Masdar City Free Zone or Meydan Free Zone — which is cheaper with 1 visa in 2026?

Where the AED 6,950 gap comes from

Both packages are all-in — licence, government fees, setup service and one full visa block — so the difference is not missing paperwork on the Masdar side. It is largely the price of the address: Meydan Free Zone issues a Dubai licence at AED 24,450, while Masdar City Free Zone issues an Abu Dhabi one at AED 17,500. The pattern holds before visas too: licence-only is AED 7,000 at Masdar against AED 12,500 at Meydan, per the full 2026 price index.

Who picks which zone

Masdar tends to win founders in clean energy, sustainability consulting and technology who value an Abu Dhabi innovation-district base. Meydan is chosen by people who specifically want Dubai on the licence — typically marketing consultants, agencies and e-commerce operators whose clients expect a Dubai registration.

Two things founders ask

Is the residence visa itself different? No. Both routes end in a standard UAE residence visa via the same entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping steps; only the sponsoring zone differs.

Can you live in Dubai on a Masdar visa? Yes — residence visas are federal, so the emirate that issued your licence does not restrict where you rent or live.