Meydan Free Zone · Technology Business Setup
Set up your IT, software or technology business in Meydan Free Zone with the activity matched to the services you actually intend to sell. First Elite Global can help you plan the licence, ownership, visas, documentation and post-formation requirements before the application is submitted.
The Licence Explained
An IT services licence in Meydan Free Zone is a Dubai free-zone licensing route for a company carrying out permitted information-technology activities selected from Meydan's current business-activity schedule.
The important point is that "IT services" is not one universal activity. Software development, integrated systems consultancy, IT infrastructure management, hosting and other technology services sit under different activity codes.
Your application should therefore start with what the business will actually sell rather than choosing the broadest-sounding licence description.
IT Activity Selection
Meydan currently distinguishes several core IT activities. The descriptions overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Selecting the closest activity to your revenue-generating services makes the licence easier to explain to clients, banks and other counterparties.
A broad technology activity covering programming together with computer consultancy and related professional technology work. It can be relevant where the company genuinely combines development with systems or technology consultancy.
Relevant to businesses writing, modifying, testing and supporting software, including applications, databases, web pages, updates, patches and software customisation.
Designed around computer consultancy, integrated-system planning and computer-facilities management rather than standalone software development alone.
A residual IT-services activity for qualifying technology work that does not fit appropriately within programming or consultancy classifications. The actual service scope should be checked carefully before relying on this code.
Related Digital Activities
Hosting, data processing, web portals and marketing should not automatically be treated as programming or IT consultancy. Build the licence around the complete commercial model.
A broader activity covering data processing, hosting and related services together with web-portal activity.
A closer fit where the commercial service centres on hosting or data processing rather than operating a portal.
Relevant to qualifying portal operations rather than ordinary client website-development work.
Coding client websites, applications and databases can fall within computer-programming activities depending on the actual scope.
Meydan lists specific security and technology activities. Specialist or regulated work should be checked against the exact activity rather than assumed to fit a general IT description.
Advertising, SEO, social-media management and marketing consultancy should be licensed around their own applicable activities when they form part of the business.
See the Meydan digital marketing route →Meydan IT Licence Cost
This is an authority-published starting price rather than a guaranteed total setup cost. Packages and authority charges can change.
The useful number is the complete first-year setup rather than the licence headline in isolation. Your total can change according to the structure and services required.
Regular and eligible fast-track routes have different pricing and conditions.
The number and grouping of technology activities can affect the licence scope.
Individual and multi-shareholder structures can affect the appropriate route and documents.
Founder and employee residence requirements add immigration-related costs.
Your operational and visa requirements should be checked against the relevant package or facility arrangement.
Banking preparation, tax, PRO, bookkeeping and other services should be priced separately.
Formation Process
The authority application is only one part of the process. A stronger setup settles the activity, ownership, visas and operating model before documents are filed.
List the actual services you will invoice customers for, such as software development, systems consultancy, hosting or IT management.
Compare that service scope against Meydan's current ICT activity schedule and identify any additional or separate activities.
Settle shareholders, management, expected visas and the suitable licence route before preparing the application.
Gather passport information, trade-name choices, activity information and any additional compliance or corporate-shareholder documentation.
Complete the authority application, respond to any checks and progress the setup through the applicable licence and incorporation stages.
Move into immigration, residency, banking preparation, Corporate Tax and other operational requirements relevant to the company.
Prepare Before Filing
Exact requirements depend on the shareholders, activity and application. Preparing the commercial information alongside the identity documents makes the activity review more useful.
Operational Fit
A technology company needs a structure that remains coherent when customers, banks and authorities look at how the business actually operates.
The licensed activity should make sense alongside the technology services described in proposals, contracts and invoices.
Be prepared to explain customers, countries, payment flows, source of funds and the commercial evidence behind a new technology company.
Founder and employee immigration requirements should be considered while selecting the company package rather than after licensing.
If you expect to add marketing, hosting, cybersecurity, trading or other services, check whether the licence should accommodate them now or later.
Compare the Jurisdiction
Meydan is one option, not the automatic answer for every technology company. Compare the operating model before choosing the jurisdiction.
After Formation
Receiving a Meydan licence does not automatically complete the company's immigration, banking or tax obligations.
Banks conduct their own KYC and commercial review. A licence is necessary, but it does not guarantee account approval.
Corporate banking support →Residence requirements depend on the company, applicant and immigration route. Medical, biometrics and Emirates ID stages follow where applicable.
Free-zone incorporation does not itself create a blanket 0% Corporate Tax outcome. Specific treatment can apply to a Qualifying Free Zone Person and Qualifying Income where the legal conditions are satisfied.
Corporate Tax support →First Elite Global
The objective is not merely to obtain a licence. It is to create a structure that fits the technology services, ownership, visas, banking requirements and operational plan that come after incorporation.
Translate the intended services into a practical licence-activity shortlist.
Check Meydan against relevant mainland and specialist free-zone routes.
Organise shareholder information, company details and authority-facing steps.
Coordinate applicable residence and post-licence administration.
Prepare the company profile and supporting information for bank review.
Connect the setup with relevant tax, bookkeeping and ongoing business support.
Client Feedback
Setting up my business in the UAE was seamless with First Elite Global. Their expert team handled everything efficiently, from legal structure selection to paperwork.
Fashion Design Company CEO
They provided clear guidance and managed everything from registration to banking. Professional and timely service.
Travel Agency CEO
Common Questions
The appropriate activity depends on what your company will actually do. Meydan currently lists separate activities for computer programming, computer consultancy and facilities management, other IT services, hosting, data processing and web portals. Define the services first, then select the activity that matches them.
Meydan currently lists Computer Programming Activities under code 6201.00. This covers activities including writing, modifying, testing and supporting software, applications, databases and web pages, subject to the authority's current activity wording and requirements.
6201.00 centres on programming and software work. 6202.00 centres on computer consultancy and computer-facilities management, including integrated systems planning and management. A business combining several technology services should review whether a broader or additional activity is more appropriate.
Do not assume that an IT activity automatically includes advertising, SEO, social-media management or marketing consultancy. If those services form part of the business, the relevant marketing activities should be checked and added where appropriate.
Meydan currently advertises its Regular licence from AED 12,500. The complete setup can cost more depending on activities, shareholders, visas, immigration requirements and additional services. Current authority pricing should be confirmed before applying.
Meydan uses a digital-first company-formation process and eligible licensing steps can be completed remotely. Later immigration, biometrics, residency or bank-verification stages may involve additional requirements depending on your case.
Neither is automatically better. Meydan provides a broad free-zone activity catalogue and digital-first formation route. Dubai Internet City is a specialised technology business district with a stronger sector-specific ecosystem and workspace component. The better route depends on your activity, team, premises, visas, customers and priorities.
Compare how the company needs to operate. A mainland structure may be preferable where the commercial model calls for a direct onshore Dubai presence. Meydan can be attractive for founders whose permitted activities and operational requirements fit its free-zone structure.
No. Free-zone incorporation alone does not create an automatic blanket 0% Corporate Tax entitlement. Specific treatment can apply to a Qualifying Free Zone Person and Qualifying Income when all applicable conditions are met.
No. First Elite Global can support banking readiness, documentation and agreed application steps, but each bank independently assesses the company, shareholders, activity, expected transactions and compliance profile and makes its own decision.
Plan the Activity First
Tell us what your technology business will actually provide, who the shareholders are, where your customers will be based and whether you need UAE visas. We can then review the suitable activity and formation route.
