Express licence
Instant trade licence in Dubai: your licence in 24 hours
Looking for a company setup in Dubai in 24 hours? Be precise about what is fast: the trade licence. Meydan Free Zone’s Fawri programme issues it fully online, in under 60 minutes, from AED 15,000.
Meydan refunds you in full if the licence is not issued within 60 minutes. That is Meydan’s own guarantee. We say 24 hours to leave margin.
What you get in the 60 minutes
Four things, delivered online with no visit to Dubai, no office and no paid-up share capital.
- Trade licenceOver 1,800 activities, with up to three activity groups combined on one licence.
- Lease agreementNo physical office is required to qualify.
- Digital applicationFiled and processed online, start to finish.
- Portal accessYour Meydan portal account to manage the company afterwards.
Ownership is 100% foreign. After issuance you get one free amendment in the first year; after that it becomes a standard Meydan licence.
Who this works for
Fawri is fast because it is narrow. Three conditions decide whether it fits you, and it is better to learn that now than after you have paid.
1. A solo founder
One shareholder, and that same person is the manager, the director and the ultimate beneficial owner. With a business partner, Fawri is not available to you.
2. An approved nationality
Applicants must be on Meydan’s predefined nationality list for Fawri. Meydan sets the list and can change it. We check it before you commit.
3. An Emirates ID to file
The filing must be made by someone holding an Emirates ID: either you, or a person who applies on your behalf.
Tick what applies and we will tell you where you stand
Have a business partner? Leave the first box empty and we will show you what works instead.
This unlocks once you confirm you will be the only shareholder.
Passed the check? Start your application
Five short steps, about two minutes. We only ask for what we need to file. No payment, and no documents to upload.
Not eligible? A standard Meydan licence, or another free zone, still gets you a UAE company. It just takes longer.
The Emirates ID point
An Emirates ID is issued to UAE residents. A founder in Paris, Lagos or Toronto who is not yet resident does not have one, so cannot complete the Fawri filing personally.
The process allows a workaround: someone who does hold an Emirates ID applies on your behalf. In practice that means a licensed agent or channel partner filing as your representative. Meydan decides who may act for an applicant and on which documents.
Filing as your agent is part of what we do. We confirm Fawri is open to your case before you pay.
What is not in the 24 hours
The licence is fast. The steps that follow it run on other people’s timetables.
| Residence visa | Separate add-on. Typically 2 to 6 weeks. |
|---|---|
| Corporate bank account | Separate, decided by the bank. Typically 4 to 12 weeks, and not guaranteed. |
| Medical tests and Emirates ID | Separate add-ons, not in the base package. |
The full position is in our terms.
Another same-day option: SPC Free Zone
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone in Sharjah also issues licences the same day, with an indicative starting price around AED 9,500, to be confirmed in a written quote. It is a second choice to Fawri: we do not cite a refund guarantee for it, and its eligibility rules differ, so we confirm them for your case. Banking from Sharjah is also harder than from a Dubai zone. Read the SPC review.
Price
From AED 15,000
Meydan’s published starting price for the Fawri licence. Visas, medicals and Emirates ID are extra, and our calculator itemises every line.
There is no handling fee on top. You pay Meydan’s published price, from AED 15,000, and nothing more. Fawri has to be filed by someone holding an Emirates ID, so we file it for you as your agent, and that handling is included. Open meydanfz.ae and you will find the same starting price.
Questions
Is it really 24 hours?
The licence, yes. Meydan commits to issuing a Fawri licence in under 60 minutes and refunds you in full if it does not, so a 24-hour promise leaves a wide margin. Both figures assume a complete application from an eligible applicant. They cover the licence only, not visas, medicals, Emirates ID or a bank account.
What happens if Meydan misses the 60 minutes?
Meydan’s own guarantee is a full refund if the licence is not issued within 60 minutes. It is Meydan’s guarantee, not ours, and it is subject to Meydan’s terms. We will show you those terms before you pay.
I have a business partner. Can we use Fawri?
No. Fawri is for a single shareholder who is also the manager, director and ultimate beneficial owner. With two or more partners you would apply for a standard Meydan licence, which takes longer, or look at another free zone.
I live abroad and have no Emirates ID. Can I still get one?
Yes, but you cannot file it yourself. Filing requires an Emirates ID, so someone who holds one has to apply on your behalf. Meydan decides who may act for you and on what documents. Filing as your agent is part of what we do.
Does the 24 hours include my visa and bank account?
No. The licence is the fast part. Residence visas typically take 2 to 6 weeks and a corporate bank account 4 to 12 weeks. See the section above for the detail.
My nationality may not be on Meydan’s list. What then?
Meydan sets and changes that list, and we cannot override it. We check it for you before you pay anything. If you are not on it, a standard Meydan licence or another free zone is the route.
Find out in one call if Fawri fits you
Tell us your nationality and whether you are a solo founder. We will say yes or no on Fawri before you pay anything, and point you to the right route if it is no. If it is yes, you pay Meydan’s published price with no handling fee added. Check it on meydanfz.ae.