
- Certificate of Formation
- Share Register, the ownership record banks look at
- Memorandum and Articles of Association, reissued as an amended MoA after changes
- Lease Agreement for the flexi desk or office
Good standing and incumbency
Meydan says these are requested through the company's own free zone account. It publishes no fee or processing time for them, so we confirm both in the portal before you order. Ask the bank or foreign registry first whether it wants a plain download, a certified copy or a legalised document, because each costs a different amount of time.
Meydan's terms also say a refund can be refused if attested original documents it asked for are not provided within 60 days of the licence.
Templates Meydan already publishes
Meydan's rules page carries resolution templates for an amendment of director or manager, a company name amendment, a change in capital structure, acquisitions of shares by a corporate shareholder, setting up a subsidiary or branch, and cancelling a company. Using Meydan's own template saves a return. Keep every document for at least seven years, as clause 18.1 of the regulations requires.
Amendments
Meydan licence amendments: activities, shareholders, manager and name
Amendments are filed in the Customer Portal under Formation, Amendment. Meydan's MoA guide says approval comes within one business day, after which it issues an amended MoA and an updated licence, although changes involving new people, nationalities or roles can need an extra security review. The regulations also set the deadlines to tell Meydan about a change.
| Change | Tell Meydan within | What else follows |
|---|---|---|
| Add an activity | Before trading in it | AED 1,000 per activity outside your 3 groups; a regulator's approval if regulated |
| Director or General Manager | 10 business days (clause 28.2) | One manager on the licence; up to 4 directors (Meydan FAQ); bank signatories |
| Share transfer | 15 business days (clause 17.1) | Register updated within 2 business days; investor or partner visa titles re-checked |
| Company name | 15 business days (clause 17.1) | No website publication if changed within 30 days of the licence; Immigration Card and bank records updated |
| Share capital, registered office or financial year | 15 business days (clause 17.1) | Amended MoA; capital matters for investor and partner visas |
| Shareholder's or director's details | 10 business days of being told | New passports on the company file, then visa and Emirates ID records |
| Auditor appointed or removed | 15 business days (clause 17.1) | Ordinary resolution |
A Fawri licence includes one amendment in its first year, which can add shareholders or change activities. Meydan's FAQ allows up to 50 shareholders on a licence. Each breach can draw a fine set by the Authority under clause 54.2, so late notices are worth avoiding.
Meydan Customer Portal
Meydan portal management: access, invoices and the 60-day rule
Meydan's Customer Portal at portal.meydanfz.ae is where renewals, visas, amendments, letters and meeting room bookings are requested and paid. Registered channel partners use a separate consultant login. Meydan's terms say portal user IDs and passwords must be kept confidential and not shared unless Meydan permits it in writing.
Your password stays yours
- We never ask for your password or a one-time code. Meydan says it never asks for them either
- We prepare every form and document, and you submit on a short screen share or in person
- We are not a Meydan channel partner and do not log in as you
- We read the invoice with you before you pay, so every line matches the quote
Paying Meydan
- Card payments online through Meydan's payment provider; Tabby or Tamara for licence fees only
- Bank instalment plans on card payments of AED 500 or more, with each bank's processing fee
- An overdue invoice lets Meydan suspend every service to the company
- A refund, if Meydan accepts it, can carry a AED 2,000 administrative fee
Returned requests cancel themselves
Meydan's terms say an application returned to the client for pending requirements is cancelled if those requirements stay unresolved for more than 60 days. A missing attestation or a wrong photo can therefore cost the whole request. We answer every return the same week.
Meydan visa status check
The status of a pending Meydan application shows in the company's portal. For an issued visa, the official GDRFA Dubai and ICP channels show its validity from the passport number and nationality, which is also where Meydan's own status change guide sends readers. We track every open request for our clients and send each update on WhatsApp.
Visa allocation
Meydan visa quota: allocations, the flexi desk and going above six
Meydan does not size visas by square metres the way DMCC does. Its licences carry 0 to 6 visa allocations bought at AED 1,850 each, and its workspace pages tie no visa count to the flexi desk. Clause 55.2 of the regulations lets the Authority set, at its sole discretion, how many employees a company can employ.
How allocations behave
- Valid for one year, ending on the licence expiry date (Meydan terms)
- Prepaid for every year on a multi-year licence
- Not an obligation: Meydan says slots can be activated later, when you hire
- A cancellation releases the slot for the next hire
Needing more than six
- Meydan says extra allocations can be requested, and a larger quota may need a business plan
- Its visa guide adds that the operational structure and office requirements can be reviewed before approval
- No fee or approval time is published for going above six, so ask Meydan in writing before you promise a start date
On the mainland, MOHRE sets quotas: our company visa quota guide explains how.
Deadlines
Meydan Free Zone deadlines through the year
Most Meydan penalties are tied to a date, and several of those dates are set by federal law rather than by Meydan. Below are the dates a typical Meydan company has to meet, and the place each filing goes.
| Obligation | Deadline | Where it is done | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence renewal | Before the expiry date | Customer Portal | No trading; after 30 days Meydan may cancel the licence, card, contracts and visas |
| Visa allocations | With the licence renewal | Customer Portal | No slot for a renewal or a new hire |
| Immigration Card | Every year, per Meydan's investor visa guide | Customer Portal | Visa services stop until it is renewed |
| Visa and Emirates ID expiries | Before each expiry | Customer Portal, ICP | AED 50 daily overstay after the grace |
| UBO register | Within 60 days of formation; changes within 15 days | Company register; details to Meydan | Fines and possible suspension under Cabinet Resolution 53 of 2021 |
| Changes to the company | 10 or 15 business days | Customer Portal | Fine set by the Authority (clause 54.2) |
| Audited financial statements | Within 30 days of Meydan's request | Customer Portal | Compliance action; a Qualifying Free Zone Person needs them anyway |
| Corporate tax return | Nine months from the end of the tax period | EmaraTax | AED 500 per month late, rising to AED 1,000 from the 13th month |
| Records | Kept at least 7 years | Company files | Breach of clause 18.1 |
Corporate tax for a Meydan company
Meydan is not on the FTA's list of VAT designated zones, and its tax guide notes that a Qualifying Free Zone Person must prepare audited financial statements regardless of revenue. Missing the corporate tax registration deadline can cost AED 10,000: read our free zone corporate tax guide, and for beneficial owners the UBO register guide.
If the licence lapses
A lapsed Meydan licence, step by step
No trading from the expiry date
Meydan's renewal guide is direct: invoicing, new contracts and onboarding clients on an expired licence carry legal and commercial risk.
Visas stall
Visa renewals, Emirates ID steps and insurance changes depend on an active licence, so every one of them waits for the renewal.
Day 31: Non-Renewal
Meydan may cancel the Business License and every related service, including the Immigration Card, employment contracts and visas.
Tax keeps running
Meydan notes that corporate tax and VAT duties continue while a licence is lapsed, and unpaid fees or fines are a ground for cancellation under clause 14.2.
Staff visas due while the licence is expired cannot move until it is renewed, so we plan the two together and price the case in writing after reading the invoices in your portal.
One table
Every Meydan service in one table: steps, fees, timing
| Service | Meydan's part | Immigration part | Meydan fee, AED | Time Meydan gives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licence renewal | Declaration and e-licence | None | From 12,500 | Not published |
| Immigration Card | Company immigration file | Dubai immigration record | 2,000 | Not published |
| Visa allocation | Slot for one person | None | 1,850 | With the request |
| New employment visa | Application and contract | Entry permit or status change, residence, Emirates ID | From 3,500 | 5 to 7 working days |
| Investor or partner visa | Application | As above | About 4,000 | 5 to 7 working days |
| Visa renewal | Renewal request | Renewed residence and Emirates ID | Portal | Not published |
| Visa cancellation | Cancellation request | Cancellation | Portal | 1 to 2 business days |
| Dependant visa | Filed in the portal | Entry permit, residence, Emirates ID | 6,000 (Meydan Plus) | Not published |
| Medical and Emirates ID | Meydan Plus booking | Dubai Health, ICP | 2,250 | Not published |
| Amendment | Formation, Amendment | None | 1,000 per extra activity | 1 business day |
| Return permit help | Meydan Plus | GDRFA or ICP permit | 850 | Not published |
Information you will not find on either zone's site
Meydan vs DMCC: what is different for PRO work
Both are Dubai free zones issuing Dubai residence visas, but the paperwork behind them works differently. If you run companies in both, these are the differences that change how a file is prepared.
| Topic | Meydan Free Zone | DMCC |
|---|---|---|
| Portal | Customer Portal; logins not shared unless Meydan permits it in writing | Member Portal with Admin, Approver, Entry and Reviewer roles |
| Visa quota | 0 to 6 allocations at AED 1,850 each a year | Set by workspace: 1 visa per 9 m², up to 3 on a flexi desk |
| Establishment card | "Immigration Card", AED 2,000 | Establishment card, AED 1,800 a year on our price list |
| Employee letters | Mostly on the company's letterhead | Issued by DMCC, AED 165 per salary certificate |
| Staff ID cards | None published | Permanent Identity Card and access approvals |
| Late licence | No published fee; Non-Renewal after 30 days | AED 2,500 once 31 days late, AED 5,000 after 61 |
Running a DMCC company as well? Every DMCC filing is covered on our DMCC PRO services page. Running an Expo City Dubai company too? See our Expo City Dubai free zone PRO services.
Where Meydan is
Meydan Free Zone office, customer service and the business centre
Meydan Free Zone's office is on the 6th floor of the Meydan Grandstand, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai, at Meydan Racecourse. The Emirates Racing Authority lists the racecourse as opened in 2010 and as the venue of the Dubai World Cup meeting. Most services never need a visit.
Official channels
800 FZ1 (391) inside the UAE and +971 4 777 7222 from abroad, setup@meydanfz.ae for new companies, and cx@meydanfz.ae to verify a message. Meydan lists its availability as 24/7, 365 days a year.
Spotting a fake
Meydan says its only website is www.meydanfz.ae and that it never asks for passwords, one-time codes or banking credentials, or for payment through unverified links. Treat renewal or visa "invoices" from look-alike domains with suspicion.
Meydan Business Centre
The flexi desk comes with the licence. Upgrades are a dedicated desk at AED 3,500 a month, a shared office at AED 15,000 a year or a dedicated office at AED 30,000 a year. Meeting rooms are booked in the portal; cancelling less than 48 hours ahead costs the full booking.
Visiting in person? Check the racing fixtures first: the grandstand hosts race meetings through the season, and parking and traffic around it change on race evenings.
How it runs
From your message to Meydan's document
- 1
Tell us the deadline
Your company name and the Meydan service due, or a portal screenshot of upcoming expiries, is all we need.
- 2
A written quote
We set out Meydan's portal charges, our own fee and the expected dates before you pay a dirham.
- 3
Our paperwork, your submission
Once you authorise us in writing, we prepare each form; you send it from your Customer Portal and pay Meydan yourself.
- 4
Seen through
We book medicals and fingerprints, deal with any return and send the e-visa, licence or letter to your WhatsApp.
Plan or per service
Is a monthly plan worth it for a Meydan company?
Add up a typical Meydan year. Four employees on two-year visas bring the licence renewal, the Immigration Card, about two visa renewals, possibly a hire and a departure, plus some letters.
Per-service billing
With six visas or fewer this is normally the cheaper route. That example comes to around AED 2,850 a year with us: Immigration Card AED 400, two renewals AED 1,200, one new visa AED 750 and one cancellation AED 500, with the licence renewal quoted separately.
Monthly retainer
Pays off when Meydan work arrives every month, or when you want a named PRO watching every expiry on WhatsApp. Plans start at AED 799 a month on Starter (up to five staff and six transactions monthly), then AED 1,499 for Growth and AED 2,499 for Business; a year paid upfront costs ten months.
Tier-by-tier inclusions and the definition of a transaction: corporate PRO plans.
Lessons from Meydan files
Avoidable Meydan delays
Treating the 30 days as cover
Trading through the window after expiry, then finding the licence, card and visas exposed to cancellation.
Dropping a slot at renewal
Saving AED 1,850 on an allocation, then needing it for a renewal two months later.
Forgetting the Immigration Card
Renewing the licence but not the card, so the next visa request cannot be filed.
Following a mainland checklist
Looking for a MOHRE work permit or labour card a Meydan employee will never have.
Letting a return sit
Ignoring a returned request until Meydan's 60-day rule cancels it.
A salary letter that does not match
A certificate whose salary or title differs from the visa, so the family visa or bank application comes back.
Late change notices
A new manager or shareholder filed weeks after the 10 or 15 business days the regulations allow.
Sharing the login
Handing the portal password to an agent, which Meydan's terms do not allow without its written permission.
Our fee
Our fees for Meydan Free Zone work
Our Meydan charges are fixed and include 5% VAT; they differ from the mainland amounts on our price list. You pay Meydan's own fees in your Customer Portal at Meydan's rates, without any addition from us.
Standard charges
| What we do | AED |
|---|---|
| First visa for an employee, investor or partner entry permit or in-country status change, through to residence | 750 |
| Visa renewal for a Meydan employee | 600 |
| Visa cancellation for a Meydan employee | 500 |
| Immigration Card, issue or renewal | 400 |
| Emirates ID by itself | 150 |
| Urgent handling added per application | 250 |
Plan clients receive 25% off. We are paid when work begins; Meydan is paid as each request is filed.
Quoted per case
Price in writing before payment
We price Meydan licence renewals, amendments, dependant visas, letters, Arabic salary certificates, company documents, extra allocations and compliance work for each company on WhatsApp; a lapsed licence or Non-Renewal case is priced after we see the portal.
WhatsApp us for a Meydan quoteQuestions
Meydan Free Zone questions, answered
What Meydan company owners most often ask us, with sources. Something else on your mind? Ask us.
Ask on WhatsAppWhich filings fall under Meydan Free Zone PRO services?
They are the filings a Meydan company keeps up after setup: licence renewal, the yearly Immigration Card, visa allocations, employee, investor, partner and dependant visas from entry permit to cancellation, Emirates ID, salary certificates and NOCs, company documents, amendments and the compliance dates. Nearly all of it runs through Meydan's Customer Portal, with GDRFA Dubai issuing residence visas and ICP the Emirates IDs.
Do you need my Meydan portal password?
No, and you should not share it. Meydan's terms keep portal IDs and passwords confidential unless Meydan agrees in writing, and Meydan says it never asks for passwords or one-time codes. We prepare the forms and documents, you submit and pay Meydan, and we follow the request. Everything is done on your written authorisation.
What are the steps to renew a Meydan licence?
File the renewal declaration in the Customer Portal before the expiry date on the licence. Clear any overdue invoices first, review the activities and the visa allocations you want to keep, confirm the workspace, then pay and download the renewed Business License. The owner can be abroad, because the whole renewal is done online.
How much does Meydan licence renewal cost?
Meydan publishes no separate renewal price. Its regular licence with a flexi desk starts at AED 12,500, each activity outside the three included groups costs AED 1,000, each visa allocation you keep is AED 1,850 for the year, and multi-year terms take up to 15% off the licence line. The exact invoice appears in your portal.
What happens if I miss the Meydan licence renewal date?
From the expiry date the licence is not valid for trading, and Meydan says late charges may apply. Its terms treat a licence not renewed 30 days after expiry as Non-Renewal, after which Meydan may cancel the licence and every related service, including the Immigration Card, employment contracts and visas. Renew before the date on the licence.
What is the Meydan Immigration Card and how much is it?
It is Meydan's name for the establishment card: the company's immigration file, needed before any visa is issued. Meydan lists it at AED 2,000. Its investor visa guide says it is valid for one year and renewed annually, while its home page calls it one-time, so plan a yearly renewal and check the expiry in your portal.
How much is a Meydan Free Zone employment visa?
Meydan publishes the employment visa from AED 3,500, plus AED 1,850 for the visa allocation. Medical and Emirates ID through Meydan Plus are AED 2,250 and Category A insurance AED 1,680, so one hire on Meydan's own lines is about AED 9,280, plus AED 2,000 if the company's Immigration Card is not yet issued. Our fee is AED 750.
How long does a Meydan visa take?
Meydan's investor visa guide says full processing typically takes 5 to 7 working days once documents are submitted. The employee has to be in the UAE for the medical test and the Emirates ID biometrics, and an attested degree or a missing document can add time. Cancellations take 1 to 2 business days, by Meydan's figure.
Who can get a Meydan investor or partner visa?
A shareholder who has invested AED 50,000 or more in share capital, according to Meydan's FAQ. The sole shareholder applies for an Investor visa; a shareholder in a company with others applies for a Partner visa. Meydan lists the visa at about AED 4,000, plus the allocation and the Immigration Card.
How do I renew a Meydan employment visa?
Start before the visa expires, with the licence, Immigration Card and the person's allocation all valid. The request goes through the Customer Portal with the passport, photo, current visa and insurance, followed by a new medical test and the Emirates ID renewal. Meydan publishes no separate renewal fee, so the amount shows in the portal at submission.
What is the process to cancel a Meydan employment visa?
Settle the final salary, gratuity and leave first, cancel any dependants the employee sponsors, then file the cancellation in Meydan's portal. Meydan says it takes 1 to 2 business days once the papers are complete. The Emirates ID is withdrawn with the visa and the allocation is released for the next hire. Our fee is AED 500.
How long is the grace period after a Meydan cancellation?
Meydan's cancellation guide gives typically 30 days, which is the Dubai standard; some visa categories receive 60, 90 or 180 days, and the cancellation document states the exact period once processed. Each day beyond it carries an AED 50 overstay fine; see our grace period guide.
Is a MOHRE work permit or labour card needed for Meydan staff?
No. Meydan says its companies need no MOHRE registration or separate work permit before visas, because Meydan Free Zone sponsors the employee and GDRFA Dubai issues the residence visa. The UAE Labour Law, Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, still governs pay, notice and end of service benefits.
Does Meydan issue employee ID or access cards?
Meydan publishes no staff ID card, access card or permanent identity card scheme. The cards behind a Meydan employee are the company's Immigration Card, the residence visa from GDRFA Dubai and the Emirates ID from ICP. Meydan's digital business card is a marketing product, not an ID.
Who issues a salary certificate for a Meydan employee?
Usually the company itself, on its letterhead with its licence number, signed by an authorised signatory and stamped, which is how Meydan describes employee letters. For an Arabic salary certificate the figures, title and name must match the visa, and a legal translation is added where an authority asks for one. Letters about the licence come from Meydan.
How many visas can a Meydan company get?
Meydan's licences carry 0 to 6 visa allocations at AED 1,850 each, valid until the licence expiry date. More can be requested, and Meydan says a larger quota may need a business plan and a review of the office set-up. No fee or approval time is published above six, and the regulations leave the number to the Authority's discretion.
Can my Meydan company sponsor my family?
Yes. A Meydan investor, partner or employee with a residence visa can sponsor a spouse and children under GDRFA's family rules, and Meydan says dependants are filed through its portal. Meydan Plus lists dependant visa processing at AED 6,000 per person. The family visa ends when the sponsor's visa is cancelled, so plan it first.
How do I add an activity or change a shareholder in Meydan?
File it in the Customer Portal under Formation, Amendment. Meydan says approval comes within one business day, after which it issues an amended MoA and licence. Each activity outside your three groups costs AED 1,000. The regulations require notice of a share transfer within 15 business days and of a new director or manager within 10.
How do I check my Meydan visa status?
A pending application shows in your company's Meydan portal. For an issued visa, use the official GDRFA Dubai or ICP channels with the passport number and nationality, which is where Meydan's own guide points. Our clients get every status update on WhatsApp as we track the request.
Where is the Meydan Free Zone office and how do I contact it?
On the 6th floor of the Meydan Grandstand, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai. Meydan lists 800 FZ1 (391) inside the UAE, +971 4 777 7222 from abroad and setup@meydanfz.ae, and cx@meydanfz.ae for verifying a suspicious message. Its only official website is www.meydanfz.ae.
Is Meydan different from DMCC for PRO work?
Yes. Meydan sells visa allocations, up to six at AED 1,850 each, where DMCC sets visas by office size. Meydan's establishment card is the AED 2,000 Immigration Card, employee letters mostly come on the company's letterhead, and it publishes no staff ID cards. Our DMCC PRO services page covers DMCC filings.
What compliance deadlines apply to a Meydan company?
Renew the licence before expiry, keep the UBO register within 60 days of formation and update it within 15 days of a change, notify Meydan of most company changes within 15 business days, and supply audited accounts within 30 days of a request. Corporate tax returns are due within nine months of the year end, and records are kept seven years.
How much does MIRDXB PRO charge for Meydan work?
VAT included: a new visa is AED 750, a renewal AED 600, a cancellation AED 500, the Immigration Card AED 400, a standalone Emirates ID AED 150, and urgent handling adds AED 250. Licence renewal, amendments, letters and documents receive a fixed WhatsApp quote before payment, and Meydan's own charges are paid at its rates.
How this page was checked
We checked each Meydan rule and fee against Meydan Free Zone's own pages, terms and regulations on 30 October 2026. Mir Ali, who founded MIRDXB PRO and has handled more than 100 files himself over three years, reviewed the result. Dated Meydan pages show their date beside the fact or in the list below, and where two Meydan pages conflict we quote both. Meydan may change fees at any time; the portal amount at submission is what applies. Read our editorial standards.
- Meydan Free Zone: home page visa and licence lines
- Meydan Free Zone: FAQs
- Meydan Free Zone: terms and conditions
- Meydan Free Zone Companies and Licensing Regulations 2022
- Meydan Free Zone: rules, UBO and resolution templates
- Meydan: investor visa guide (29 July 2026)
- Meydan: setup cost breakdown (30 June 2026)
- Meydan: renewal cost (19 October 2026)
- Meydan: renewal deadlines and grace (19 October 2026)
- Meydan: employment visa cancellation (1 July 2026)
- Meydan: visas in a licence cancellation (19 October 2026)
- Meydan: e-channel and immigration profile (28 September 2026)
- Meydan: number of visas and allocations (29 July 2026)
- Meydan: MoA amendments (24 September 2026)
- Meydan: trade name change (21 July 2026)
- Meydan: experience certificates (16 October 2026)
- Meydan: passport and Emirates ID updates (13 October 2026)
- Meydan: corporate tax requirements (29 July 2026)
- Meydan: no employer NOC for licensing
- Meydan Plus: mResidency
- Meydan Plus: mAssist
- Meydan: channel partner terms (portal and services)
- Meydan Free Zone: contact and address
- Meydan Free Zone: phishing and verification
- Dubai Law No. 7 of 2024 amending Law No. 5 of 2009
- Emirates Racing Authority: Meydan Racecourse
- FTA guidance: corporate tax returns due in nine months
Stay ahead of every Meydan expiry
Message us the company and the deadline coming up. One written quote covers Meydan's charges, our fee and the dates.
Knowledge Hub
Read before you apply
Part 7 of 50 · UAE Free Zones
Meydan Free Zone Company Setup 2026: Law, Licences, Published Costs, Visas and Who It Suits
Meydan Free Zone company setup 2026: Law 5/2009, regular vs Fawri licence, every published cost line, visa allocation, tax and…
37 min read
Part 9 of 11 · Golden & Investor Visas
Investor, Partner, Manager or Employee Visa in the UAE (2026): Who Needs a MOHRE Work Permit and Labour Contract, and What Residence Stamping Requires
Investor, partner, manager or employee visa in the UAE: who needs a MOHRE work permit and contract, free zone rules,…
40 min read
Start here · UAE Free Zones
Free Zones in UAE 2026: Complete Guide to All 43 Free Zones by Emirate
Free zones in UAE 2026: all 43 zones by emirate with published prices, visa rules, VAT status and mainland access.…
44 min readAlso useful for Meydan companies
- Corporate PRO PlansA single monthly fee for Meydan renewals, visas and letters, from AED 799.
- DMCC PRO ServicesEstablishment cards, PIC cards, Member Portal filings and letters for DMCC companies.
- Free Zone Visa ServicesAllocations, per-visa costs and the rules that change from one Dubai zone to another.
- Expo City Dubai Free Zone PRO ServicesCompany Card, ECD IDs and ECDA letters for Expo City companies.