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Expo City Dubai vs Meydan Free Zone: Which Should You Choose?

Both start at about AED 12,500. Compare visas, workspace, speed and the businesses each free zone suits.

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Meydan Free Zone and Expo City Dubai both start at about AED 12,500, but they are built differently. Meydan is a fully digital, desk-light licence with a prestige address near Downtown. Expo City Dubai bundles visa allocations and real workspace into its packages, and offers a freelance permit with a visa included.

Expo City Dubai vs Meydan at a glance

Expo City Dubai Free ZoneMeydan Free Zone
LocationExpo City Dubai, the former Expo 2020 siteMeydan, Nad Al Sheba, near Downtown Dubai
Entry company licenceAED 12,520 a year (Business Hub Package 1)AED 12,500 (flexi desk included, up to 3 activity groups)
Fast-track optionWritten timeline with your quoteFawri instant licence, AED 15,000, issued in under 60 minutes
Visas4 on Business Hub Package 2; 6 free allocations on the Standard 6 Visa Package; then AED 3,200 (outside UAE) or 4,500 (inside) per person for 2 yearsInvestor visa from AED 4,000; employee visa from AED 3,500; establishment card AED 2,000
FreelancersExpo Freelance permit from AED 9,020, visa includedCompany licence route
ProcessHandled with Expo City Dubai through its channel partnersFully digital: apply, amend and renew online
WorkspaceShared desk in packages, coworking, Grade A LEED-certified offices, retail, leases from 1 dayFlexi desk; limited physical offices
Best forTeams that will hire, freelancers, green and event businessesE-commerce, agencies and consultants who want a quick, paperless licence

Expo City prices are official 2026 packages checked by Pro24 as an authorised channel partner. Meydan prices are Meydan Free Zone’s published fees. On Meydan, a founder with one visa pays from about AED 20,750 in year one before health insurance.

Choose Expo City Dubai if…

  • You plan to hire and want visa allocations included in the package.
  • You are a freelancer who wants a residence visa without a company (from AED 9,020).
  • You want physical workspace, from coworking to Grade A offices, or short-term and event operations.

Choose Meydan if…

  • You want a fully online setup and an instant licence (Fawri, under 60 minutes).
  • A central address near Downtown matters on your invoices.
  • You run e-commerce or an agency and do not need an office.

More detail: Expo City Dubai Free Zone business setup and Meydan free zone. Also compare Expo City vs IFZA and Expo City vs Dubai South.

Expo City or Meydan? Get both quoted

Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We will price both zones and recommend the cheaper all-in option.

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Expo City Dubai vs Meydan: FAQs

Is Expo City Dubai cheaper than Meydan?
The entry licence is almost identical: AED 12,520 at Expo City against AED 12,500 at Meydan. The difference shows once you add visas, because Expo City packages include visa allocations while Meydan charges an establishment card and each visa separately.
Which is faster to set up, Expo City Dubai or Meydan?
Meydan, if speed is everything: its Fawri licence (AED 15,000) is issued in under 60 minutes. For Expo City we give you a written timeline with the quote.
Which is better for e-commerce?
For online sellers who need no office, Meydan’s digital process and central address are popular. If you will hire a team or want real workspace, Expo City’s packages usually work out better.
Can freelancers set up in Expo City Dubai or Meydan?
Expo City Dubai has a dedicated Expo Freelance permit from AED 9,020 including a residence visa. Meydan works through its company licence.
Source & review. Expo City Dubai packages from Expo City Dubai’s 2026 package sheets, checked October 2026 by Pro24, an authorised channel partner. Meydan figures from Meydan Free Zone’s published fees, as listed on our Meydan page. Fees change, so we confirm the live price before you pay.