Lowest priceFits: Solo, no visa
Starter
AED 6,000year 1
0 visas · 2 activities
- Registration & Licence fees
- Smart Desk (No Lease)
- 2 business activities (services only)
- Not included: Visa (no visa included)
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Abu DhabiLogisticsGeneral businessIndustrialSpecialised✓ Checked 2026-10-24
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ)
المنطقة الحرة لمطارات أبوظبي
ADAFZ publishes 4 current packages, the lowest without stated conditions at AED 6,000 for year 1, offers up to 2 visas in a published package and states incorporation in 4 days (checked 2026-10-24).
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) is a logistics, general business, industrial and specialised free zone in Abu Dhabi, licensed by Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) - the free zone authority operated by Abu Dhabi Airports (Abu Dhabi Airports Company PJSC); LLCs incorporated pursuant to Abu Dhabi Amiri Decree No. 5 of 2006 and ADAFZ regulations, established in 2012.
Key facts
- Solo, no visa · year 1
- AED 6,000
- Starter
- Founder + 1 visa · year 1
- AED 12,000
- Startup Pro
- Team, 3 visas · year 1
- Not published
- No published package for 3 visas with this office type. Three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
- Lowest package, any size
- AED 6,000
- Starter · packages with stated conditions excluded
- Licence fee from
- AED 6,000
- Largest visa quota
- 2
- In a published package
- Minimum office
- Not published
- Incorporation
- 4 days
- As stated by the zone
- Min. share capital
- AED 25,000
- General trading
- Yes
- VAT Designated Zone
- Yes
- FTA list
- Annual audit
- Not published
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae, tax.gov.ae.
Figures as published by the zone. “Not published” means no official source states it. Scenario prices are the published package closest to each set-up: solo, no visa = one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity; founder + 1 visa = one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office; team, 3 visas = three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
Published packages
Entrepreneur
AED 8,000year 1
2 visas · Flexi-desk · 5 activities
- Registration & Licence fees
- Flexi Desk (Lease)
- 5 business activities (services only)
- Quota for 2 visas
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Fits: Founder + 1 visa
Startup Pro
AED 12,000year 1
1 visa · 2 activities
- Registration & Licence fees
- Smart Desk (No Lease)
- 2 business activities (services only)
- 1 visa included - Stamping + Emirates ID
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Enterprise
AED 16,000year 1
2 visas · 5 activities
- Registration & Licence fees
- Executive Desk (Lease)
- 5 business activities (trading & services)
- Quota for 2 visas
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Packages differ in what they include; compare visas, office and fees before choosing.
Identity and legal basis
- Official name (Arabic)
- المنطقة الحرة لمطارات أبوظبي ↗
- Former, merged or alternative names
- Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone ↗
- Licensing / regulating authority
- Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) - the free zone authority operated by Abu Dhabi Airports (Abu Dhabi Airports Company PJSC); LLCs incorporated pursuant to Abu Dhabi Amiri Decree No. 5 of 2006 and ADAFZ regulations ↗
- Parent group / government body
- Abu Dhabi Airports (Abu Dhabi Airports Company PJSC); ADAFZ brochure states ADAFZ is wholly owned by ADQ ↗
- Zone type
- Logistics, General business, Industrial, Specialised ↗
- Year established
- 2012 ↗
- Official website
- adafz.ae ↗
- Online application portal
- oss.adafz.ae ↗
- Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
- Yes ↗
- Physical locations / campuses: Zayed International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi - flagship: Business Park, Business Centre, Logistics Park, Airport City, East Midfield district/East Midfield Cargo Terminal; Al Falah district (logistics hub, 8.3 million sqm near AUH, per May 2026 press release); Al Ghazal district; Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), Abu Dhabi - hangars, private aviation/MRO; Al Ain International Airport (AAN), Al Ain - called 'Tahnoun International Airport (AAN)' on the current adafz.ae pages; industrial land. [1]
- Distance to nearest international airport: 0 km. [2]
- Public contact email: info@adafz.ae. [3]
- Public contact phone: 800 1111 (toll free); +971 2 505 3425 (direct sales). [4]
- Number of registered companies: 500. [5]
- [1] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [3] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [4] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [5] adairports.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae, cdn.adafz.ae, moet.gov.ae and 1 more official source.
Business activities
- Licence types offered
- Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, Industrial ↗
- General trading licence available
- Yes ↗
- Total number of approved activities: 900. [1]
- Activity categories offered: Industrial; Trading; Service. [2]
- Activities included in base licence: 2. [1]
- Trading and services on one licence: yes. [3]
- Conditions for general trading: Subject to special approval by ADAFZ; otherwise trading licences cover up to 5 trading activities. [4]
- [1] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [3] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [4] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae, cdn.adafz.ae.
Cost - year one
- Lowest licence fee (zero-visa)
- AED 6,000 ↗
- Establishment / immigration card fee: AED 1,000. [1]
- Visa fees: Employee visa AED 1,500 per visa (2-year validity; excludes medical, Emirates ID and health insurance); employment visa deposit AED 2,500 per visa (refundable); establishment card AED 1,000 (3-year validity). Startup Pro package states '1 visa included - Stamping + Emirates ID'. [1]
- Mandatory deposit or bank guarantee: AED 2,500. [1]
- Extras included: Registration and licence fees included in all packages; Workspace included (Smart Desk, Flexi Desk or Executive Desk depending on package); Bank introduction letter obtainable from ADAFZ on submission of legal documents. [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Cost - ongoing
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Visas and residency
- Visa quota rule: Package-based on desks (0, 1 or 2 visas); for leased facilities one visa per 8 sqm of office space and one visa per 16 sqm of warehouse space. [1]
- Max visas without dedicated office: 2. [2]
- How to increase quota and cost: Upgrade the package or lease more space; quota follows leased area (1 visa per 8 sqm office, 1 per 16 sqm warehouse). [1]
- Investor / partner visa available: yes. [1]
- Employee visa available: yes. [3]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Office and facilities
- Office / facility types
- Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Serviced office, Private office, Warehouse, Light industrial unit, Land plot, Retail unit ↗
- Warehouse available
- Yes ↗
- Warehouse sizes: Warehouse clusters of 48m x 60m (2,880 sqm), each divided into 8 light industrial units of 15m x 24m (360 sqm); 7.0m clear height, 4m x 4m shutter door, floor 1.2m above road. [1]
- Bonded facilities: yes. [2]
- Land plots for build-to-suit: yes. [1]
- Minimum sqm per visa: 8 sqm. [1]
- Meeting rooms, co-working, amenities: Flexi desks and virtual offices; Furnished executive rooms with AV; Reception and housekeeping; Conference facilities and pantries (Business Park); Parking; On-site hotels, banking services and food courts (Business Park). [2]
- [1] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae, cdn.adafz.ae.
Legal structure and ownership
- Entity types available
- FZ-LLC, Branch of a foreign company, Branch of a UAE company ↗
- Legal system
- UAE civil law ↗
- Minimum share capital
- AED 25,000 ↗
- Minimum shareholders: 1. [1]
- Corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [2]
- Foreign corporate shareholders allowed: yes. [2]
- Share capital must be paid in: yes. [3]
- UAE-resident manager required: yes. [3]
- [1] adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [3] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.adafz.ae, adafz.ae.
Market access and customs
- Physical operations on the mainland allowed without an extra licence
- No ↗
- Can open mainland branch: yes. [1]
- Customs duty in the zone: Zone states 0% import and re-export duties and zero customs duties for goods in the free zone; bonded corridors link airside cargo operations. [2]
- Customs duty exemption details: Zone states 0% import and re-export duties / zero customs duties. [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Tax status
- VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
- Yes ↗
- Which areas of zone are designated: Listed separately: Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (from 2018-01-01), Al Ain International Airport Free Zone and Al Butain [Al Bateen] International Airport Free Zone (from 2018-06-18). ADAFZ says VAT treatment applies to 'certain districts' only; which districts are designated is not published. [1]
- [1] tax.gov.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae.
Compliance and reporting
- Beneficial-owner register filing required
- Yes ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.adafz.ae.
Banking
- Zone offers bank-account facilitation
- Yes ↗
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.adafz.ae.
Setup process and speed
- Documents for an individual shareholder: KYC application form; Business plan; CV of each individual shareholder; Valid passport copy of shareholder(s); Specimen signature; Passport photo (white background); Resolution to establish the LLC in ADAFZ; Memorandum and Articles of Association of the proposed LLC; Manager passport copy, Emirates ID/visa and NOC from current sponsor (if applicable); Director passport copies, signatures and photos; Proof of share capital from a UAE bank; UBO details and declaration; NOC/preliminary approval from relevant authorities (where required). [1]
- Attestation requirements for corporate shareholders: Foreign corporate shareholders: notarised certificate of registration, notarised good-standing (or equivalent) certificate and notarised parent MoA/AoA; documents from outside the UAE attested up to the UAE Embassy; non-English/Arabic documents need certified translation; notarised power of attorney for the authorised signatory. [2]
- Trade name rules: Any name may be proposed, subject to ADAFZ approval; three options required on the application (not required for branches). [3]
- [1] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [2] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
- [3] cdn.adafz.ae · opened 2026-10-24
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.adafz.ae, adafz.ae.
Operations, ecosystem and flexibility
- Moving to larger premises: Packages are described as upgradable (cards say 'After 2 Years Upgradable'); a company may hold more than one facility, but each facility needs its own licence and address. [1]
- Moving a company in or out (re-domiciliation): no. [2]
- Multiple licences under one group: yes. [2]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Industry-specific regulation
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae.
Activity fit (our view)
Likely possible
Needs a regulator's approval
- None
Not offered
- None
Our assessment from the zone's published licence types. Always confirm your exact activity on the zone's official activity list. Licence types the zone publishes: Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, Industrial.
Verified on 2026-10-24 from cdn.adafz.ae.
Notes and history
History · 2012
According to the zone's About page, ADAFZ was set up in 2012 as a division of Abu Dhabi Airports and expanded in 2014 to three airports: Zayed International, Al Bateen and the Al Ain airport (shown on the site as Tahnoun International). The same page says its Logistics Park reached 500,000 sqm in 2018. [source]
History · 2026-05-08
On 8 May 2026 ADAFZ signed memoranda of understanding with Abu Dhabi Food Hub and with Wio Bank at the Make it in the Emirates 2026 event, according to an Abu Dhabi Airports press release. [source]
Legal basis
The zone's application form states that limited liability companies in ADAFZ are incorporated under Abu Dhabi Amiri Decree No. 5 of 2006 and the regulations issued under it; applicants register with ADAFZ and undertake to comply with the ADAFZ regulations issued under that decree. [source]
Good to know
The zone's brochure says ADAFZ is wholly owned by ADQ and operated by Abu Dhabi Airports, and the zone's terms of use say the adafz.ae website is owned by Abu Dhabi Airports. Abu Dhabi Airports describes ADAFZ as its commercial free zone arm. [source 1][source 2][source 3]
Good to know
Government lists use the singular name 'Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone'. The FTA's VAT Designated Zones list (version of 21 September 2021) names three Abu Dhabi airport areas: Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (from 1 January 2018) and the Al Ain International Airport and Al Butain International Airport free zones (both from 18 June 2018). [source]
Verified on 2026-10-24 from adafz.ae, cdn.adafz.ae, adairports.ae and 1 more official source.
Questions worth asking
How much does a ADAFZ licence cost?
The lowest package ADAFZ advertises is AED 6,000 for the first year (Starter). Packages differ in what they include, so check visas, office and fees before comparing.
How many visas come with a ADAFZ package?
The largest visa quota in a package ADAFZ publishes is 2. Larger quotas usually need more office space; ask the zone for the rule that applies to you.
How long does ADAFZ company setup take?
ADAFZ states about 4 days for incorporation. Visas take extra time after the licence is issued.
Can I get a general trading licence in ADAFZ?
Yes, ADAFZ offers a general trading licence.
Is ADAFZ a VAT Designated Zone?
ADAFZ appears on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones. Often only some areas of a zone are designated; see the tax section and confirm with the zone.
What is the minimum share capital in ADAFZ?
ADAFZ states a minimum share capital of AED 25,000.
About this data
Every fact comes from ADAFZ's own channels or a UAE government source, linked next to it. Last checked 2026-10-24. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.
Rules for every zone
Explained in the guides on corporate tax, VAT Designated Zones and mainland access.
How we check
Prices are re-checked every 90 days and other facts on a schedule. How we verify →