New Freezone Incentives—Up to 30% Fee Reduction for Startup
Set Up Your ADAFZ Company in Abu Dhabi
17,000AED
From
2012
Established
332
Companies
5
Max Visas
Difficult
Banking
Business Overview
ADAFZ Overview
About ADAFZ
- A free zone beside Abu Dhabi's airport, set up in 2012 and owned by Abu Dhabi Airports as a subsidiary
- Built for aviation, aerospace, logistics and trade-led companies, offering property that ranges from business centres to warehouses and plots
- The official government profile records 332 registered entities, of which 188 are active
Ideal for
- Warehousing and logistics firms
- Companies in aviation and aerospace
- Regional headquarters and e-commerce fulfilment
Visa Details
- Quota: up to 5 visas in the modelled packages, though the real number is tied to your facility
- Processing: roughly 14 days, with registration from 14 working days
- Renewal: AED 2,800 once every 2 years
- Available visas: Investor, Employment, Partner, Dependent
- Visa costs: AED 3,170 for employees, AED 3,170 for investors, around AED 2,500 for dependents
- Medical test from AED 450 (standard) or AED 850 (VIP) · AED 390 to type the Emirates ID
Banking
- Ease: Difficult
- HSBC, FAB and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) are the partner banks
- Banks apply tougher checks on ownership, shipments and counterparties for airport-based logistics and trading companies, so allow several weeks to open an account
Key Features
- Yes to mainland trading, a dual licence and free zone to mainland access, as ADAFZ provides dual licensing
- Physical office needed: Yes
- Shared ownership: Yes, through branches and LLCs with natural or corporate shareholders
- Online portal: Yes
- Co-working: Yes
- Audit needed: Yes
- Crypto friendly: No
Share Capital
- Currently reported at roughly AED 5,000, although the older 2011 regulations state a minimum paid-up capital of AED 150,000; get this confirmed in writing
Specialist Ecosystems
- Aviation and logistics hub integrated with the airport (Zayed International Airport precinct)
Latest Updates
- August 2025: a Masarif profile reported processing from 14 working days, visas from AED 3,170 and banking partners ADCB, FAB and HSBC
- February 2024: Zayed International Airport became the new name of the airport previously known as Abu Dhabi International
- 2012: Abu Dhabi Airports set up ADAFZ as a subsidiary
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Why ADAFZ?
Why ADAFZ Stands Out
Single Regulator
Everything from the licence through to leasing premises is handled in one place, which helps companies that need real facilities.
Published Licence Fees
Services, Trading and Light Industrial licences cost AED 8,000 annually; General Trading costs AED 20,000.
Registration Costs
An LLC pays a one-off AED 4,000 to register, while a branch pays AED 2,750.
Proven Business Community
According to the official government profile, 332 entities are registered here, with 188 currently active.
Defined Target Sectors
Focus areas include aviation, logistics, ICT and technology, trading and consultancy, among others.
Structured Licensing Framework
Licence categories and the rules for renewing them are laid down in the ADAFZ Business Licensing Regulations.
Dual Licence Option
ADAFZ includes dual licensing among its services, which helps firms reach customers across the UAE market.
Packages & Pricing
ADAFZ Package Prices (Estimates)
Service License (0 Visa) with Flexi Desk
AED 12,000 licence · Flexi desk included · Renews at roughly AED 13,000.
0 visas
Service License with Flexi Desk (1 Visa)
AED 12,000 licence · Flexi desk included · Renews at roughly AED 17,200.
1 visa
Service License with Flexi Desk (2 Visas)
AED 12,000 licence · Flexi desk included · Renews at roughly AED 21,200.
2 visas
Trading License with Office (3 Visas)
AED 12,000 licence · Dedicated desk included · Renews at roughly AED 27,000.
3 visas
General Trading License with Office (5 Visas)
AED 24,000 licence · Private office included · Renews at roughly AED 40,850, depending on headcount and insurance.
5 visas
Watch Out For
Points to Weigh Up Before Picking ADAFZ
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