GetSmartPromo
Find my free zone
UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN) · via MEYDAN Free Zone·🇮🇳Founder profile

MEYDAN UAE Free Zone for Indian SaaS Founders

VerifiedOct 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline14–30days
Year-1 total$12,500

Indian SaaS founders form MEYDAN Free Zone companies when planning a personal relocation to Dubai: UAE personal income tax is 0%, and MEYDAN license bundles investor visa access, enabling breaking Indian tax residency (182-day rule) for legitimate tax planning.

Under Federal Decree-Law 47/2022, UAE CT applies 9% above AED 375,000 taxable income. Free Zone Person meeting substance requirements may retain 0% on qualifying income (specific activity types) with physical office presence and staff.

India side: RBI Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) rules apply above USD 250,000 aggregate contribution; LRS caps at USD 250k/year.

§ 01Cost of ownership

Model the full outlay, not just the setup fee

Renewal costs sneak up on non-resident founders. Compare year-1 filing against a 3-year total to see the real bill.
Currency · USD (live FX)
2-year cost of ownership
$25,000
≈ $1,042/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupMEYDAN Free Zone setup
    $12,500
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $12,500
Total$25,000
§ 02Tax residency · Indian SaaS Founders

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

UAE MEYDAN FZ companies fall under Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022: 9% CT above AED 375,000 taxable income; Free Zone Person status may preserve 0% on qualifying income with adequate substance in Dubai.

Home-country rule

ODI (Overseas Direct Investment) RBI approval required for equity

Editorial verdict

MEYDAN suits Indian SaaS founders relocating to Dubai for personal 0% income tax on top of FZ CT structure; RBI ODI still governs equity contributions.

Key compliance risks
  • 01RBI ODI filing required above USD 250,000 aggregate capital contribution
  • 02UAE CT 9% above AED 375,000 taxable income (Federal Decree-Law 47)
  • 03Indian residency test — 182 days rule; relocating breaks Indian tax residency
  • 04Substance requirements to preserve qualifying income treatment
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
14–30days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d8
d15
d23
d30
01FilingMEYDAN Free Zone submits formation docs
d0–d11
02Tax ID / EINLocal tax authority registration
d9–d23
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d18–d30
§ 04Head-to-head

UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN) vs US LLC (Wyoming)

Full comparison →
UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)
Free Zone LLC
US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Entity
Free Zone LLC
LLC
Setup cost
$1,307
$102.00
Annual
$1,307
$60.00
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
9% CT above AED 375k; 0% VAT for out-of-UAE trade
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

You can form MEYDAN without relocating, but the tax value proposition works best when you actually establish UAE tax residency. UAE tax residency requires either 90+ days per year with employment/business + housing, or 183+ days per year. Full-year relocation with Emirates ID unlocks 0% personal income tax and mitigates Indian tam mukellefiyet.

More profiles for UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)
Indian SaaS Founders — other jurisdictions
Next step

Start filing with MEYDAN Free Zone

Formation typically completes in 2–3 weeks. Use the promo below, then click through to begin the checklist directly on the platform.

Claim on MEYDAN Free Zone