Business Setup in Masdar City — Abu Dhabi’s innovation free zone
Start a company in the Masdar City free zone, the prime location for renewable and sustainable businesses. Own your business completely and access mainland trade without the need for a separate office.
Establish Your Business in Masdar City Free Zone
Masdar City is a free zone located in Abu Dhabi. It houses over 1,000 local and international companies, SMEs, and a diverse, multinational entrepreneurial community. The free zone mainly supports businesses in renewable energy, clean technology, R&D, sustainability, and ICT industry sectors.
It has dedicated clusters for high-impact sectors like SAVI (Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industries) and AGWA (AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance). The free zone also hosts the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Siemens Energy, and the clean-tech accelerator “The Catalyst.”
Why Start a Business in Masdar City?
Location
Five minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
100% Foreign Ownership
Full ownership of your business, with eligible businesses paying 0% corporate tax.
Profit Repatriation
Fully repatriate your profits and capital as a foreign business owner.
Dual Licence
Operate in the free zone and on the mainland without needing an extra office.
R&D Access
Access advanced research and development partnerships inside the free zone.
Sustainability Hub
Energy-efficient buildings and partnerships with clean-tech companies.
Popular Business Activities in Masdar City Free Zone
Masdar City free zone is mainly known for activities related to energy, sustainability, AI, life sciences, and trading. These are some of the most popular business activities in the Abu Dhabi free zone:
Renewable Energy & Clean Tech
Engineering, installation, and maintenance of solar, wind, and energy efficiency solutions.
AI & Software Development
Design, programming, and commercial distribution of machine learning algorithms and software.
Autonomous Mobility
R&D, testing, and deployment support for autonomous vehicles, drones, and smart mobility.
Agritech & Food Security
Controlled-environment agriculture, vertical farming, and water conservation systems.
Space Technology
Satellite communications advisory, Earth observation data processing, and space research.
Life Sciences & Biotech
Pre-clinical research, genomic sequencing services, and digital health platforms.
Management & ESG Consultancy
Carbon management, energy auditing, ESG compliance, and business strategy advisory.
E-Commerce & Trading
Digital storefronts plus import, export, and wholesale distribution of tech and consumer goods.
Over 1,000+ Activity Options in Masdar City
Tell us what business you plan to start and we’ll help you choose the right trade licence.
What is the Cost of Business Setup in the Masdar Free Zone?
Starting a business in Masdar City free zone costs between AED 7,000 and AED 27,000, depending on the number of activities and visa requirements. Masdar City free zone also requires a minimum share capital deposit of AED 50,000 for LLC structures.
Standard packages include between 1 and 6 activities. You can add up to 15 activities per licence with a customised package, with the total licence fee capped at AED 30,000.
Startup Package
- No visas included
- Add up to 2 business activities
Innovation Package
- 2 visas included
- Add up to 3 business activities
- Flexi-desk lease
Business One Package
★ Most Popular
- 1 visa included
- Add up to 3 business activities
- Flexi-desk lease
- Establishment card
- E-channel fees
- Visa medical exam
- Emirates ID application
Enterprise Package
- 3 visas included
- Add up to 6 business activities
- Flexi-desk lease
How Do You Start a Business in the Masdar Free Zone?
To start a business in Masdar City free zone, you pick a business activity and legal structure, reserve a trade name, get initial approval, apply for a trade licence, and then open a bank account.
- 1
Choose a business activity & legal structure
A business setup consultant can give you a list of activities in Masdar City. Legal structure options include an FZ LLC (Free Zone LLC) and branch companies.
- 2
Reserve a trade name
Your trade name options have to be given in both Arabic and English and follow the local guidelines. This is also part of your initial approval application.
- 3
Apply for a trade licence
Once you get initial approval from the free zone authority, you can apply for a trade licence. Your application can take up to 10 working days to be processed.
- 4
Open a bank account
Our consultants can help you open a local bank account for your business. We handle the entire application, including recommending a suitable bank.
Document List
A trade name reservation certificate, initial approval certificate, signed lease agreement, and proof of share capital deposit are required for every free zone trade licence application. Individual and corporate shareholders each have a separate set of requirements:
For Individual Shareholders
- Passport copy (minimum 6 months validity)
- Passport-size photo (white background)
- Proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement)
- CV / resume of the owner(s)
- Business plan (required for cluster activity approval)
For Corporate Shareholders
- Certificate of Incorporation (or parent company trade licence)
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Board Resolution approving the setup and appointing the legal manager
- Certificate of Incumbency (or Good Standing)
- Passport copies of the appointed Director / Legal Manager
Choose Masdar City
Start your next business in Abu Dhabi’s innovation-focused free zone and access modern infrastructure, a global network of entrepreneurs, and government support for startups.
Start a Business in Masdar City With A&A Associate
A&A Associate is the largest corporate service provider in the UAE. Our expert consultants have helped thousands of entrepreneurs start businesses all over the country. We can handle the entire business setup process, including recommending office space, getting approvals, and helping you open a bank account.