ADGM cost in 2026
Abu Dhabi · prices checked
In short
The cheapest ADGM licence costs 2,800 USD a year.
- Not a free zone in the ordinary sense.
- English common law applies directly, including equity, and ADGM has its own courts.
- It sells no packages: the price is a sum of published lines, in US dollars.
- The special purpose vehicle at 1,900 dollars is the cheapest holding structure in the country, and the least accessible.
About ADGM
ADGM licence cost in 2026
| Package | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
Category B, non financial
| 1 year licence | USD 5,800 |
Category C, retail
| 1 year licence | USD 2,800 |
Specialized, including special purpose vehicles
| 1 year licence | USD 1,900 |
Tech Start-up
| 3 year licence | USD 1,500 |
Category A1, financial
| 1 year licence | USD 17,000 |
Foundation
| 1 year licence | USD 1,000 |
ADGM visa cost
| Costs and conditions | |
|---|---|
| Establishment card, new or renewal | 1,127.27 AED |
| Employment visa, 2 years, applied from outside the UAE | 3,237.39 AED |
| Employment visa, 2 years, applied from inside the UAE | 4,149.66 AED |
| Employment visa renewal, 2 years | 2,310.12 AED |
| Work permit, full time | 300 AED |
| Dependant visa, new, over 18, from outside the UAE | 2,607.39 AED |
| Visas per licence type | |
| Quota, business centre address | 2 visas per desk, 3 per desk for innovation activities |
| Quota, leased office | 1 visa per 8 square metres, 6 for retail and restaurants, 20 for hotels |
ADGM office and desk cost
| Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island | around 250,000 square metres of offices plus 15 or more coworking operators |
|---|---|
| Rents | no price published by ADGM. Landlords set them, the office page is an enquiry form |
| Special purpose vehicles | may use a company service provider's registered office address |
| Tech Start-up | at least one dedicated desk or office, hot desk explicitly refused |
ADGM renewal and closing fee
First year, licence
2,800 USD
Renewal, per year
2,000 USD
Closing the company
USD 0
Details
Renewal, per year. Published by category, in US dollars: USD 2,000 for a category C retail licence, USD 5,000 for a category B non financial licence, USD 1,500 for a tech start-up licence. ADGM announced these reduced renewal fees itself in January 2025. Every ADGM figure on this page is in US dollars, because that is how ADGM publishes them. The dirham amount on the comparison table is a conversion made by us, so that ADGM can be ranked next to the other zones.
Closing the company. Free, and published as such. Cancel Licence costs nothing and the strike off application costs nothing in the schedule of fees. Filing annual accounts is also free. ADGM is the only zone in this comparison that lets you close at no charge, and says so in writing.
ADGM other fees and penalties
Administrative fees
- Name reservation200 dollars, valid 30 days, 200 to extend
- Ordinary filings, name change, share transfer, director change100 dollars each
- Upgrade Category C to B3,100 dollars. Category B to A: 11,300 dollars
- Upgrade special purpose vehicle to Category B4,000 dollars. To Category A: 15,200 dollars
- Continuance into or out of ADGM7,500 dollars each way
- Restricted scope company, additional3,100 dollars
- Non exempt special purpose vehicle without a company service providerup to 25,000 dollars and possible strike off
- Cancel licence, strike off application, annual accounts filingfree
Penalties
- Late confirmation statement300 dollars fine
- Late data protection renewal750 dollars fine
Important to know
Rules that apply
- A physical office address inside ADGM must be maintained at all times.
- No minimum capital for a private company limited by shares. 50,000 dollars for a public company.
- Small companies, turnover up to 13.5 million dollars and up to 35 employees, may file a balance sheet only. Everyone else files audited accounts.
- The auditor must be registered with ADGM.
- Since August 2025, any company claiming qualifying free zone person status for the zero percent corporate tax rate must file audited accounts regardless of size, subsidiary status or dormancy. Chasing the zero rate cancels the small company audit exemption.
- Data protection registration is required before processing any personal data, and renews annually.
- Incorporation approval is announced within 10 working days.
- A company service provider is compulsory for non exempt special purpose vehicles and foundations only. An ordinary Category A, B or C company may file directly.
Points to confirm before you sign
- The Tech Start-up fee is 1,500 dollars for three years in the fee schedule, 4,000 dollars per year in the setting up FAQ, and 1,000 dollars per year in the 2020 brochure.
- Foundation renewal is 500 dollars in the fee schedule and 200 dollars in the foundations FAQ.
- The employee visa is 2 years in the FAQ and up to 3 years in the Tech Start-up section.
Frequently asked questions
What does ADGM cost in year two?
What does a residence visa cost at ADGM?
Where is ADGM and who runs it?
All prices and terms come from the free zones and may change at any time without prior notice. Free Zone Radar cannot be held responsible for any change, error or omission. Always confirm the final price and terms in writing before you sign or pay.
Get a quotation for ADGM
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What happens next
- 1Our setup expert partner contacts you within one working day, to understand your project.
- 2He sends you a detailed quote with the official price of ADGM, fees included.
- 3You decide. If the quote suits you, he handles everything until your licence is issued.
- 4
No email? Check your spam folder.
Go further
Nearby free zones
Sources
assets.adgm.com, Schedule of Fees 2025, PDF, January 2025 · assets.adgm.com, Government Services Fee Schedule, PDF, 19 November 2024 · adgm.com/setting-up/special-purpose-vehicles · adgm.com/business-areas/tech-startup · adgm.com/operating-in-adgm/visas-and-government-services/corporate-affairs-government-services · adgm.com/operating-in-adgm/obligations-of-adgm-registered-entities/annual-filings · assets.adgm.com, Guidance on accounts and audit for ADGM qualifying free zone persons, PDF, 25 August 2025 · adgm.com/legal-framework
