Company Setup in Abu Dhabi

Mainland, free zone or ADGM in Abu Dhabi

Company setup in Abu Dhabi splits three ways. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, ADDED, licenses mainland companies through the TAMM portal. Five free zones operate in the emirate: ADGM, KEZAD Group, Masdar City Free Zone, the twofour54 creative zone run by the Creative Media Authority, and Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone, known as ADAFZ. ADDED's own list also names Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, so ask ADDED who licenses a unit there.

Older names still circulate. KIZAD and ZonesCorp were consolidated into KEZAD Group in September 2022 and are no longer separate zones. For the comparison of the three routes across the country, read company setup in the UAE.

Mainland licences from ADDED

ADDED's licensing page, updated on 9 October 2026, lists these mainland licence types: Standard, Abu Dhabi Trader (Tajer), Dual, Freelancer, Mobdea, Small Producers and Virtual. Fees are set per activity on TAMM. A standard LLC licence is normally tied to leased premises, and Tajer, Freelancer, Mobdea and Virtual are the licences that work without them. Confirm the premises rule for your activity on TAMM before you sign a lease.

The Virtual Licence was launched on 21 October 2021 for non-resident foreign investors. ADDED stated 13 sectors, 100% foreign ownership in an LLC or sole-proprietorship LLC, no residency requirement and local fees capped at AED 1,000, with federal fees extra. Ask ADDED for the current terms before you rely on the 2021 figures.

Tajer lets entrepreneurs operate without office space. On 24 September 2026 ADDED gave Tajer holders whose no-premises period ends in 2026 one more year without a physical premises (Abu Dhabi Media Office). The same release says the activity list has grown from 30 at launch to more than 1,200. The Unified Economic Licence, launched on 6 June 2024 with the Abu Dhabi Free Zones Council, gives zone and mainland licences one standard reference number.

ADGM

ADGM is a financial free zone on Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, with its own common-law rules. Holding companies, SPVs, foundations, family offices and technology start-ups use it alongside regulated financial firms. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) supervises the financial ones. A private company has no minimum share capital.

The Registration Authority's Overview of Fees 2025 (version January 2025) sets the figures below in USD. ADGM calls it a non-binding indicative guide, so confirm the Fees Rules figure when you apply.

• Non-financial company: USD 5,800 to set up and USD 5,300 a year to renew, including the USD 300 data protection fee
• Financial company: USD 17,000 to set up and USD 16,500 a year to renew
• Tech Startup licence: USD 1,500 a year for three years, plus data protection, with a Hub71 eligibility letter
• SPV: USD 1,900 to set up and USD 1,400 a year to renew
• Foundation: USD 1,000 to register and USD 500 a year
• Single family office: USD 5,600 to incorporate and USD 5,300 a year, with family net assets of at least USD 10 million

Tech Startup licences allow three employee visas per dedicated desk, and a hot desk does not qualify. A non-exempt SPV must appoint an ADGM-registered Company Service Provider. Small companies, with turnover up to USD 13.5 million and up to 35 employees, file a balance sheet only. Larger ones file audited accounts.

FSRA Consultation Paper 6 of 2026, open until 6 November 2026, proposes higher regulatory fees for exchanges, clearing houses and other FSRA-supervised firms. It does not change the licence fees that founders of ordinary companies, SPVs or foundations pay. On 1 May 2026 the Registration Authority amended several regulations, including an express ban on bearer shares.

KEZAD, Masdar City, twofour54 and ADAFZ

KEZAD's tariff lists a new licence at AED 0 for up to five activities, as of October 2026. Renewal after two years costs AED 5,000, or AED 15,000 for general trading. twofour54 waives licence and registration fees for the first two years for new investors and freelancers, and other government charges stay payable. A waiver is not a permanent zero.

Masdar City Free Zone shows four packages, excluding 5% VAT, as of October 2026. They run from AED 7,000 for Startup through AED 12,000 for Innovation and AED 17,500 for Business One to AED 27,000 for Enterprise. Those are packages, not a tariff. ADAFZ sells annual packages too, so ask ADAFZ for its current price list in writing.

Zone pages sometimes describe tax in old terms, such as exemption from corporate tax. Corporate Tax has applied since 1 June 2023, and 0% is for a Qualifying Free Zone Person on qualifying income only.

The Abu Dhabi dual licence

ADDED defines the dual licence as allowing establishments registered in the free zones of Abu Dhabi to carry out their activities outside the free zone. A law firm reported in March 2025 that the initiative covers all Abu Dhabi free zones. KEZAD states that its companies can obtain one without extra offices, and ADAFZ states that its LLCs are eligible without a local sponsor. ADGM and ADDED signed a mutual recognition agreement on 14 November 2017.

ADDED sets the dual licence charges on TAMM, so ask for the current figure in writing. For twofour54, ask ADDED or the zone whether its companies qualify. And a licence from an Abu Dhabi zone does not carry rights in Dubai, which has its own regime.

Company setup in other emirates

For a comparison with the largest market, see company setup in Dubai. Zones in other emirates are covered in company setup in Sharjah and company setup in Ras Al Khaimah.

Frequently asked questions

Does Abu Dhabi have a dual licence?

Yes. ADDED lists a Dual Licence that lets Abu Dhabi free zone companies operate outside the zone. KEZAD and ADAFZ describe how their companies obtain it. ADDED sets the fee on TAMM.

Can a non-resident get an Abu Dhabi mainland licence?

ADDED launched a Virtual Licence for non-resident foreign investors on 21 October 2021, with local fees capped at AED 1,000 at launch. Ask ADDED for the current terms.

How much does an ADGM company cost?

A non-financial company costs USD 5,800 to set up and USD 5,300 a year to renew, according to the ADGM Registration Authority's 2025 fee schedule.

Is a free zone company in Abu Dhabi tax free?

Not automatically. Corporate Tax applies to free zone companies, and 0% applies only to a Qualifying Free Zone Person on qualifying income. Other income is taxed at 9%.

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