ADGM Business Setup in Abu Dhabi
ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) company formation: who it suits, operating companies, SPVs and holding companies, registration process, registered office, visas and comparisons.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-27
Quick answer
ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) is an international financial centre and financial free zone in Abu Dhabi, on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands. It applies English common law directly, registers companies through its Registration Authority and regulates financial services through its FSRA. It suits financial firms, holding companies, SPVs and professional and tech businesses.
- Authority / zone
- ADGM
- Emirate
- Abu Dhabi
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership available in free zones
- Price evidence
- Source-linked provider packages only
ADGM is chosen for its legal framework rather than low entry cost. Holding structures, SPVs and regulated financial firms are the usual reasons founders shortlist it.
Regulatory information on this page should be confirmed against current ADGM sources before you act. We show prices only from source-linked provider packages.
Current verified packages
These are provider package prices, not universal government fees. Each row preserves the published price basis, renewal disclosure and source date.
No currently verified package matches this authority. Browse all packages or request an itemised quote; Business Setup AE does not invent a price when a provider has not published one.
Compare verified packagesWhat is ADGM?
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is a financial free zone and international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It has its own courts and applies English common law directly. The ADGM Registration Authority registers and licenses companies; the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) authorises financial-services firms.
Company types
- Operating companies for professional, tech and non-financial activities
- Special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for holding assets or ring-fencing transactions
- Holding companies for group structures
- Financial-services firms authorised by the FSRA
- Branches of foreign companies
Registration process and registered office
Applications are made to the Registration Authority, with FSRA authorisation as a separate process for regulated financial activities. Companies need a registered address in ADGM; some structures, such as SPVs, have specific rules on address and activity. Confirm current requirements on ADGM's official site.
Visa considerations
Visa eligibility depends on the entity type and leased premises. Entities without operating premises, such as many SPVs, may have limited or no visa capacity.
ADGM company setup cost
There is no single all-in ADGM price. The total depends on the licence type, number of activities, legal structure, workspace, visa count and any external approval. Figures below come only from current provider packages with a source link and verification date; packages whose prices are under review or conditional are not used as a starting price.
- Authority registration and licence fees
- Workspace or facility charge (flexi desk, office, warehouse or land)
- Establishment card and immigration file where visas are required
- Per-person visa, medical and Emirates ID processing
- External approvals for regulated activities
- Provider professional fee and VAT where applicable
- Year-two renewal of licence, facility and visas
ADGM vs Masdar vs KEZAD vs Abu Dhabi mainland
| Route | Consider when |
|---|---|
| ADGM | You need common law, a holding/SPV entity or financial-services authorisation |
| Masdar City Free Zone | You build technology or sustainability products |
| KEZAD | You need warehouses, land or port logistics |
| Abu Dhabi mainland | You mainly serve UAE customers onshore |
Who this option suits best
- Holding companies and SPVs
- Financial-services firms
- Professional and tech businesses wanting common-law structures
Step-by-step process
- 1
Confirm activities
Check the intended activities against the authority's current list and identify any external approval.
- 2
Choose licence, legal structure and space
Select the licence type, company form and workspace that support the activities and planned visa quota.
- 3
Submit the application and KYC
Provide proposed trade names, shareholder and manager passports and the authority's application forms.
- 4
Review an itemised quotation
Separate authority, workspace, immigration and professional fees and get the renewal amount in writing.
- 5
Sign and receive the licence
Complete signing, pay the invoice and receive the licence and incorporation documents.
- 6
Visas, bank and tax
Open the immigration file, process visas, apply to a bank and complete corporate tax registration.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Authority application forms and any activity-specific approvals
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Activity and KYC review | Authority dependent |
| Licence and incorporation | After approval and payment |
| Immigration and visas | Separate process, if selected |
| Bank account | Bank decision; not guaranteed |
Prices change. Use the source link and verification date shown for each package, then obtain a final itemised quotation before paying.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Comparing headline prices only
Fix: Compare like-for-like activities, workspace, visas, exclusions and price basis.
Assuming visas are included
Fix: Confirm the quota and every immigration charge in writing.
Ignoring year-two costs
Fix: Ask for the renewal components before paying for year one.
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance notifications and reports applied only to financial years ending on or before 31 December 2022 — no new ESR filings are due for later years (Ministry of Finance).
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
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7 min read · Published Read guideFrequently asked questions
Is ADGM a free zone?
What is an ADGM SPV?
Do I need FSRA approval?
How much does ADGM setup cost?
People also ask
Does Business Setup AE issue the licence?
No. Business Setup AE is a comparison marketplace. ADGM issues the licence; a provider handles only the services stated in its quotation.
What should I confirm before paying a provider?
Confirm the issuing authority, activity codes, price basis, exclusions, visa quota, workspace, refund terms and full renewal cost in writing.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm bank-account support and which banks the provider actually opens with
- Register for corporate tax within the deadline after licence issuance
- Diarise your licence renewal date and UBO register updates
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Package prices are read from each provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and check date
- Government fee figures are cited to the published schedule of the relevant authority; where an authority does not publish a figure we say so instead of estimating
- We do not audit provider operations, licence standing or adviser credentials — see how we verify for exactly what a verification covers
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- ADGM — official siteOfficial registration, FSRA and legal framework information
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
- Federal Tax Authority — corporate tax and VATSource for the 9% corporate tax threshold and VAT registration limits
Topics covered
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