Open your business

Follow these steps to get started in the Masdar City Free Zone in as little as five days.

Step one

Access our e-services portal and fill out initial information. You will also be required to propose a company name and make an initial online payment of AED 2,000 for the name reservation.

We will review your information and obtain the required approval for the name reservation from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. An email notification will be sent to you taking you to the next step.

Step two

Access our e-services platform and submit the required detailed information and documents.

We will review and approve all submitted information and documents. We will then issue your organization’s legal documentation through the system (Resolution, Articles of Association, Memorandum of Association). Our advisors will also reach out to you to present our existing lease options.

Step three

You will need to sign the legal documentation and finalize the lease process and payments by visiting Masdar City Free Zone’s One-Stop-Shop or through courier service.

Finally, we will issue your license and certificate of registration/incorporation, which you will be able to access on our e-services platform.

Masdar City Free Zone offers the following legal structures

A free zone Limited Liability Company (LLC)

An independent legal entity with a mixture of both individual and corporate shareholders.

A branch of a foreign or offshore company

A branch of a UAE-based company

license options

You can choose from one of these license options:

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

Free Zone Packages

At the Masdar City Free Zone, we’ve created specialized packages in response to emerging market trends.

We offer competitive pricing, a dynamic and innovative environment, and comprehensive support to ensure that you and your business can thrive.

Business
Package

Maximizes flexibility for companies with specific requirements, and available to both new and existing businesses.

3,000 AED

One time registration fee

Visa Eligibility: Minimum 2 or more

Up to 6 Activities

License Fee Starting from 14,000AED

Lease Starting from 10,000AED

Not sure if this is right for you? Contact our Support services

Start-up
Package

Designed to support start-up ventures and foster innovation.

3,000 AED

One time registration fee

Visa Eligibility: Two

Up to 5 Activities

License Fee Starting from 10,000AED

Lease Starting from 6,000AED

Not sure if this is right for you? Contact our Support services

Women
Entrepreneurship
Package

Exclusively for women entrepreneurs, designed to drive growth of women-led companies in the UAE.

3,000 AED

One time registration fee

Visa Eligibility: One

Up to 5 Activities

License Fee Starting from 6,000AED

Lease Starting from 6,000AED

Not sure if this is right for you? Contact our Support services

Space Zone
Package

Helps space industry startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs scale and realize their full potential.

3,000 AED

One time registration fee

Visa Eligibility: Depending on lease

1 Activity

License Fee Starting from 6,000AED

Lease Starting from 10,000AED

Not sure if this is right for you? Contact our Support services

Terms & conditions apply

Activities will be limited and subject to approval

Package charges in AED currency

AED 1000/- will be added for special Names, subject to DED

Additional fee for general activity is AED 2,500/activity and for special activity is AED 5,000/activity

Virtual desk AED 6,000, Flexi desk AED 10,000 (Excluding 5% VAT)

Commercial leasing options

Masdar City leases office space to businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and SMEs to multi-nationals.

Options include flexi-desks in a shared workspace, serviced and executive offices, and larger core and shell units.

Large organizations also have the option of partnering with Masdar City to develop bespoke commercial space. Many examples, including the HQ buildings for Siemens Energy, the International Renewable Energy Agency, and Tabreed are available in our Built to Suit brochure.

Virtual Desk

6,000 AED

per year

Flexidesk

10,000 AED

per year

VISA FEES

You can choose from one of these visa fees options:

Immigration Establishment Card

1,500 AED

One time fee

eChannels Registration*3

2,500 AED

One time charge

Employment Visa Deposit*4

2,500 AED

Refundable

Employment Visa Package - 2 Year Visa

3,050 AED

Excluding Medical FitnessTest & Emirates ID

In country - Issue Entry Permit while applicant is in the UAE

800 AED

If applicable

Local Amendment/ Change Status

Residency stamping while applicant is in the UAE

900 AED

If applicable

Medical

350 AED

One time fee

Emirates ID Charges

450 AED

For 2 years

Terms & conditions apply

*1 Except segments: 1.11, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 16, 22 & 24

*2 Start-ups package client convert to signature package upon completion of 3 years

*3 Annual renewal fee for eChannel is AED 1,6000/-

*4 Employment Visa Deposit of AED 2,500 applicable per employee. Which will be released after visa cancellation

*5 A refundable security deposit equal to 2 months rent is required for Flexi Desk Leases

The above mentioned rates are inclusive of 5% VAT, except for lease

Submit your Beneficial Owner Declaration

In accordance with Cabinet Decision No. (58) of 2020 regarding beneficial owner procedures and Cabinet Decision No. (53) of 2021 on administrative sanctions, registered businesses are required to submit their Beneficial Owner declaration to avoid potential financial and administrative sanctions, including a written notice for the first violation and, for repeated violations, fines of up to AED 100,000 and a trade license suspension lasting at least one year.

Who is a Beneficial Owner?

A Beneficial Owner is an individual who, directly or indirectly, owns or controls 25% or more of the shares, 25% or more of the voting rights, or can appoint or dismiss the majority of directors within a legal entity. This control can be established through direct ownership or a chain of ownership, or through other means of influence.

Please note that the following entities are exempt from the requirements of this circular:

  • Companies wholly owned by the local or federal government.
  • Companies wholly owned by entities wholly owned by the local or federal government.
  • Companies operating within financial free zones.

Required Information:

According to the Cabinet Decision No. (58) of 2020 Regulating the beneficial owner procedures

  • Name (Arabic/English)
  • Nationality
  • Date and Place of Birth
  • Gender
  • ID/Passport Number
  • Date of Issuance and Expiry Date of the ID or Passport
  • Ratio of Ownership/Control in the capital/number of quotes or shares and its nominal value and associated voting rights
  • Residential address or the address which the notices shall be sent on it
  • Name of the entity and address thereof
  • Date on which the person became a Beneficial Owner
  • Representative Capacity (Chairman/Managing Director/ General Manager .. etc)

Download

Cabinet Resolution 58-2020 Regulating Beneficial Owner procedures
Cabinet Resolution No 53 of 2021 Concerning the Administration Penalties

ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING REGULATIONS

The Ministry of Economy (MoE) announced the launch of an awareness and monitoring campaign to encourage Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) registered in the UAE to register in the system of Financial Intelligence Unit (goAML) . The campaign also encourages these target groups to register in the system of Committee for Commodities Subject to Import and Export Control (Automatic Reporting System for Sanctions Lists), and to adopt measures related to both, stipulated by the Federal Law No. 20 of 2018 on combating money laundering crimes and financing of terrorism and illegal organizations, and the regulations and relevant decisions regarding their implementation.

We urge you to register for free in the goAML system to file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) and to register at the automated reporting system for sanctions lists within 10 working days of receiving this notification and start using the aforementioned systems immediately according to the requirements. You will find the details here.

Note: In the event that you do not adhere to the above-mentioned systems during the prescribed period, your registration license will be suspended.

For more inquiries about registering in the two systems, please contact Ministry of Economy via the e-mail AML@economy.ae or via phone number 04-3141517

For legislation, guidance, and instructions related to anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism, please visit the Ministry of Economy website at: https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/aml