A trade licence in Abu Dhabi lets your company operate in the capital, the UAE's largest emirate by area and home to its federal government, sovereign funds and energy sector. It is issued by the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority for the mainland, or by an Abu Dhabi free zone such as ADGM, Masdar City or KEZAD, and it gives foreign owners 100% ownership for most activities.
The hard part is choosing between Abu Dhabi's many licence types. The Standard, Tajer, Instant, Freelancer, Mobdea, Dual and Virtual licences each have different eligibility, office rules and fees, and the right one depends on your nationality, where you live and what you plan to do. Pick the wrong one and you pay again to convert it.
This is where we come in. We form UAE companies ourselves, so the licence type, the activity, the office and the bank file all run through one team. You get one clear price and a licence in about a week.
Ready to set up in the capital? Our team forms Abu Dhabi mainland and free zone companies.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
Who Issues a Trade Licence in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's mainland licences are issued by the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority, known as ADRA, an arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. ADRA launched in January 2025 to run one register for the mainland and the non-financial free zones. Applications go through the TAMM government services platform.
A Unified Register
In June 2024, Abu Dhabi unified economic registration across the mainland and its free zones, with standard reference numbers and one registry. That makes it easier for a company licensed in an Abu Dhabi free zone to add a mainland branch, and for banks to check the licence.
Free Zone Authorities
Abu Dhabi's free zones license their own companies, and our guide to free zone company formation in the UAE compares them with zones in other emirates. ADGM is the financial free zone with its own common law courts; Masdar City, KEZAD, twofour54 and the Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone license non-financial businesses. Our guide to business setup in Abu Dhabi covers the whole emirate.
Get a Trade Licence in Abu Dhabi
A trade licence in Abu Dhabi is very doable once the licence type is right. This is what we do for you.
- Right licence type first: Standard, Tajer, Virtual or free zone matched to you.
- We form it ourselves: Trade name, ADRA approvals and licence, one team.
- Office sorted: Tawtheeq lease or free zone desk arranged.
- Activities mapped: Six activities in the base fee, no surcharges you do not need.
- Bank file built in: KYC prepared while the company is formed.
- Clear pricing, no surprises: One quote, from €1,899, with every fee listed.
100% Foreign Ownership
Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 lets foreign investors own mainland companies outright, as our guide to mainland company formation in the UAE explains. Abu Dhabi lists 1,105 activities open to full foreign ownership, with a short strategic list, such as defence, banking and telecoms, where a regulator sets a national share.
Abu Dhabi Trade Licence Types
ADRA publishes eight licence types. Most founders take the Standard licence, but several cheaper options exist for specific cases.
Licence | Fee (ADRA) | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
Standard | From AED 1,200 for 6 activities, AED 100 per extra | UAE nationals, residents and GCC nationals, with an office |
Tajer Abu Dhabi | AED 790 to AED 5,500 | One-person companies of Emiratis or GCC nationals, and LLCs of residents partnered with Emiratis |
Instant | AED 790 to AED 5,500 | UAE nationals, residents and GCC nationals who want to start fast |
Freelancer | From AED 1,200 for 6 activities | UAE nationals and residents working alone, including those in full-time jobs |
Mobdea | AED 860 for 2 activities | Emirati women running a home business |
Dual | From AED 1,200 for 6 activities | Abu Dhabi free zone companies opening a mainland branch |
Virtual | AED 790 to AED 5,500 | Foreign investors living outside the UAE |
Small Producers | AED 790 to AED 5,500 | Citizens who own or lease farms |
ADRA says fees depend on the activities and legal form selected.
Standard Licence
The Standard licence covers more than 1,100 activities. Its legal forms include the establishment, the sole proprietorship LLC, the LLC, partnerships and private and public joint stock companies. An establishment is owned by one natural person with unlimited liability, so a company cannot own one. The Standard licence needs a memorandum of association and a Tawtheeq-registered lease, although ADRA says the office is optional in the first year for some activities.
Tajer and Instant Licences
Tajer Abu Dhabi needs no office lease for the first three years and covers 1,200 of the 3,982 activities ADDED regulates. ADRA issued 8,901 new Tajer licences in 2025. The Instant licence is fast-tracked and needs a lease, with documents due within a month of issue. Both start at AED 790.
Virtual Licence
The Virtual licence lets a foreign investor living outside the UAE set up a sole proprietorship or LLC from abroad, with a passport and photo. It is one of the few UAE licences designed for non-residents.
Freelancer Licence
The Freelancer licence is a home-based sole proprietorship for UAE nationals and residents, and ADRA says holders can secure Abu Dhabi residency for themselves and their families. Read our guide to the freelance licence in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Trade Licence Fees in Detail
Abu Dhabi cut its business setup and renewal fees to about AED 1,000 in July 2021, a reduction of more than 90%, covering Abu Dhabi government charges. ADRA's current base fees run from AED 790 to AED 1,200. Federal fees, such as visas, still apply.
Item | Fee |
|---|---|
Tajer, Instant and Virtual base | From AED 790 |
Standard, Freelancer and Dual base | AED 1,200 for 6 activities |
Extra activity | AED 100 each |
Mobdea | AED 860 for 2 activities |
Tawtheeq lease registration | AED 50 |
Abu Dhabi Chamber membership | AED 50 |
The licence fee in Abu Dhabi is one of the lowest in the country. The office lease and visas usually cost more than the licence itself.
Notary Fees for the Memorandum
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department notarises company contracts online. You log in with UAE PASS, upload the contract, the parties sign digitally, you pay and then attend a short video interview. Its published fees are low for private companies.
Document | ADJD fee |
|---|---|
LLC or sole-owner LLC memorandum | AED 50 |
Partnership contract | AED 50 |
Private joint stock company | AED 5,000 |
Public joint stock company | AED 15,000 |
Local service agent contract | AED 50 |
Power of attorney | AED 100 per year of validity |
Board resolution or general assembly minutes | From AED 500, up to AED 20,000 |
ADJD quotes one working day for the memorandum, and its English Notary Services Bureau handles English contracts without translation.
Tawtheeq and the Office
A Standard or Instant licence needs its lease registered on Tawtheeq for AED 50. Abu Dhabi froze rent increases on commercial renewals and new contracts from 2 June 2026, but office space is tight, with JLL reporting prime availability as low as 0.1%. Our guide to the cost of business setup in the UAE compares the emirates.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
Abu Dhabi Free Zone Trade Licences
A free zone trade licence in Abu Dhabi bundles the licence with a desk or office. Few zones publish prices.
ADGM
ADGM is the financial free zone, and it is growing fast: it had more than 13,353 active licences by the first quarter of 2026. It cut its commercial licence fees from January 2025. A non-financial company pays USD 5,500 to register and USD 5,000 to renew, a retail company USD 2,500 and USD 2,000, and a tech start-up USD 1,500. Every company also pays USD 300 for data protection. The tech start-up licence needs a Hub71 approval letter first and gives three visas per desk; Hub71's Access Programme adds AED 250,000 in cash for equity plus in-kind support. ADGM charges nothing for the first month after expiry, then USD 55 a day up to USD 20,000. Read our guide to ADGM company formation.
Masdar City Free Zone
Masdar City publishes four packages, VAT included: Startup AED 7,000 for 2 activities, Innovation AED 12,000 with a 2-visa quota, Business One AED 17,500 with 1 visa and Enterprise AED 27,000 with a 3-visa quota.
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
The Airports Free Zone publishes four annual packages, including registration and licence fees, with more than 900 activities and setup in three to four days.
Package | Price | Desk | Visas |
|---|---|---|---|
Starter | AED 6,000 | Smart Desk, 2 activities | None |
Entrepreneur | AED 8,000 | Flexi Desk, 5 activities | Quota of 2 |
Startup Pro | AED 12,000 | Smart Desk, 2 activities | 1 included |
Enterprise | AED 16,000 | Executive Desk, 5 activities | Quota of 2 |
KEZAD
KEZAD suits logistics, trading and industry across 550 square kilometres. Its start-up packages include VAT with no security or visa deposits: one visa costs AED 9,450 for one year, AED 17,800 for two and AED 22,575 for three, and four visas AED 14,550 for one year. Renewal after two years costs AED 5,000 for industrial, trading or service licences and AED 15,000 for general trading.
Creative Media Authority
The Creative Media Authority, which runs twofour54's zone, is waiving licence and registration fees for the first two years on new FZ-LLC, branch and freelance licences, with terms. Setup takes about 14 working days and needs two individual directors. A freelance two-year visa costs AED 3,538.50.
Mainland Access Through the Dual Licence
A company in an Abu Dhabi free zone can trade on the mainland through the Dual licence, which creates a mainland branch from AED 1,200 and lets it bid for Abu Dhabi government tenders. ADRA says it is issued, renewed or amended within 24 hours when no outside approval is needed.
Branches From Other Emirates
A company licensed in another emirate or free zone can open an Abu Dhabi branch through TAMM without physical premises for its first year, for 1,200 activities.
Licence Categories in Abu Dhabi
Every trade licence in Abu Dhabi also falls into an activity category, and the category decides which approvals you need.
Commercial
A commercial licence covers trading, buying and selling goods and most general services. It is the category most new Abu Dhabi companies hold.
Professional
A professional licence covers services based on qualifications, such as consultancy, engineering, design and accounting. ADDED opened 604 professional activities to full foreign ownership, and most companies without an Emirati partner appoint a local service agent, who carries no financial liability. Check the current rule for your activity. The Freelancer licence is a home-based professional route. Professional licences grew 28% in 2025.
Industrial
An industrial licence covers manufacturing, assembly and processing, and usually needs a site in an industrial area such as KEZAD or Mussafah plus environmental and civil defence approvals. From May 2026, new Rowad industrial licences run for three years instead of two. Licensed manufacturers can apply for ADIO programmes worth up to 30% off electricity, up to 80% rent rebates in designated zones and matching grants of up to 50% for smart manufacturing.
Tourism
Tourism businesses, such as tour operators and hotels, are licensed with the Department of Culture and Tourism. Abu Dhabi introduced an AED 1,000 cap on annual tourism business licences in January 2022, covering the economic department, municipality and Chamber fees.
Legal Forms for an Abu Dhabi Company
The licence type and the legal form go together. Most foreign founders choose an LLC, which can have one owner and has no fixed minimum capital under the Commercial Companies Law. A sole proprietorship suits one person working alone, and a branch suits a foreign company that wants to trade in its own name. Our guide to LLC formation in the UAE covers the most common form, and our guide to the types of companies in the UAE compares mainland, free zone and offshore.
Holding Structures
A group that wants to hold its UAE operations through one company often uses an ADGM holding company or a mainland LLC as the parent. Read how to set up a holding company in Dubai for the structures that work across emirates.
How to Get a Trade Licence in Abu Dhabi
The steps are the same whatever the licence type, and most run through TAMM.
Choose the Licence Type and Activities
Match the licence to your nationality, residence and business. Pick up to six activities in the base fee.
Reserve the Trade Name and Get Initial Approval
Reserve a trade name through TAMM and get initial approval from ADRA.
Get Any Regulator Approvals
Health businesses need the Department of Health, education needs the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, and finance needs the Central Bank or ADGM's regulator.
Sign the Memorandum and Register the Lease
Sign the memorandum of association and register the lease through Tawtheeq, unless your licence type is exempt.
Pay and Receive the Licence
Pay the fees and receive the licence. Then get the establishment card and register with MOHRE before visas. Owners who invest enough can also apply for a green or golden visa.
Documents for a Trade Licence in Abu Dhabi
- Passport copy of each shareholder and manager
- Emirates ID and residence visa for UAE residents
- Trade name options and chosen activities
- Memorandum of association for an LLC
- Tawtheeq-registered lease, where required
- For a corporate shareholder, attested incorporation documents and a board resolution
- For the Freelancer licence, attested qualifications and an employer NOC if you are employed
- For the Dual licence, the free zone licence, an NOC and a declaration
Foreign documents need embassy legalisation and attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Get Your Abu Dhabi Licence Right First Time
Most extra costs come from the wrong licence type, so we check it before anything is filed.
- Licence type checked: Standard, Tajer, Virtual or free zone for your case.
- Activities bundled: Six in the base fee, planned for growth.
- Office planned: Tawtheeq lease or a no-lease licence where allowed.
- Visas planned: A quota that fits the people you will bring.
- Bank ready: A file that fits the bank or partner you will use.
- Fast formation: Most companies are licensed in about a week.
Choosing the Right Licence in Abu Dhabi
The right trade licence in Abu Dhabi usually follows from who you are and where you live.
A Foreign Founder Living Abroad
The Virtual licence lets you form a sole proprietorship LLC or LLC from abroad with a passport and UAE PASS. If you want a desk and a visa package instead, the Airports Free Zone, KEZAD and Masdar City all form companies remotely.
A Foreign Founder Living in the UAE
A resident can take the Standard licence with a Tawtheeq lease, or the Freelancer licence to work alone from home. The Freelancer licence now covers about 100 activities, including AI development and 3D modelling.
An Emirati or GCC Founder
Tajer is usually the cheapest start, with no lease for three years, and Mobdea suits Emirati women running a home business from AED 860.
A Free Zone Company Selling Onshore
The Dual licence gives a mainland branch without forming a new company, and it is the route for Abu Dhabi government tenders.
Visas and Insurance With an Abu Dhabi Licence
Visas depend on premises: a Standard licence with a lease, or a free zone package with a quota, sponsors residence after the establishment card is issued. Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates use the federal authority, ICP. Health insurance is mandatory, and Daman's Abu Dhabi Basic plan starts from AED 750 a year, with online enrolment using the trade licence details. Read about the UAE investor visa and free zone visa quota and costs.
Abu Dhabi's Licensing Growth
Abu Dhabi is licensing new businesses quickly. ADRA reported new licences up 29% in 2025 and up 21% in the first quarter of 2026, with active licences up 12%. Freelancer licences rose 70% in 2025 to 3,502, and Al Ain grew faster than the capital in early 2026.
Compliance After You Are Licensed
A licence brings ongoing duties. ADRA requires every company to keep a register of beneficial owners holding 25% or more, to update it within 15 days of a change and to keep records for five years. Real estate agents, auditors, precious metal dealers, lawyers and corporate service providers must also register on goAML and screen against the UAE sanctions list. Anyone can verify an Abu Dhabi licence through ADRA's TAHAQAQ service, and banks do.
Renewal of an Abu Dhabi Trade Licence
An Abu Dhabi licence is renewed each year through TAMM, with a valid lease and establishment card. Abu Dhabi waived late renewal fines from 15 May to 15 August 2026, and 7,823 businesses had AED 11.6 million in fines waived. Normal fines resumed on 16 August 2026, so renew on time.
Abu Dhabi or Dubai for a Trade Licence
Abu Dhabi's licence fees are among the lowest in the country, and its no-lease Tajer option and Virtual licence have no direct Dubai equivalent. Dubai has more free zones and more published packages, and its mainland reaches the country's biggest commercial market. Many founders choose by where their clients are: government, energy and investment clients favour Abu Dhabi. Read our guides to the trade licence in the UAE and the trade licence in Dubai.
Tax and Banking After the Licence
Every Abu Dhabi company is inside the federal tax system. Corporate tax is 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above it, and registration is due within 3 months of incorporation. VAT is 5%, mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies (see UAE VAT registration for new companies). See UAE corporate tax for companies.
Most Abu Dhabi banks ask for the licence, a registered lease and a UAE-resident signatory. Our partners open multi-currency accounts for newly licensed Abu Dhabi companies in days, online and with no resident signatory. Read our guide to opening a business bank account in the UAE.
Equals Money
Business Bank Account
Time to onboard
2 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
€30
3S Money
Cross-border payments
Time to onboard
4 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
Starting from € 100
Common Mistakes With an Abu Dhabi Trade Licence
Picking Tajer Without Checking Eligibility
ADRA describes Tajer as for one-person companies owned by Emiratis or GCC nationals, and LLCs of residents in partnership with Emiratis. Most foreign founders need the Standard or Virtual licence.
Paying for Activities You Do Not Need
The base fee covers six activities. Plan them together rather than adding them later at AED 100 each plus the paperwork.
Forgetting the Lease
The Standard and Instant licences need a Tawtheeq-registered lease. Budget for it before you choose the cheaper licence type.
Assuming a Free Zone Licence Covers the Mainland
It does not. Use the Dual licence for a mainland branch.
Get Advice on Your Abu Dhabi Licence
Not sure which Abu Dhabi licence fits? Talk to us before you pay any fees.
- Licence type compared: Standard, Tajer, Virtual and free zone.
- Mainland or free zone: Matched to where your clients are.
- Owners abroad: The Virtual licence and banking planned together.
- Regulated activities: Health, education and finance approvals mapped.
- A written plan: Clear next steps sent to you after the call.
Bottom Line
A trade licence in Abu Dhabi comes from ADRA for the mainland or from a free zone such as ADGM or Masdar City. Base fees start from AED 790 to AED 1,200, among the lowest in the UAE, and the licence type decides your office, visas and eligibility. Choose the type first, then the activities and the office. For the national picture, see company registration in the UAE.
We form the company, get the licence and build the bank file with you, from €1,899.
