Register a non-financial, retail or start-up company in Abu Dhabi Global Market. PROXPAT matches your activities to the right ADGM category, prepares the application and keeps the annual filings on time.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
ADGM Company Formation in Abu Dhabi Global Market
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is Abu Dhabi's international financial centre and free zone. Companies are registered and licensed by the ADGM Registration Authority. Businesses carrying on financial services also deal with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), and ADGM states that financial entities must apply to the FSRA before applying for incorporation.
ADGM prices its licences by business activity category, not by package. From 1 January 2025 it cut fees for non-financial and retail businesses by roughly half, while fees for financial businesses went up. Figures on this page come from the Registration Authority's Overview of Fees (January 2025) and ADGM's fee announcement.
PROXPAT helps you place your activities in the right category, choose the entity type, prepare the application and manage post-incorporation filings.
Legal Entity Types in ADGM
| Entity | How ADGM describes it |
|---|---|
| Private Company Limited by Shares | Has share capital; each member's liability is limited to any amount unpaid on their shares; cannot offer shares to the public |
| Public Company Limited by Shares | Has share capital and may offer shares to the public and be quoted on a stock exchange |
| Private Company Limited by Guarantee | No share capital; members are guarantors whose liability is limited to the amount they agree to contribute on winding up |
| Private Company Unlimited (with or without shares) | Members' liability is unlimited |
| Protected Cell and Incorporated Cell Companies | A core with cells holding separate assets and liabilities; in an Incorporated Cell Company each cell is a separate legal entity |
| Investment Company | A company investing the pooled capital of investors in financial securities, open-ended or closed-ended |
| Branch of a Foreign Company | A branch of a company formed outside ADGM, including elsewhere in the UAE, registered and licensed to operate in ADGM |
| Partnerships | Limited Liability Partnership, General Partnership and Limited Partnership, plus branches of foreign partnerships |
| Foundation and DLT Foundation | A foundation holds assets in its own name for beneficiaries; the DLT Foundation is tailored for blockchain foundations, DAOs and Web3 entities |
Registering as a Restricted Scope Company carries an additional USD 3,100 fee, subject to the Companies Regulations. See UAE company types for mainland and free zone equivalents.
Business Activity Categories
| Category | Covers | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Category A | Financial business activities | Apply to the FSRA before incorporation |
| Category B | Non-financial business activities | Most consultancy, technology and trading businesses |
| Category C | Retail business activities | Retail, dining and lifestyle outlets |
| Specialised | Professional membership organisations, captive insurers, investment partnerships and their general partners, open- and closed-ended investment companies, special purpose vehicles | Separate pricing |
| Incentivised | Tech start-ups, venture capital fund managers, social enterprises, carried interest vehicles | Reduced fees for a set period |
ADGM Registration and Licensing Fees (2025)
| Fee (USD) | Category A | Category B | Category C | Specialised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Application for incorporation | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Commercial licence fee | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Business activity fee | 16,000 | 4,800 | 1,800 | 900 |
| Data protection fee | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Initial total | 17,000 | 5,800 | 2,800 | 1,900 |
| Annual renewal total | 16,500 | 5,300 | 2,300 | 1,400 |
- Every entity must keep a registered office address in ADGM and pay the associated lease registration fee.
- Incorporation fees are not refunded if an application is withdrawn or rejected.
- Extending a name reservation costs USD 200.
- Data protection renewal is submitted separately from the commercial licence renewal.
- Company service providers pay USD 7,800 initially and USD 7,300 on renewal, and DLT Foundations USD 15,000 and USD 14,500.
What Changed in January 2025
| Category | Initial registration | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Non-financial | USD 10,000 to USD 5,500 | USD 8,000 to USD 5,000 |
| Retail | USD 6,000 to USD 2,500 | USD 4,000 to USD 2,000 |
| Financial | USD 15,000 to USD 16,700 | USD 13,000 to USD 16,200 |
| Tech start-ups | USD 1,000 to USD 1,500 | USD 1,000 to USD 1,500 |
Older guides quoting USD 10,000 for a non-financial company are out of date. So is USD 15,000 for a financial company, which now costs more.
Incentives for Start-ups, Funds and Social Enterprises
| Structure or activity | Fee (USD) | Duration and rules |
|---|---|---|
| Tech start-up | 1,500 | Three years: registration and two consecutive renewals. Afterwards, non-financial start-ups move to Category B fees and fintech start-ups to Category A |
| Venture capital fund manager | 1,500 | Three years, for eligible FSRA-approved applicants |
| Social enterprise | 700 | While holding a certificate confirming social enterprise status from the competent authority |
| Carried interest vehicle | 1,900 initial, 1,000 renewal | For eligible carried interest activities |
Annual data protection fees are charged on top of incentivised fees. Plan for the standard category fee once the incentive ends, not just the start-up rate.
After Incorporation: Filings and Fees
| Filing or service | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Annual accounts and reports | 0 |
| Confirmation statement / annual return | 100 |
| Change of name, share capital, share transfer, registered office or articles | 100 each |
| Appointment or cessation of directors, secretary or authorised signatory | 100 |
| Re-registration to change legal form | 300 |
| Licence variation within the same category | 100 |
| Licence variation from Category C to B | 3,100 |
| Licence variation from Category B to A | 11,300 |
| No objection certificate, certified copy, witnessing a signature or register extract | 100 each |
| Voluntary strike-off or deregistration | 0 (withdrawing the application: 100) |
Adding a financial activity later is expensive. Moving from Category B to A costs USD 11,300 in variation fees, so map your future activities before you incorporate.
Practical Setup Points
- Timeline. ADGM's setting-up FAQs say standard incorporation applications are expected to be approved within 10 business days, and foundations take about 3 to 5 days.
- Company secretary. ADGM notes that appointing one is only mandatory for a Public Company Limited by Shares.
- Office. A physical office address in ADGM must be maintained at all times.
- Visas. ADGM-issued visas run for up to 3 years, and tech start-ups receive 3 visas for every dedicated desk.
- Financial activities. Speak to the FSRA first; non-financial applicants deal with the Registration Authority.
ADGM or DIFC?
| ADGM (2025 schedule) | DIFC private company | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-financial or non-retail: first year | USD 5,800, including data protection | USD 8,000 incorporation + USD 12,000 licence |
| Non-financial or non-retail: renewal | USD 5,300 | USD 12,000 licence |
| Retail: first year | USD 2,800 | USD 3,400 incorporation + USD 5,100 licence |
| Start-up route | Tech start-up at USD 1,500 for three years | Innovation licence: USD 100 incorporation, USD 1,500 licence with conditions |
See DIFC company formation for DIFC's process and filing calendar.
Is ADGM the Right Fit?
After the 2025 cut, a non-financial ADGM company costs far less than it used to, and it brings ADGM's legal framework and an Abu Dhabi base. The requirement for a registered office in ADGM, and the category-based pricing, still make it a different decision from a package free zone. For a licence serving the local market, compare Abu Dhabi mainland company formation. Compare with Dubai options in our business setup cost calculator and free zone guide.
How PROXPAT Helps
Activity mapping to Category A, B or C
Entity type selection
Name reservation and incorporation application
Registered office and lease registration coordination
Tech start-up incentive eligibility check
Data protection registration
Visas and establishment formalities
Confirmation statements, changes and renewals
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the right financial free zone.
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 Free Zones
Register Your Company in ADGM
PROXPAT maps your activities to the right ADGM category, prepares the incorporation application and keeps your filings and renewals on schedule.