Company setup in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi offers mainland licences through its Department of Economic Development, respected free zones and ADGM for financial and holding structures.
Options
- Mainland: licensed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, largely through the TAMM platform
- ADGM: common-law financial centre for holding companies, funds and financial services
- KEZAD and other free zones for industrial, logistics and specialist sectors
Why Abu Dhabi
Proximity to government and sovereign entities, energy and industrial sectors, and ADGM's legal environment.
See Dubai vs Abu Dhabi for a comparison.
Common questions
Can an Abu Dhabi company operate in Dubai?
A mainland company licensed in Abu Dhabi usually needs a branch or licence in Dubai to operate premises there.
Official sources
We check our guidance against these official sources. Always confirm current fees and rules before acting.