Set up on the Abu Dhabi mainland with the right economic licence. PROXPAT prepares the TAMM application, the memorandum and lease, beneficial owner registration, and visas once the licence is issued.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Abu Dhabi Company Formation: Mainland Licences and Costs
On the Abu Dhabi mainland, economic licences are issued by the Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and applied for through TAMM, the Abu Dhabi Government services platform. Abu Dhabi also has its own financial free zone, ADGM, which licenses companies separately.
Unlike most free zones, Abu Dhabi mainland licensing is not sold as a package. TAMM lists each fee item for a commercial licence, and several licence types serve different founders, from a full company with premises to a home-based trader licence.
PROXPAT helps you choose the licence type and legal form, prepare the memorandum and lease, submit on TAMM, register beneficial owners and move straight into visas.
Economic Licence Types in Abu Dhabi
ADDED lists seven economic licence categories:
| Licence | How ADDED describes it |
|---|---|
| Standard licence | The general business licence, available for all legal business structures |
| Abu Dhabi Trader (Tajer Abu Dhabi) licence | Issued electronically for specific commercial activities to UAE citizens and residents |
| Virtual licence | For individuals residing outside the UAE who want to establish an Abu Dhabi business |
| Freelancer licence | For citizens and foreigners carrying out economic activities remotely, without a physical office |
| Dual licence | Lets free zone establishments carry out operations outside their designated zone |
| Mobdea licence | For UAE female citizens, with 44 activity options focused on creative fields |
| Small Producers licence | For citizens with private farms providing agricultural and animal husbandry services |
ADDED also handles trade name reservation, renewal, amendment, cancellation and mortgaging of licences through the same eServices.
Commercial Economic Licence: What TAMM Lists
TAMM's "Issue Economic Licence – Commercial" service covers approved commercial, tourism, agricultural, artisanal and professional activities, under your chosen legal form. It lists these fee items:
| Fee item | Amount listed on TAMM |
|---|---|
| Organisational entities fee | AED 790 |
| Registration fee in the Economic Register | AED 10 |
| Commercial licence issuance fee | AED 10 |
| Establishment contract notarisation (companies) | AED 50 |
| Establishment card request (ICP) | AED 315 |
| Social contributions | AED 1,500 |
| Ministry of Economy fees | AED 2,500 |
| Abu Dhabi Chamber fees | AED 150 to AED 2,200, depending on category |
| Activities beyond six | An additional AED 100 for each activity |
Added together, the fixed items come to AED 5,175, or AED 5,325 to AED 7,375 once the chamber fee is included. That is before extra activities, the lease, notarisation of other documents and any approvals from other authorities. TAMM describes the total as "varying as incurred", so treat this as a baseline rather than a quote.
| Topic | TAMM position |
|---|---|
| Documents | Memorandum of association and an approved lease contract |
| Service time | 5 working days |
| Authority | Department of Economic Development |
Step by Step on TAMM
Step 1: Log in using UAE PASS.
Step 2: Submit the application and the required documents.
Step 3: Obtain approvals from other entities, if your activity needs them.
Step 4: Register the beneficial owners.
Step 5: Receive the approval or rejection notification.
Step 6: Pay the fees.
Step 7: Receive the commercial economic licence.
Because the lease is a required document, the premises decision comes before the licence, not after. Regulated activities add approval time, so we check them before you sign a lease. See government approvals.
Tajer Abu Dhabi: A Licence Without Premises
| Topic | TAMM and ADDED position |
|---|---|
| Who | UAE citizens and residents (ADDED) |
| Activities | Specific commercial activities |
| Premises | No official establishment site needed |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Memorandum | A standard memorandum of association is included |
| Documents | No documents required by the service |
| Service time | 10 working days |
It suits home-based or online sellers testing an idea before committing to premises. For online selling more broadly, see our e-commerce licence guide.
Virtual, Freelancer and Dual Licences
- Virtual licence: ADDED offers it to individuals residing outside the UAE who want to establish a business in Abu Dhabi.
- Freelancer licence: for citizens and foreigners working remotely without a physical office.
- Dual licence: lets a free zone establishment operate outside its zone. Dubai has its own version for Dubai free zone companies. See the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit.
Abu Dhabi Mainland or ADGM?
| Abu Dhabi mainland (ADDED) | ADGM | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing body | Department of Economic Development, through TAMM | ADGM Registration Authority |
| Pricing model | Itemised fees; commercial licence items from about AED 5,325 before lease and extras | By activity category; non-financial USD 5,800 initial, USD 5,300 renewal (2025) |
| Premises | Approved lease contract required for a commercial licence | Registered office address in ADGM required |
| Typical fit | Businesses serving the Abu Dhabi market directly | International, financial and holding businesses wanting ADGM's framework |
See ADGM company formation for its entity types and fees. For a free zone with published packages and visa fees, see Masdar City Free Zone.
Abu Dhabi or Dubai Mainland?
| Abu Dhabi mainland | Dubai mainland | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | TAMM (ADDED) | Department of Economy and Tourism |
| Headline fee items | Listed on TAMM: AED 790 organisational fee, AED 1,500 social contributions, AED 2,500 Ministry of Economy fees and others | Indicative: trade name around AED 620, licence from around AED 8,000 |
| Premises driver | Approved lease contract | Market fee calculated on rent |
Many businesses choose based on where their clients are. Compare Dubai figures on our Dubai mainland page and estimate costs with the cost calculator.
After the Licence
- Establishment card. TAMM includes the ICP establishment card request fee of AED 315. The card is needed before sponsoring visas. See establishment card, and PRO services in Abu Dhabi for the TAMM work permit and ICP residence fees that follow.
- Beneficial owners. Registration of beneficial owners is a step in the licence process, and changes need updating.
- Visas. Employment visas start with a MOHRE work permit. See employment visa services.
- Renewal and amendments. TAMM also runs licence renewal and amendment services. Add activities carefully, as each one beyond six costs AED 100.
How PROXPAT Helps
Licence type and legal form selection
Activity mapping and approval checks
Memorandum and lease preparation
TAMM application through UAE PASS
Beneficial owner registration
Establishment card and visas
Renewals and amendments
Mainland versus ADGM comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose where to license your company.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
The licence is the start of the government work, not the end of it
Once the trade licence is issued, the sequence that actually lets you operate begins: the establishment card, the MOHRE and immigration files, your employee quota, then employee visas and work permits. After that it repeats every year — renewals, cancellations when people leave, and licence renewal and amendments.
Companies that would rather not build that function in-house put it on a monthly PRO retainer from AED 700, or use it per transaction. Government fees stay separate and itemised either way.
The first six months after incorporation
- Establishment card issued through immigration
- MOHRE file opened and e-signature completed
- Employee quota checked before hiring
- Offer letters, work permits and entry permits
- Medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping
- Corporate tax and VAT registration where they apply
More in Setup by Emirate
Set Up Your Company in Abu Dhabi
PROXPAT chooses the right licence, prepares the TAMM application, memorandum and lease, registers beneficial owners and handles visas and renewals.