Abu Dhabi Free Zones: Financial, Industrial and Aviation
Abu Dhabi competes on scale and on specialism rather than on volume of zones. An independent common law jurisdiction, 410 square kilometres of industrial land and a dedicated clean technology cluster are each aimed at a particular kind of business.
Trade & Logistics
Moving goods. Port access, bonded storage, air cargo and re-export.
Industry & Maritime
Making things, and the land and utilities that needs.
Finance & Holding
Common law jurisdictions, funds, and structuring vehicles.
Technology & Research
R&D, engineering and the clusters built around them.
Media & Creative
Production, publishing and the freelance routes into them.
Compare all 5 at a glance
Establishment dates and licensing authorities are taken from the Ministry of Economy & Tourism registrar records. Fees are not listed here because every authority changes them through the year — we confirm those in writing.
| Free zone | Est. | Licensing authority | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADGM | 2013 | ADGM Registration Authority | Funds, foundations and private wealth |
| KEZAD | 2011 | AD Ports Group | Heavy industry at Khalifa Port |
| Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone | 2012 | Abu Dhabi Airports | Air cargo across three airports |
| Masdar City | 2009 | Masdar Free Zone | Clean tech, life sciences, mobility |
| twofour54 | 2007 | Media Zone Authority | Film and television production |
Official sources
Every establishment date, founding law and licence type on these pages is taken from the licensing authority itself or from the Ministry of Economy & Tourism registrar record for that authority. Verify anything here against the source before acting on it.
- Authority records, establishment dates and legal forms → Ministry of Economy & Tourism, company registrars in free zones
- Designated Zones for VAT, and the four qualifying criteria → Article 51(1) of the Executive Regulations, and the Cabinet Decision list. FTA legislation register
- Qualifying Free Zone Person and 0% qualifying income → Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2023 and Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023. Federal Tax Authority
- Corporate tax, 9% above AED 375,000 → Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. Federal Tax Authority
Package fees are set by each authority and change through the year, so they are confirmed to you in writing rather than published here.
Not sure which zone fits?
Tell us what the business does and who pays you. We come back with the right jurisdiction, the current authority fees in writing, and an honest read on whether your income will actually qualify for 0%.