On headline price Meydan is usually the lowest, from AED 12,500 with a flexi-desk included, and IFZA is package based. DMCC costs more. The honest all-in figure depends on your visas and office, which we price for each before you choose.
Licensing
IFZA vs DMCC vs Meydan vs Mainland: the 2026 comparison
Which Dubai free zone or the mainland fits your business, side by side.
Fixed price quoted up front
Mainland and every free zone
Licence, visas, banking, one team
Most licences in days, not weeks
IFZA vs DMCC vs Meydan is the choice most founders weigh when deciding where in Dubai to license. All three are free zones with 100% foreign ownership; they differ on cost, on the office they expect, on how remote the setup is, and on the company each suits. The Dubai mainland is the fourth option when your customers are inside the UAE.
The table below sets them side by side on the points that decide it. Every figure is the zone's own published number as of September 2026; packages change, so we confirm the current price and quote a fixed, itemised total before you commit.
The basics
How do you choose between them?
Start with where your customers are. If you sell to UAE government or mainland businesses, a Dubai mainland licence trades directly; a free zone reaches the mainland through a distributor or a branch. If you sell internationally, online, or business to business abroad, a free zone is usually the cleaner and cheaper base.
Then weigh cost against fit. Meydan bundles a flexi-desk into a low headline price and runs fully online, which suits e-commerce and services founders setting up from abroad. IFZA is a flexible, package-based Dubai Silicon Oasis zone that also sets up remotely. DMCC costs more but carries the strongest recognition with banks and counterparties, which matters for trading and larger firms.
Why it works
What are the benefits of a ifza vs dmcc vs meydan?
Meydan, lowest friction
A flexi-desk is included from a low headline price, the whole process is online, and one licence can carry three activity groups. Strong for e-commerce and services.
IFZA, flexible and remote
A package-based Dubai Silicon Oasis zone that lets overseas founders incorporate without being in the UAE, with flexi-desk and virtual office options.
DMCC, the blue-chip name
The costliest of the three, but the most recognised: built around commodities trading, home of the Dubai Diamond Exchange, and well regarded by tier-one banks.
Mainland, for UAE customers
A Department of Economy and Tourism licence trades directly across the UAE and bids for government work, in exchange for a physical office with Ejari.
Compare
IFZA vs DMCC vs Meydan vs mainland
Side by side on the points that decide it. Figures are each authority's own published numbers as of September 2026 and change over time; we confirm the current price for your case.
| Factor | IFZA | DMCC | Meydan | Mainland (DED) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Free zone | Free zone | Free zone | Onshore |
| Authority | IFZA, Dubai Silicon Oasis | DMCC, Jumeirah Lake Towers | Meydan Free Zone | Department of Economy and Tourism |
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% | 100% | Up to 100% on most activities |
| Selling to UAE mainland | Via distributor or branch | Via distributor or branch | Via distributor or branch | Direct, no restriction |
| Office | Flexi-desk or virtual office | Flexi-desk up to fitted office | Flexi-desk included | Physical office with Ejari |
| Remote setup | Yes, no UAE visit needed | Largely online | Fully online | Usually in person or by POA |
| Published starting price | Package based, confirm current | From AED 35,484 (Basic Biz) | From AED 12,500, desk included | From about AED 12,000 |
| Best for | Consultancy, services, remote founders | Trading, commodities, larger firms | E-commerce, services, low-cost start | Companies selling inside the UAE |
DMCC and Meydan prices are the authorities' published figures as of September 2026; IFZA prices are quoted per package. All change over time, so we confirm the current figure and quote a fixed, itemised total.
Cost
How much does a ifza vs dmcc vs meydan cost in Dubai?
There is no single price across the four: each depends on the licence, the activities, the visas and the office. On the authorities' own published figures as of September 2026, Meydan starts from AED 12,500 with a flexi-desk included, the Dubai mainland from about AED 12,000, and DMCC from AED 35,484 on its Basic Biz package, while IFZA is quoted per package rather than a single headline number.
We compare the real all-in cost of the ones that fit your business, including the government fees each itemises separately, the visa quota you actually need and the office, and give you a fixed, itemised quote rather than a headline number that quietly grows at renewal.
What makes up the cost
- The figures in the table are the authorities' own published starting points as of September 2026, not our fee.
- Prices change over time, so we confirm the current figure for your activity and visa count before you commit.
- Government fees are itemised on top of the licence and shown in full in your quote.
Paperwork
What documents are required?
- Passport copy for each shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photograph for each visa applicant
- Proposed company name and the chosen business activities
- Proof of address for the shareholders, such as a recent utility bill
- For a corporate shareholder, the attested parent company documents
- The mainland option additionally needs an Ejari tenancy for the office
The process
How do you get a ifza vs dmcc vs meydan?
01
Shortlist the zone or the mainland
We weigh IFZA, DMCC, Meydan and the mainland against where your customers are, your budget and your visa count, and recommend the one that fits with a fixed quote for each.
02
Reserve the name and activities
We reserve your trade name and select the activities from the chosen authority's list, confirming any that need a special approval before you pay.
03
Submit and get the licence
We file with the chosen authority and, once the documents are in order, the licence is issued, on the free zone timeline or through the Department of Economy and Tourism for the mainland.
04
Visas, Emirates ID and bank account
We process the residence visas and Emirates ID, then prepare and introduce the corporate bank account file so the company is fully operational.
Why Layerz
One team, fixed pricing, no surprises
We advise on the structure that fits your activity and customers rather than the package that is easiest to sell. You get a fixed quote with government fees itemised separately, a dedicated advisor from first call to licence, and the same team afterwards for visas, banking, accounting and renewals.
Get a free consultation Faq
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on cost, ownership, documents and timelines.
Ask us anything Ask us anything-
1. Which is cheapest, IFZA, DMCC or Meydan?
-
2. Which free zone is best for a trading company?
DMCC. It was built around commodities trading, houses the Dubai Diamond Exchange, and its licence is well recognised by banks and counterparties, which helps with account opening and larger deals. -
3. Which is best for an e-commerce or services business?
Meydan and IFZA both suit e-commerce and services. Meydan is fully online with a desk bundled in, and IFZA is a flexible Dubai Silicon Oasis zone that also sets up remotely. We match the one that fits your activity and visa count. -
4. Can I set up any of these without coming to the UAE?
IFZA and Meydan both support remote setup with no need to be in the country, and DMCC is largely online. A mainland company usually needs you in person or a power of attorney. We handle the paperwork either way. -
5. Free zone or mainland, which should I pick?
If your customers are inside the UAE or you want government work, mainland trades directly. If you sell internationally or online, a free zone gives full ownership at a lower entry cost. The right answer follows your customers, not the headline price.
Sources
- DMCC, business setup packages dmcc.ae
- Meydan Free Zone, official site meydanfz.ae
- IFZA, official site ifza.com
- UAE Government, free zones u.ae
Enquire about your ifza vs dmcc vs meydan
Tell us what you are planning and we will reply with the right structure and a fixed quote.