WhatsApp quoteIn short, both Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ offer 100% foreign ownership and UAE residence visas; the differences lie in price, reputation, office options and activity lists. Choosing between Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ comes down to cost, location, activity fit and how many visas you need, and this page compares all four side by side. GoldenKey registers companies in both Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ, so this comparison reflects real files rather than brochure claims.
Meydan Free Zone vs RAKEZ at a glance
| Feature | Meydan Free Zone | RAKEZ |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction type | Free Zone | Free Zone |
| Licence from | AED 11,250 | AED 7,500 |
| Renewal fee | on request | AED 6,500 |
| Extra visa cost | on request | AED 2,500 |
| 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 | 5 working days |
| Office options | Virtual Office, Flexi-desk or Office Suite | Flexi-desk, Office Suite or Warehouse |
| Best known for | dubai address, multi-activity licence (up to 5 activities) and 100% foreign ownership | competitive pricing, industrial land available and academic zone |
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 RAKEZ if
you value competitive pricing and industrial land available and your activity sits in trading and industrial, where RAKEZ 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 RAKEZ
RAKEZ is a free zone jurisdiction located at Ras Al Khaimah emirate — 45 minutes from Dubai via Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It is chosen for competitive pricing, industrial land available, academic zone and 100% foreign ownership, with popular activities including trading, industrial, consultancy and services. Processing typically takes 5 working days.
Why compare with GoldenKey
If a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the application sit. GoldenKey is a licensed business setup consultancy, not a reseller, which means your Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ application is prepared, checked and submitted by our own team. Most of our Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ clients come to us through referrals from other founders, and that is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing.
Book a call with GoldenKey and we will confirm your eligibility, your costs and your next steps for choosing between Meydan Free Zone and RAKEZ in a single conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Meydan Free Zone or RAKEZ?
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 RAKEZ later?
Yes. You can open a second company or branch in RAKEZ 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 RAKEZ?
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 RAKEZ allow 100% foreign ownership?
Meydan Free Zone does. RAKEZ does, with no local partner required.
