WhatsApp quoteBoth Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA offer 100% foreign ownership and UAE residence visas; the differences lie in price, reputation, office options and activity lists. If you are torn between Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA, use the table and verdicts below, then message GoldenKey for a recommendation specific to your activity. Choosing between Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA comes down to cost, location, activity fit and how many visas you need, and this page compares all four side by side.
Meydan Free Zone vs JAFZA at a glance
| Feature | Meydan Free Zone | JAFZA |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction type | Free Zone | Free Zone |
| Licence from | AED 11,250 | on request |
| Renewal fee | on request | on request |
| Extra visa cost | on request | on request |
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% |
| Trade with UAE mainland | Via distributor / dual licence | Via distributor / dual licence |
| Residence visas | Yes, per package | Yes, per package |
| Typical processing | 5 working days | 10 working days |
| Office options | Virtual Office, Flexi-desk or Office Suite | Office Suite, Showroom or Warehouse |
| Best known for | dubai address, multi-activity licence (up to 5 activities) and 100% foreign ownership | world's largest port-adjacent free zone, strongest brand for enterprise clients and global supply chain access |
Our verdict
Choose Meydan Free Zone if
you value dubai address and multi-activity licence (up to 5 activities) and your activity sits in consultancy and trading, where Meydan Free Zone has the stronger track record.
Choose JAFZA if
you value world's largest port-adjacent free zone and strongest brand for enterprise clients and your activity sits in import/export and logistics, where JAFZA has the stronger track record.
About Meydan Free Zone
Meydan Free Zone is a free zone jurisdiction located at Meydan, Dubai — 10 minutes from DIFC and Downtown Dubai. Its strengths are dubai address, multi-activity licence (up to 5 activities), 100% foreign ownership and no paid-up capital, and the activities it is best known for include consultancy, trading, technology and marketing. A standard file is processed in around 5 working days.
About JAFZA
JAFZA is a free zone jurisdiction located at Jebel Ali Port area, Dubai — adjacent to Jebel Ali Port (world's 9th busiest). It is chosen for world's largest port-adjacent free zone, strongest brand for enterprise clients, global supply chain access and premium banking, with popular activities including import/export, logistics, manufacturing and commodities. Processing typically takes 10 working days.
Why compare with GoldenKey
Most of our Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA clients come to us through referrals from other founders, which is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing. GoldenKey is a licensed business setup consultancy, not a reseller, which means your Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA application is prepared, checked and submitted by our own team. To be clear, you deal with one named consultant from the first call until your Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally.
Call or WhatsApp GoldenKey today and an adviser will walk you through choosing between Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA step by step, with no obligation and no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan Free Zone or JAFZA?
Compare the live licence prices in the table above; the lower headline price is not always the lower total once office, visas and renewals are included. GoldenKey prepares a like-for-like total for your visa count.
Can I move from Meydan Free Zone to JAFZA later?
Yes. You can open a second company or branch in JAFZA and transfer the business, then close the Meydan Free Zone entity. We plan the sequence so visas and bank accounts are not interrupted.
Which is better for a bank account, Meydan Free Zone or JAFZA?
Banks look at the business profile more than the jurisdiction, although Dubai-registered and mainland entities are reviewed slightly faster by some banks. GoldenKey prepares the file either way.
Do both Meydan Free Zone and JAFZA allow 100% foreign ownership?
Meydan Free Zone does. JAFZA does, with no local partner required.
