DMCC or Meydan Free Zone
Compare DMCC's trading and commodities community with Meydan Free Zone's cost-sensitive professional and trading licences. Both are in Dubai, so the decision rests on activity fit, facilities and like-for-like package scope.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
DMCC and Meydan Free Zone both show starting figures, but they cover different scopes, so neither is the cheaper route on this evidence. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | DMCCFree zone | Meydan Free ZoneFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | DMCC AED 43,780 12 months · published package | Meydan Free Zone AED 19,870 12 months · calculator output |
| Lowest package price | DMCC AED 35,484 12 months · published package | Meydan Free Zone AED 12,520 12 months · calculator output |
| Licence issued in | DMCC 2 weeks Company setup is described as usually taking about two weeks. | Meydan Free Zone 24 hours Regular: typically within 24 hours, conditional |
| Residency visa in | DMCC 0–20 business days The employee visa guide allows up to 20 working days. Fastest | Meydan Free Zone 5–7 business days Visa processing typically takes five to seven working days after company incorporation. |
| Renewal price | DMCC AED 20,265 Trading or service licence renewal for one year is AED 20,265. | Meydan Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | DMCC Trading, Service, Industrial | Meydan Free Zone Commercial, Professional |
| Facility options | DMCC Flexi desk, Office, Retail | Meydan Free Zone Flexi desk, Office |
| Visa options | DMCC Not published: Not published | Meydan Free Zone Employment visas, priced in the official calculator for zero to two visas 1 moreShow less
|
| Remote paperwork | DMCC No | Meydan Free Zone Yes |
| Activity guides catalogued | DMCC Not published: Not published | Meydan Free Zone Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore DMCC | Start with Meydan Free Zone |
Check before choosing
Meydan Free Zone
- Warehouse, land or industrial operations that need physical premises
- Companies with several owners that want the Fawri route, which needs one person in every role
Ask an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Which suits a commodities or trading house?
DMCC's specialism is commodities and trading houses, with offices in its JLT district. Meydan covers general trading and professional licences. Check that your exact activity is listed in either catalogue.
How are the prices compared?
Only package prices at the same visa count and term are ranked against each other. A calculator output, a licence-only estimate or a product flagged as not like for like is shown in the table but never used to name a cheaper side.
Which costs less on published figures, DMCC or Meydan Free Zone?
DMCC and Meydan Free Zone both show starting figures, but they cover different scopes, so neither is the cheaper route on this evidence. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.