Check your intended activity against the official ADRA activity list on TAMM. The activity determines every approval that follows.
Abu Dhabi Investment OfficeSet Up & Grow
How to set up in Abu Dhabi
Five decisions stand between you and a trade licence. This page walks you through each one, then hands you to TAMM to execute.
For standard activities, company setup runs through TAMM, the Abu Dhabi Government services platform. Licences are issued by ADRA or your zone authority. ADIO is the single relationship behind your file: structure, licence, banking, visas and growth.
ADRA · zone
LICENSING
TAMM
EXECUTION
ADIO
RELATIONSHIP
Find your route in four questions.
Where you start, what you do, who you sell to and which courts you prefer. That is the whole decision.
QUESTION 01 OF 04
This is guidance, not a ruling. Activity, regulatory approvals and tax treatment can move the answer. ADIO or your adviser confirms it before you file.
Your steps, side by side.
Both options have five steps. Based on your answers, the wizard automatically selects the right one.
Regulatory authorityADRA, under ADDED, the central licensing authority
Governing lawUAE federal and Abu Dhabi law (civil law)
Market accessDirect access to the UAE mainland market
Government contractingEligible; ICV score weighs in awards
MAINLAND · YOUR COURTS
UAE civil law
Disputes are heard in the UAE courts, in Arabic, under federal and Abu Dhabi law. The standard footing for selling to the UAE market and contracting with government.
Both run through TAMM. Initial approval confirms the activity and shareholders before you commit to premises.
- Passport copies of shareholders
- Memorandum of Association
- Lease or Tawtheeq registered premises; flexi options exist for eligible activities
- Activity specific approvals from the competent authority, for health, education, food, transport and similar regulated activities
For eligible activities TAMM issues the licence first and lets you complete documents within the first year.
INSTANT LICENCE · TAMM
Then open banking, register for corporate tax with the FTA, and process employee visas.
AED 3.5-6K
GOVERNMENT VISA COST PER EMPLOYEE · INDICATIVE · 2026
Your wizard result above shortlists zones for your activity. To score every Abu Dhabi zone against your model, use the full recommender.
Each zone runs its own portal and application pack; the zone cards in your wizard result name them. ADIO can introduce you to the zone team.
- Passport copies of shareholders
- Business plan, where the zone requires it
- Specimen signatures
- The zone's own application forms
Premises sit inside the zone. Flexi desk packages cover holding structures and small teams.
Then banking, corporate tax registration with the FTA, and visas through the zone's channel.
0%
ON QUALIFYING INCOME · CABINET DECISIONS · 2023
Qualifying free zone persons can access 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, subject to substance and compliance conditions; 9% applies otherwise. Confirm your position with your tax adviser.
The paperwork, in plain terms.
Two reference pages your advisers will ask about on day one.
