Skip to content
FreezoneGuide
Compare zonesFind my zoneBy industryGuides
Abu DhabiTechnologySpecialisedGeneral business✓ Checked 2026-10-24

Masdar City Free Zone (MCFZ)

MCFZ publishes 4 current packages, the lowest without stated conditions at AED 7,000 for year 1, offers up to 3 visas in a published package and requires at least a virtual office (checked 2026-10-24).

Masdar City Free Zone (MCFZ) is a technology, specialised and general business free zone in Abu Dhabi, licensed by Masdar City Free Zone (MCFZ), the designated Company Registration and Licensing Authority under Abu Dhabi Law No. (6) of 2023; companies are registered by a Registrar appointed by the CEO of Masdar City, established in 2006.

Official sources onlyOfficial site ↗Online portal ↗

Key facts

Solo, no visa · year 1
AED 7,000
Startup Package: visa quota not stated
Founder + 1 visa · year 1
AED 17,500
Business One Package
Team, 3 visas · year 1
AED 27,000
Enterprise Package
Lowest package, any size
AED 7,000
Startup Package · packages with stated conditions excluded
Licence fee from
AED 7,000
Largest visa quota
3
In a published package
Minimum office
Virtual office
Incorporation
—
Min. share capital
None
General trading
Not published
VAT Designated Zone
No
FTA list
Annual audit
Yes

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com, 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

Lowest priceFits: Solo, no visa

Startup Package

AED 7,000year 1

2 activities

  • License and registration
  • Not included: 5% VAT
  • Not included: Office/desk lease (required)
  • Not included: Visa costs
  • Not included: Special activities
  • Not included: Special name fee AED 1,000
Renewal not publishedSource ↗

Innovation Package (Startup & Innovation Licence Package)

AED 12,000year 1

2 visas · Flexi-desk · 3 activities

  • License and registration
  • Including 2 visa quota
  • Flexi desk lease
  • Not included: 5% VAT
  • Not included: Visa processing costs
  • Not included: Establishment card
  • Not included: eChannels registration
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Fits: Founder + 1 visa

Business One Package

AED 17,500year 1

1 visa · Flexi-desk · 3 activities

  • One free visa
  • License and registration
  • Flexi desk lite lease
  • Establishment card
  • E-channel fees
  • Visa medical exam
  • Emirates ID application
  • Not included: 5% VAT
  • Not included: Refundable employment visa deposit AED 2,500
  • Not included: Refundable flexi desk deposit (2 months' rent)
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Fits: Team, 3 visas

Enterprise Package

AED 27,000year 1

3 visas · Flexi-desk · 6 activities

  • License and registration
  • Including 3 visa quota
  • Flexi desk plus lease
  • Not included: 5% VAT
  • Not included: Visa processing costs
  • Not included: Establishment card
  • Not included: eChannels registration
Renewal not publishedSource ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Packages differ in what they include; compare visas, office and fees before choosing.

Identity and legal basis

Former, merged or alternative names
Masdar City ↗
Licensing / regulating authority
Masdar City Free Zone (MCFZ), the designated Company Registration and Licensing Authority under Abu Dhabi Law No. (6) of 2023; companies are registered by a Registrar appointed by the CEO of Masdar City ↗
Parent group / government body
Masdar City (MCFZ), Abu Dhabi government entity reorganised under Abu Dhabi Law No. (6) of 2023 (formerly under Law No. (22) of 2007 establishing Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) ↗
Zone type
Technology, Specialised, General business ↗
Year established
2006 ↗
Official website
masdarcityfreezone.com ↗
Online application portal
masdarcity.my.site.com/s/FZLogin ↗
Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
Yes ↗
  • Physical locations / campuses: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi (One-Stop-Shop in the Incubator Building). [1]
  • Public contact email: info@masdarcityfreezone.com. [2]
  • Public contact phone: 800 6239 (toll-free, +9718006239); Compliance Unit 02 815 6666. [1]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] startup.masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com, startup.masdarcityfreezone.com, moet.gov.ae.

Business activities

Licence types offered
Trading, Services / consultancy, Holding, Healthcare, Freelancer, Other ↗
  • Total number of approved activities: 1,000. [1]
  • Activity categories offered: Renewable Energy; Clean tech & information & communication tech; Marketing and events; Human Resources; Energy; Healthcare Services; Service Providers; Property development services; Regional HQ, trading and holding companies; Business center or data center; Oil and Gas Services; Retail, Food, and Beverage. [1]
  • Activities included in base licence: 2. [1]
  • Fee per additional activity: AED 2,500. [1]
  • Activities needing another authority's approval: Banking business (approval of the Registrar); Insurance or re-insurance, insurance agent or insurance broker (approval of the Registrar); Healthcare activities (Department of Health - Abu Dhabi named as regulator); Space activities (UAE Space Agency named as regulator). [2]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Cost - year one

Lowest licence fee (zero-visa)
AED 7,000 ↗
  • Establishment / immigration card fee: AED 1,600. [1]
  • Cost per visa: AED 3,850. [2]
  • Visa fees: Employment Visa Package (2-year) AED 3,050 excl. medical and Emirates ID; medical AED 350; Emirates ID AED 450 (2 years); in-country entry permit AED 800 and in-country residency stamping AED 900 if applicable; refundable employment visa deposit AED 2,500 per employee; one-time establishment card AED 1,600 and eChannels registration AED 2,600 per company. [1]
  • Mandatory deposit or bank guarantee: AED 2,500. [1]
  • Trade name reservation fee: AED 2,000. [3]
  • Extras included: Banking guidance and bank introduction support; Golden Visa application facilitation; AWS Activate credits for start-ups (2023 factsheet). [3]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] masdarcity.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com, masdarcity.ae.

Cost - ongoing

  • Visa validity: 2 years. [1]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Visas and residency

  • Visa quota rule: Visa allocation tied to workspace product: Flexi Desk Lite 1, Flexi Desk 2, Flexi Desk Plus 3, Dedicated Desk 4; larger allocations via office leases on quote. [1]
  • Max visas without dedicated office: 4. [1]
  • How to increase quota and cost: Move to a higher desk tier (Flexi Desk Lite -> Flexi Desk -> Flexi Desk Plus -> Dedicated Desk) or lease office space by quote; desk prices on leasing page AED 2,000 / 6,000 / 10,000 / 20,000. [1]
  • Employee visa available: yes. [2]
  • Dependant / family visa sponsorship allowed: yes. [3]
  • Golden Visa support: MCFZ facilitates and submits Golden Visa applications for eligible candidates and families via its One-Stop-Shop (since Oct 2021); long-term visas themselves are issued by ICP, not MCFZ. [4]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  4. [4] mediaoffice.abudhabi · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com, mediaoffice.abudhabi.

Office and facilities

Minimum facility requirement
Virtual office ↗
Office / facility types
Virtual office, Flexi-desk, Serviced office ↗
  • Flexi-desk annual cost: AED 10,000. [1]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

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 no import or export duties on goods moving through the free zone ('0% import tariffs'). Not a VAT Designated Zone. No customs procedure published. [2]
  • Customs duty exemption details: Zone claims 0% import tariffs / no import or export duties on goods moving through the free zone. [2]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] startup.masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com, startup.masdarcityfreezone.com.

Tax status

VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
No ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae.

Compliance and reporting

Annual audited financial statements required by the zone
Yes ↗
Beneficial-owner register filing required
Yes ↗
  • Audit exemption threshold or conditions: No turnover threshold; exemptions only for Entrepreneurship Programme companies and Special Purpose Companies (no accounts or audit filing required). [1]
  • Audit submission deadline: Accounts audited within 6 months after the financial period end and laid before a general meeting; copy of accounts and auditors' report filed with the Registrar within 7 days after that meeting. [1]
  • Activities needing anti-money-laundering registration: Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs): register on goAML and the sanctions reporting system. [2]
  • Annual return and renewal documents: Annual licence renewal application at least 3 months before expiry; Audited accounts and auditors' report filed with the Registrar; Shareholder return (members holding 5% or more) when requested by MCFZ; Beneficial owner register kept up to date. [1]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Banking

Zone offers bank-account facilitation
Yes ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcity.ae.

Setup process and speed

Direct application without an agent
Yes ↗
  • Documents for an individual shareholder: Passport copies; Application forms; Business activity details; Legal incorporation documents; For branches: parent constitutional documents, board resolution, power of attorney for local representative, names of parent directors. [1]
  • Trade name rules: Company name must end with 'Limited'; names must be acceptable to the Registrar; special names cost an extra AED 1,000 subject to DED approval. [2]
  • Refund policy if rejected: Fees paid are not refunded if the applicant withdraws the licence application before grant. [3]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Operations, ecosystem and flexibility

  • Moving to larger premises: Desk tiers Flexi Desk Lite -> Flexi Desk -> Flexi Desk Plus -> Dedicated Desk, then serviced or custom-built office space by quote; start-up package clients move to a 'signature package' after 3 years. [1]
  • Adding shareholders: Share transfers need a signed instrument of transfer and entry in the register; Articles amendments need prior MCFZ approval. No fee published. [2]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Freelancer and solo founder

Freelancer permit available
Yes ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Industry-specific regulation

  • Financial services regulator and capital requirements: Banking and insurance business need Registrar approval (CRR cl. 19.1); no MCFZ financial-services regulator or capital rules published. [1]
  • Healthcare and education approvals: Department of Health - Abu Dhabi named as a regulator; DoH also arranges medical cover for MCFZ-sponsored employees. [2]
  1. [1] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] masdarcityfreezone.com · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Activity fit (our view)

Needs a regulator's approval

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, Services / consultancy, Holding, Healthcare, Freelancer, Other.

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com.

Notes and history

  1. History · 2021-10

    In October 2021 the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced that Masdar City Free Zone was facilitating the Golden Visa process in Abu Dhabi, with eligible applicants able to use the related services at Masdar City's One-Stop Shop. [source]

  2. Legal basis · 2023

    Masdar City Free Zone is the company registration and licensing authority for businesses within the boundaries of Masdar City. According to its 2026 regulations, it operates under Abu Dhabi Law No. 6 of 2023, which reorganised Masdar City and repealed Law No. 22 of 2007, the law that set up Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company. [source 1][source 2]

  3. History · 2026-03

    The zone's Company Registration Regulations and Employment Regulations are both titled 2025 regulations; the versions published on its website are dated March 2026 (Employment Regulations version 2.0). [source 1][source 2]

  4. Good to know

    'Masdar City' is the name of the wider Abu Dhabi urban development; the free zone is the licensing jurisdiction inside it, and its regulations define MCFZ as the Masdar City entity that owns the free zone. [source 1][source 2]

  5. Good to know

    The zone's licence page states that special trade names carry an extra AED 1,000 fee and are subject to approval by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED). [source]

Verified on 2026-10-24 from masdarcityfreezone.com, mediaoffice.abudhabi.

Questions worth asking

How much does a MCFZ licence cost?

The lowest package MCFZ advertises is AED 7,000 for the first year (Startup Package). Packages differ in what they include, so check visas, office and fees before comparing.

Does MCFZ require a physical office?

The minimum facility MCFZ states is: virtual office. Facility types offered: virtual office, flexi-desk, serviced office.

How many visas come with a MCFZ package?

The largest visa quota in a package MCFZ publishes is 3. Larger quotas usually need more office space; ask the zone for the rule that applies to you.

Is MCFZ a VAT Designated Zone?

MCFZ does not appear on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones.

What is the minimum share capital in MCFZ?

MCFZ states no minimum share capital.

About this data

Every fact comes from MCFZ'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 →