The present work was carried out to prepare topical formulae of meloxicam (0.5%w/w of base) using different ointment and gel bases. The drug release from these bases was evaluated in phosphate buffer pH 7.4. Release data showed complete drug release from the water soluble base after 120 minutes where other ointment bases exhibited inappropriate drug release within 150 minutes. The effect of different enhancers such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and dimethyl formamide (DMF) on the release pattern of the drug from both hydrocarbon and hydrophilic ointment bases revealed a slight increase of drug release with increasing concentration of enhancers. On the other hand, the drug release from various gel bases was in the following order: Methylcellulose (MC) > Carbopol-934 >hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) > Tragacanth >sodium alginate. Furthermore, incorporation of enhancers such as Tween 80 in concentration of 5% to both MC and HPMC bases improved drug release as well as 50.37 and 32.85 percent were released after 150 minutes respectively. Addition of few drops of triethanolamine to the previous bases containing 5% Tween 80 exhibited the most efficient gel bases in which the optimal drug release was attained after 120 minutes. Finally, ethanol gel containing MC and HPMC as gelling agents showed complete drug release within 120minutes. Thus, topical application of meloxicam in the MC and HPMC gel bases may be of potential use for local analgesic and anti- inflammatory activity.