diff --git a/playwright.config.ts b/playwright.config.ts
index 04a4dccda490..4373e7eb06c6 100644
--- a/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/playwright.config.ts
@@ -10,12 +10,21 @@ export default defineConfig({
   expect: { timeout: 10_000 },
   use: {
     baseURL: 'https://meet.internxt.com/',
+    permissions: ['camera', 'microphone'],
+  launchOptions: {
+    args: [
+      '--use-fake-ui-for-media-stream',
+      '--use-fake-device-for-media-stream',
+    ],
+  },
     ignoreHTTPSErrors: true,
     trace: 'on-first-retry',
     screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
     video: 'retain-on-failure',
-  },
+  
+},
   projects: [
     { name: 'chromium', use: { browserName: 'chromium' } },
+    
   ],
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/playwright/helpers/timer.ts b/playwright/helpers/timer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5b778b148f3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playwright/helpers/timer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { expect, Locator } from '@playwright/test';
+
+const DEBUG = process.env.DEBUG_TESTS === 'true';
+
+function parseTimer(value: string): number {
+  const [minutes, seconds] = value.split(':').map(Number);
+  return minutes * 60 + seconds;
+}
+
+export async function expectTimerToIncrease(timer: Locator) {
+  await expect(timer).toBeVisible();
+
+  const firstText = (await timer.textContent())?.trim() ?? '';
+  expect(firstText).toMatch(/^\d{1,2}:\d{2}$/);
+
+  const firstSeconds = parseTimer(firstText);
+
+  // wait until timer changes
+  await expect(timer).not.toHaveText(firstText, { timeout: 5000 });
+
+  const secondText = (await timer.textContent())?.trim() ?? '';
+  expect(secondText).toMatch(/^\d{1,2}:\d{2}$/);
+
+  const secondSeconds = parseTimer(secondText);
+
+  expect(
+    secondSeconds,
+    `Timer should increase. First: ${firstText}, Second: ${secondText}`
+  ).toBeGreaterThan(firstSeconds);
+}
+
+export async function expectTimerRunning(timer: Locator, checks = 3) {
+  await expect(timer).toBeVisible();
+
+  let previous = 0;
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < checks; i++) {
+    const value = (await timer.textContent())?.trim() ?? '';
+    if (DEBUG) console.log(`Timer check ${i}:`, value);
+
+    expect(value).toMatch(/^\d{1,2}:\d{2}$/);
+
+    const seconds = parseTimer(value);
+
+    if (i > 0) {
+      expect(
+        seconds,
+        `Timer should keep running. Previous: ${previous}, Current: ${seconds}`
+      ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(previous);
+    }
+
+    previous = seconds;
+
+    await timer.page().waitForTimeout(1000);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/playwright/tests/create-meeting-flow.spec.ts b/playwright/tests/create-meeting-flow.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2573d67c068d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playwright/tests/create-meeting-flow.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+import { login } from '../helpers/auth';
+import { MeetHomePage } from '../pages/meet-home-page';
+import { expectTimerToIncrease, expectTimerRunning } from '../helpers/timer';
+
+const ultimateEmail = process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_ULTIMATE_EMAIL!;
+const ultimatePassword = process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_ULTIMATE_PASSWORD!;
+const ultimateName = process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_ULTIMATE_NAME!;
+expect(ultimateName).toBeTruthy();
+
+
+test.beforeAll(() => {
+  expect(ultimateEmail).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(ultimatePassword).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(ultimateName).toBeTruthy();
+});
+
+test('Ultimate user can create a meeting', async ({ page }) => {
+  const meetHome = new MeetHomePage(page);
+
+  await test.step('GIVEN Ultimate user is authenticated', async () => {
+    await login(page, ultimateEmail, ultimatePassword);
+  });
+
+  await test.step('WHEN user clicks New meeting', async () => {
+    await meetHome.expectUserLoggedIn();
+    await meetHome.expectNewMeetingVisible();
+    await meetHome.newMeetingButton.click();
+  });
+
+  await test.step('THEN prejoin modal is displayed ', async () => {
+await expect(page.getByText('Your meeting is private')).toBeVisible();
+await expect(page.getByRole('textbox', { name: /enter your name/i })).toHaveValue(ultimateName);
+await expect(page.getByText('Up to 5 participants')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+await test.step('WHEN user confirms meeting creation', async () => {
+  // TODO: temporary workaround nth(1)— UI currently renders two "New Meeting" buttons. Should be one.
+  const newMeetingButtons = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'New Meeting' });
+  await expect(newMeetingButtons).toHaveCount(2);
+  await newMeetingButtons.nth(1).click();
+});
+
+await test.step('THEN moderator message appears briefly', async () => {
+  const moderatorToast = page.getByText(/you're now a moderator/i);
+
+  await expect(moderatorToast).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+  await expect(moderatorToast).toBeHidden({ timeout: 5000 });
+});
+
+await test.step('AND meeting UI is visible', async () => {
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/meet\.internxt\.com\/[0-9a-fA-F-]{36}/);
+  await expect(page.getByRole('status')).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Gallery' })).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+await test.step('AND timer is visible', async () => {
+  const timer = page.locator('text=/^\\d{1,2}:\\d{2}$/').first();
+  await expect(timer).toBeVisible();
+
+  await expectTimerToIncrease(timer);
+  await expectTimerRunning(timer);
+});
+
+await test.step('AND meeting controls are visible', async () => {
+  const defaultControls = page.locator('[data-circle-button="default"]');
+  const leaveControl = page.locator('[data-circle-button="cancel"]');
+
+  // TODO: temporary workaround until stable data-testid attributes are added
+  await expect(defaultControls).toHaveCount(5);
+  await expect(leaveControl).toHaveCount(1);
+});
+})