Abu Dhabi Free Zones

Abu Dhabi hosts finance, media and large-scale industrial free zones. This guide covers license types, realistic setup costs, visa options, timelines, and which zone fits your activity.

Already licensed here? See free zone licence renewal for what recurs each year and what does not.

Why choose Abu Dhabi free zones

Stable regulatory environment and strong government support
Banking familiarity for corporate accounts
Industrial capacity with warehouse/land options
Media and financial hubs for specialized activities
Modern infrastructure and logistics connectivity

Typical setup costs

Trade / Professional License (from)

AED 7,500–14,500+

Establishment Card / Immigration services

AED 650–1,000

Visa (govt. fees per visa, approx.)

AED 3,800–5,500

Health check + Emirates ID (per person)

AED 1,200–1,600

Setup process & timeline

Name reservation & initial approval (1–3 working days)
License issuance & company documents (2–5 working days)
Establishment card / immigration setup (1–2 working days)
E-visa, medical test, Emirates ID (about 1–2 weeks after entry)

Required documents

Passport copy and recent photo
UAE entry stamp or e-visa (if applicable)
Proposed activities list and company name options
CV/degree for regulated activities (if required by zone)
Lease/desk agreement if higher visa allocation is needed

Abu Dhabi free zone licence cost compared

Cheapest entry licence first, so you can see which zone fits before reading the detail.

Entry licence is year one, cheapest package, excluding visas and office.
Free zone	Entry licence	Visas	Setup time	Best suited to
Masdar	AED 10,000 - 45,000	1 - 8	5 - 10 working days	cleantech, technology, r&d
twofour54	AED 12,500 - 40,000	0 - 6	5 - 15 working days	media, production, gaming
KEZAD	AED 15,000 - 50,000	2 - 8	10 - 30 working days	industrial, logistics, manufacturing
ADAFZ	AED 15,000 - 45,000	2 - 6	7 - 20 working days	logistics, aviation, trading
ADGM	AED 60,000 - 250,000	2 - 10	3 - 6 months	financial services, funds, family office

Indicative ranges for planning, not quotes, and not confirmed with the authorities. The licence fee and the office fee are charged separately — ask for an itemised quote, and compare the two-year total, because renewal is typically 85 to 100% of the year-one fee.