Abu Dhabi mainland company formation
In Abu Dhabi the mainland license is called an Economic License. This page explains who issues it, which license types the authority lists, which fees it publishes and what you must keep up to date afterwards.
The short answer
An Abu Dhabi mainland company holds an Economic License. Registration is overseen by the Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA), an arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and applications are made on the TAMM platform with UAE PASS. ADRA states that the Standard Economic License covers more than 1,100 activities, at a basic cost of AED 1,200 including 6 activities.
Who issues a mainland license in Abu Dhabi?
Mainland licensing in Abu Dhabi sits with the Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority, known as ADRA. It was launched as an arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to oversee business registration on the emirate's mainland and in its free zones that are not financial free zones.
You will see three names, and they fit together. ADRA is the registration authority, ADDED is the department it belongs to, and TAMM is the platform where the application is made, using UAE PASS. TAMM shows the Department of Economic Development as the service provider.
The license itself is called an Economic License.
Which license types does Abu Dhabi offer?
ADRA lists eight license types, and this page covers four of them: the Standard Economic License, the Instant License, the Virtual License and the Dual License. The other four are the Freelancer License, the Mobdea License, Tajer Abu Dhabi and the Farms and Small Producers License.
The Standard Economic License can be held through these legal forms: establishment, public shareholding company, private joint stock company, sole proprietorship LLC, sole proprietorship PJSC, LLC, partnership company and limited partnership.
| License | What it is for | Published cost | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Economic License | More than 1,100 economic activities | Basic cost AED 1,200 with 6 activities. Extra activities AED 100 each | Requires a Memorandum of Association, Tawtheeq and a lease agreement |
| Instant License | Fast tracked for certain activities, with 940 activities offered | AED 790 to AED 5,500, with 6 activities | Documents can be submitted up to one month after the license is received. A lease contract and MOA are listed as required documents |
| Virtual License | Foreign investors living outside the UAE who set up remotely | AED 790 to AED 5,500 | Passport and photo only. Set up as a sole proprietorship or LLC |
| Dual License | A company registered in an Abu Dhabi economic free zone that wants to operate outside the zone | Basic cost AED 1,200 with 6 activities | The company operates as a free zone branch |
Good to knowADRA describes the Standard Economic License as open to UAE nationals, UAE residents and GCC nationals, and the Virtual License as the route for foreign investors living outside the UAE. We confirm with ADRA which route applies before you apply.
How much does the Abu Dhabi government charge?
Abu Dhabi publishes its fees line by line. ADRA gives a basic cost of AED 1,200 for the Standard Economic License, and TAMM lists the separate fee lines for the commercial economic license.
TAMM describes the total cost as varying as incurred, so we do not add the lines into one figure here. Links publishes its own package prices, which are not government fees: the Links Dubai mainland package is AED 19,500. For Abu Dhabi we tell you the cost in writing before you commit.
| Fee line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Organisational entities fee | AED 790 |
| Economic register registration | AED 10 |
| License issuance | AED 10 |
| Notary fee for the establishment contract, companies | AED 50 |
| Establishment card request, Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship | AED 315 |
| Social contributions | AED 1,500 |
| Ministry of Economy fees | AED 2,500 |
| Abu Dhabi Chamber fees, by category | AED 150 to AED 2,200 |
| Each activity beyond six | AED 100 |
Do you need to rent an office in Abu Dhabi in the first year?
ADRA states that leasing office space is required for the Standard Economic License, but is optional in the first year for some economic activities.
ADRA lists a Memorandum of Association, Tawtheeq and a lease agreement as the requirements for the Standard Economic License. On TAMM, the commercial economic license requires an MOA and an approved lease contract.
The Virtual License is the route ADRA describes for foreign investors who live outside the UAE. It is set up remotely with only a passport and a photo.
Good to knowNo Abu Dhabi authority page we checked publishes a minimum office size or a ratio of visas to office space.
Can a foreigner own 100% of an Abu Dhabi mainland company?
Federal law permits it outside the restricted activities. Mainland companies are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies, and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism states that investors can have full ownership in all five legal forms in that law. We found no Abu Dhabi authority page that publishes its own list of activities open to full foreign ownership.
Two limits are set at federal level. Cabinet Resolution No. 55 of 2021 lists seven activities with a strategic impact, and Article 10(3) of the law lets each emirate's authority set a ratio of UAE national participation.
ADRA's own setup steps still mention a local service agent agreement 'as needed', so the role still exists in Abu Dhabi for some cases. We confirm the position for your activity and legal form with the authority before you apply.
Can an Abu Dhabi free zone company operate on the mainland?
ADRA offers the Dual License for this. It states that the license lets a company registered in an Abu Dhabi economic free zone operate outside the free zone as a free zone branch.
The basic cost is AED 1,200, which includes 6 activities. We confirm with ADRA whether your free zone and activity qualify before you apply.
What must an Abu Dhabi company do after it is licensed?
TAMM's steps include registering the real beneficiary before approval and payment. After the license is issued, the official sources set out the obligations below. This is what the sources say, not tax or legal advice.
- Keep records of ultimate beneficial owners who hold 25% or more, and update them within 15 days of any change.
- Apply for corporate tax registration within three months of incorporation. This applies to companies incorporated on or after 1 March 2024, under Federal Tax Authority Decision No. 3 of 2024.
- File the corporate tax return within 9 months from the end of the tax period.
- Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it.
The steps, in order
- 01
Choose the business activity
The Standard Economic License covers more than 1,100 activities, and the Instant License offers 940.
- 02
Choose the location and tenancy contract
A lease is required for the Standard Economic License. It is optional in the first year for some activities.
- 03
Choose the legal form
The forms for the Standard Economic License include the establishment, the LLC and the sole proprietorship LLC.
- 04
Reserve the trade name
The name must match the activity and must not be registered already.
- 05
Prepare the Memorandum of Association or local service agent agreement
ADRA lists this step 'as needed'. Which document applies depends on the legal form.
- 06
Get initial approval
Initial approval means the government has no objection to the business. It does not allow you to trade yet.
- 07
Economic License issued
TAMM's steps include registering the real beneficiary before approval and payment.
- 08
Additional approvals
Some activities need approval from another government body.
Documents you need
- UAE PASS, to apply on TAMM
- Memorandum of Association
- Tawtheeq and a lease agreement, for the Standard Economic License
- Approved lease contract, for the commercial economic license on TAMM
- Passport and photo only, for the Virtual License
Abu Dhabi mainland: common questions.
Answered from the official sources listed below. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Who issues a mainland business license in Abu Dhabi: ADDED, ADRA or TAMM?
The Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA) oversees business registration on the Abu Dhabi mainland. It is an arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). TAMM is the platform where you apply, using UAE PASS, and it shows the Department of Economic Development as the service provider.
How much are the official government fees for an Abu Dhabi license?
ADRA states a basic cost of AED 1,200 for the Standard Economic License, including 6 activities, with extra activities at AED 100 each. The Instant and Virtual licenses cost AED 790 to AED 5,500. TAMM lists further fee lines for the commercial economic license, such as AED 2,500 in Ministry of Economy fees, and says the total varies.
Can I set up an Abu Dhabi company remotely before I move to the UAE?
ADRA's Virtual License lets foreign investors living outside the UAE establish a business in Abu Dhabi remotely, with only a passport and a photo. It can be set up as a sole proprietorship or an LLC and costs AED 790 to AED 5,500.
Do I need to rent an office in Abu Dhabi in the first year?
ADRA states that leasing office space is required for the Standard Economic License but is optional in the first year for some economic activities. The Abu Dhabi Instant License lists a lease contract as a required document, which can be submitted up to one month after the license is received.
Can a foreigner own 100% of an Abu Dhabi mainland company?
Federal law permits full foreign ownership outside the restricted activities, under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies. Cabinet Resolution No. 55 of 2021 lists seven activities with a strategic impact, and Article 10(3) lets each emirate set a ratio of UAE national participation. ADRA's setup steps still mention a local service agent agreement as needed, so we confirm the position for your activity with the authority.
What is the difference between the Standard, Instant and Virtual licenses in Abu Dhabi?
The Standard Economic License covers more than 1,100 activities and requires a Memorandum of Association, Tawtheeq and a lease agreement. The Instant License is fast tracked for 940 activities and lets you submit documents up to one month after issue. The Virtual License is for foreign investors living outside the UAE and needs only a passport and photo.
How long does TAMM take to issue a commercial license in Abu Dhabi?
TAMM shows a service time of 5 working days for the commercial economic license. That is the time for that service, not the time the whole setup takes. No Abu Dhabi authority publishes an end to end timeline.
Can my Abu Dhabi free zone company operate on the mainland?
ADRA's Dual License lets a company registered in an Abu Dhabi economic free zone operate outside the free zone as a free zone branch. The basic cost is AED 1,200, including 6 activities.
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this page was checked against the official source on 29 September 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm the current position before any application.
- ADRA, ADDED launches Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (opens in a new tab)
- ADRA, business setup (opens in a new tab)
- ADRA, Standard Economic License (opens in a new tab)
- ADRA, Instant License (opens in a new tab)
- ADRA, Virtual License (opens in a new tab)
- ADRA, Dual License (opens in a new tab)
- ADRA, business compliance (opens in a new tab)
- TAMM, issue an economic license, commercial (opens in a new tab)
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