Set up in Abu Dhabi from AED 7,000, or choose a package with visas and a desk. PROXPAT matches the package to your activities and headcount and handles the visa steps.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Masdar City Free Zone Company Formation
Masdar City Free Zone is a free zone in Abu Dhabi that publishes its licence packages, desk prices and visa fees on its website. That makes first-year costs easier to estimate than in zones that only quote on request.
It lists more than 1,000 approved activities and three setup routes: a free zone limited liability company, a branch of a foreign company, or a branch of a UAE company. The figures below come from Masdar City Free Zone's licence and registration page.
PROXPAT helps you choose the package, confirm your activities, prepare documents and complete the establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and visa steps.
Setup Routes
| Structure | What Masdar City Free Zone says |
|---|---|
| Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC) | An independent legal entity with shareholders, which can be individuals, companies or a mix of both |
| Branch of a foreign company | Extends an existing international company into Abu Dhabi without creating a separate legal entity |
| Branch of a UAE company | Expands an existing UAE business into the free zone under the same legal identity |
For branch rules and parent company documents, see branch of a foreign company.
Licence Packages
| Package | Price | Activities | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup | AED 7,000 | Up to 2 | Licence and registration |
| Innovation (start-up and innovation package) | AED 12,000 | Up to 3 | Licence and registration, 2-visa quota, flexi desk lease |
| Business One | AED 17,500 | Up to 3 | Licence and registration, one visa, flexi desk lite lease, establishment card, eChannel fees, visa medical exam and Emirates ID application |
| Enterprise | AED 27,000 | Up to 6 | Licence and registration, 3-visa quota, flexi desk plus lease |
- Package charges are subject to 5% VAT.
- Activities are limited and subject to approval. Masdar lists certain special segments as exceptions, including associations, service providers, regional headquarters, oil and gas field services, retail and space.
- Extra activities cost AED 2,500 each for a general activity and AED 5,000 each for a special activity.
- A special company name adds AED 1,000, subject to DED approval.
- Masdar notes that start-up package clients convert to a signature package after three years.
Desks and Office Space
| Option | Published price |
|---|---|
| Virtual desk | AED 6,000 per year |
| Flexi desk | AED 10,000 per year |
Masdar asks companies to choose an office solution based on visa eligibility and operational needs, from flexi desks and dedicated desks to offices. Flexi desk leases need a refundable security deposit equal to two months' rent.
Visa and Establishment Fees
| Item | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration establishment card | AED 1,600 | One-time fee |
| eChannel registration | AED 2,600 | One-time charge, with an annual renewal fee |
| Employment visa deposit | AED 2,500 | Refundable, per employee, released after visa cancellation |
| Employment visa package (2-year visa) | AED 3,050 | Excludes the medical fitness test and Emirates ID |
| Entry permit issued inside the UAE | AED 800 | If applicable |
| Change of status and residency stamping inside the UAE | AED 900 | If applicable |
| Medical fitness test | AED 350 | One-time fee |
| Emirates ID | AED 450 | For 2 years |
Masdar states these rates include 5% VAT, except for leases. See employment visa services and establishment card.
Adding an Employee: Worked Example
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
| Employment visa package (2-year visa) | 3,050 |
| Medical fitness test | 350 |
| Emirates ID (2 years) | 450 |
| Total fees | 3,850 |
| Refundable employment visa deposit | 2,500 |
Add AED 800 or AED 900 if an in-country entry permit or change of status applies. Check that your desk or office allows the extra visa before you apply. Our business setup cost calculator helps compare the full first year across zones.
Registration Steps
Step 1: Select your business activities from Masdar City Free Zone's approved list.
Step 2: Choose the structure: FZ-LLC, foreign company branch or UAE company branch.
Step 3: Apply through the e-services portal, reserving the company name and submitting initial details.
Step 4: Provide documents and obtain approvals from Abu Dhabi authorities and the free zone regulator.
Step 5: Sign the legal documents and receive the licence and registration certificate.
Step 6: Choose workspace and process visas for your team.
Masdar says registration can typically be completed within a few working days once all documents are submitted and approved. Documents usually include passport copies, application forms, activity details and legal incorporation documents.
Masdar City and Other Abu Dhabi Options
| Option | Published points | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Masdar City Free Zone | Packages from AED 7,000; FZ-LLC or branch | This page |
| ADGM | Financial free zone with its own registration authority; non-financial fees from USD 5,800 under the 2025 fee schedule | ADGM guide |
| twofour54 | Media, gaming and entertainment free zone regulated by the Creative Media Authority, with a sole proprietor (freelancer) licence | Ask PROXPAT |
| Abu Dhabi mainland | Licensed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development through TAMM | Abu Dhabi guide |
Corporate Tax Points for Free Zone Companies
A Masdar City company registers for corporate tax like other UAE juridical persons. If it is a Qualifying Free Zone Person, Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 requires it to prepare and maintain audited financial statements, whatever its revenue. See corporate tax registration and accounting and record keeping.
How PROXPAT Helps
Package comparison against your activities
Structure choice: FZ-LLC or branch
Name reservation and e-services application
Document preparation and attestation
Licence and registration certificate
Establishment card and eChannel
Medical, Emirates ID and visas
Bank account file and renewals
Frequently Asked Questions
Build your base in Abu Dhabi.
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
Set Up Your Company in Masdar City Free Zone
PROXPAT matches the package to your activities and visas, prepares the application and handles the establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and visas.