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Abu Dhabi Mainland Licence Benefits
Onshore market access
Sell directly to UAE customers without a distributor.
Government & ADNOC bids
Become eligible for ICV certification.
Flexible visa capacity
Scale employee visas with your registered office.
100% foreign ownership
Run your business in almost all activities, freely.
Tap into Abu Dhabi supply chains
Build relationships with local manufacturers, contractors and suppliers.
Physical presence allowed
Operate offices, retail locations and customer-facing businesses.
7 Days Licence setup timeline
175K+ Companies in Abu Dhabi Chamber
ICV Eligible for government contracts
2000+ Business activities covered
7 Days Licence setup timeline
175K+ Companies in Abu Dhabi Chamber
ICV Eligible for government contracts
2000+ Business activities covered
Mainland or Free Zone? Choose Where You Need to Operate.
Full access
Abu Dhabi Mainland From AED 18,000 per year Full access
You don't automatically need an Emirati shareholder.Most Abu Dhabi mainland commercial, professional and industrial activities allow 100% foreign ownership under the UAE's 2021 Companies Law changes.
Your growth depends on UAE-based customers.
You want to bid for government or ADNOC contracts.
You need premises, people & operations on the ground.
Abu Dhabi is a core market for your business.
Most popular
Abu Dhabi Free Zone From AED 12,900 per year Most popular
Backed by ANAROCK - India's Largest Real Estate Company
Set Up Your Abu Dhabi Mainland Company in 8 Steps
Start here
1
Day 1Choose Activity & Structure
Confirm your ADDED activity code, licence type and entity structure. We also check whether your target contracts require ICV eligibility.
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2
Day 1-2Reserve Your Trade Name
Submit your company name options and reserve an available name through TAMM.
You approve
3
Day 2-4Get Initial Approval
Submit the initial application and supporting documents to ADDED for approval of your proposed activity and structure.
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4
Day 3-6Prepare Documents & MoA
We prepare your documents and MoA including notarization and apostille (if needed).
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5
Day 5-8Secure Your Office & Ejari
Arrange your registered physical office in Abu Dhabi and complete the required lease registration.
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6
Day 7-15ADDED Licence Issuance
Submit the final documentation through TAMM and receive your ADDED trade licence.
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7
Week 2-3ICV Registration
If applicable, begin your ICV certification process with the required local-spend and Emiratisation documentation.
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8
Week 2-4Visa & Banking
Coordinate investor or employee visas, Emirates ID and your corporate banking introduction.
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Your business is operational
You have residency
Week 4Your business is liveTrade legally from UAELicense issuedBank account ready
Start here
1
Day 1 Choose Activity & Structure
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2
Day 1-2 Reserve Your Trade Name
You approve
3
Day 2-4 Get Initial Approval
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4
Day 3-6 Prepare Documents & MoA
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5
Day 5-8 Secure Your Office & Ejari
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6
Day 7-15 ADDED Licence Issuance
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7
Week 2-3 ICV Registration
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8
Week 2-4 Visa & Banking
myHQ handles You have residency
Week 4Your business is live
Trade legally from UAELicense issuedBank account ready
Document checklist & what you get
You provide
Passport copies of all shareholders / directors
Passport size photographs in white background
Trade name reservation certificate
Initial approval certificate
Additional activity-specific approvals, where applicable
We take care of
Expert advisory on setup structure
We track and manage all approvals
You provide
Memorandum of Association
Shareholders Agreement
Board Resolution
Certificate of Incorporation
We take care of
Smooth digital document collation and submission
We handle document apostille
Digital document handover
For Indian founders, all the above documents must be notarised and apostilled before submission.
You provide
Signed & registered tenancy contract
Any municipality or location-specific approvals, where required
We take care of
Expert assistance in office selection
You provide
Trade license copy
Establishment card copy
Entry permit application
Medical fitness test results
Biometrics appointment letter
We take care of
End-to-end process support
We track and manage all approvals
Available as add-ons:
Physical Office
Document Attestation
Bank Account Opening
VAT & Corporate Tax
Most Popular Business Activities in Abu Dhabi Mainland
Import, export and wholesale a broad range of non-restricted goods.Best forImporters · Exporters · Distributors · Sourcing businessesWhy mainland?Built for businesses selling and distributing within the UAE.
Tap into Abu Dhabi’s growing real-estate market.Best forProperty brokers · Real estate firms · Property consultants · InvestorsWhy mainland?Regulated activity requiring mainland licensing & RERA approvals.
Take on construction, infrastructure, MEP, fit-out and contracting projects.Best forContractors · MEP companies · Fit-out firms · Infrastructure businessesWhy mainland?Must for businesses executing physical projects and contracts in UAE.
Provide services to government and semi-government entities.Best forGovernment Consultants · Institutional Service Providers · ContractorsWhy mainland?Must when government is your customer.
Provide technical, supply-chain & specialist services to oil & gas companies.Best forOilfield Suppliers · Technical Services · Maintenance Firms · Engineering SupportWhy mainland?Mandatory requirement to participate in government controlled sectors.
Provide management, strategy & advisory services to enterprises.Best forAdvisory firms · Management Professionals · Indian Service BusinessesWhy mainland?A strong option when Abu Dhabi enterprises are your customers.
Not sure which activity fits?
An expert picks it for you in one call. Free, and you're not signing anything.
UAE Investor & Employment VisasGet residency for you and your team
How it helps?Live and work in the UAE, freely
Apostille & Document AttestationPrepare Indian documents for UAE use
How it helps?Get documents accepted without the hassle
Annual Licence RenewalKeep your licence active in few clicks
How it helps?Company stays compliant & active without interruptions
UAE Business Bank AccountOpen and activate your UAE account
How it helps?Receive, pay and manage finances globally
Licence & Activity AmendmentsAdapt as your business grows
How it helps?Add activities, change structure or expand visas
Virtual Office & Mailing AddressEstablish a professional UAE presence
How it helps?Have a UAE address without a physical office
Make the right decision for your Abu Dhabi setup
Get expert guidance choosing the best option as per your requirements
What does a mainland licence cost?
Select your preferences
ADDED Licence*
Office requirement
Visas
0 AED 2,000-5,000 each (Covers the entry permit, medical fitness test, biometrics and Emirates ID)
Other charges (Select if applicable)
Your UAE Business Setup Blueprint
A practical guide covering jurisdictions, licences, costs, visas and the key decisions you need to make before incorporating.
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We had a trade name conflict with an existing DET business. myHQ suggested three alternatives the same day and we were approved within 48 hours. The process I thought would take weeks took 3 days.
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Founder of Management Consulting Firm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)?
ADDED is the Abu Dhabi government authority responsible for issuing and regulating mainland (non-free-zone) trade licenses in the emirate. It's functionally equivalent to Dubai's DED (Dubai Economy and Tourism), and applications are filed through TAMM, Abu Dhabi's unified digital government services platform.
How much does an Abu Dhabi mainland license cost?
Total first-year cost typically ranges AED 18,000–65,000 depending on activity, entity type and office size, with the mandatory physical office lease being the largest single cost driver. The ADDED license fee itself generally runs AED 5,000–15,000 depending on activity.
How long does Abu Dhabi mainland company formation take?
Most Abu Dhabi mainland companies are licensed within 7–12 business days from activity confirmation to trade license issuance, assuming documents are submitted promptly and the office lease is registered without delay.
What is ICV certification and do I need it?
ICV (In-Country Value) is a scoring program, driven by ADNOC and adopted across Abu Dhabi government procurement, that rates suppliers on local spend and Emiratisation. It's required to bid on many government and ADNOC-linked tenders, and only mainland-registered companies are eligible — free zone entities cannot obtain ICV certification.
Do I need a local sponsor for an Abu Dhabi mainland company?
No, for most commercial, professional and industrial activities, following the 2021 UAE Companies Law update that permits 100% foreign ownership. A short list of "strategic impact" activities — defense, security and specific upstream oil and gas activities — still require Emirati participation.
Is Abu Dhabi mainland or ADGM free zone better for my business?
Choose mainland if you need to trade directly with UAE clients, bid on government/ADNOC contracts, or want a physical Abu Dhabi presence without restriction. Choose ADGM if your activity is financial services or fintech and your clients are primarily outside the UAE.
Can Indian founders manage an Abu Dhabi mainland company remotely?
Yes, most of the registration process can be completed remotely, with documents couriered and digitally signed. A UAE visit is typically only required for Emirates ID biometrics if applying for a residence visa.
What documents do I need to register a mainland company in Abu Dhabi?
Passport copies of all shareholders, passport-size photographs, a completed application form, a draft Memorandum of Association, and — for Indian founders — apostilled copies of specific supporting documents such as board resolutions.
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Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup: Complete Guide (2026)
Abu Dhabi mainland company setup means registering a business under the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the licensing authority for companies that trade directly within the UAE rather than from inside a free zone like ADGM or KEZAD. It is distinct from Abu Dhabi free zone registration and from mainland setup in Dubai or Sharjah: it has its own fee structure and its own access to Abu Dhabi’s government and ADNOC-linked contracting ecosystem through the In-Country Value (ICV) programme.
Where Dubai’s mainland licensing serves a commercially diverse, largely private-sector economy, Abu Dhabi mainland licensing sits close to the emirate’s oil, gas and government contracting ecosystem. ADNOC and its supply chain, government ministries and semi-government entities are disproportionately large customers here.
Mainland company formation in Abu Dhabi is one route within the wider business setup in Abu Dhabi landscape, alongside the emirate’s five free zones. For Indian founders, an ADDED-registered company has become an increasingly common vehicle for bidding on government-linked contracts, selling locally into the UAE, or gaining the credibility of a capital-city registration.
What is ADDED? Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development Explained
ADDED (Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development) issues, renews and regulates mainland trade licences across the emirate, and is functionally equivalent to Dubai’s DET (Dubai Economy and Tourism). Founders and official documentation refer to it interchangeably as ADDED Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi economic department, or Abu Dhabi DED, the last carried over from its former Department of Economic Development naming. All refer to the same body, and every mainland company in Abu Dhabi, from a single-shareholder consultancy to a multinational’s local branch, is licensed through it.
Applications, renewals and most correspondence are filed through TAMM, Abu Dhabi’s unified digital government services platform. ADDED’s mandate also extends to coordination with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) on sector-specific incentive programmes, and with the ICV framework that governs government and ADNOC procurement preference.
Who Should Set Up Mainland in Abu Dhabi? Best Business Types and Use Cases
Mainland company formation in Abu Dhabi suits founders whose business model depends on UAE-local trading rights, government or ADNOC contract eligibility, or a physical Abu Dhabi presence.
Oilfield and energy-sector service suppliers, including engineering support, maintenance contractors and equipment suppliers. ICV certification is frequently a prerequisite to even bid on ADNOC vendor panels, and suppliers routinely see faster tender shortlisting once it is in place.
Government and institutional consultants, advisory firms and project-delivery contractors working with Abu Dhabi ministries or semi-government entities. For management and technical consultants, a Professional Licence paired with early ICV registration is the standard path.
General trading and import/export businesses that need to sell directly to UAE-based customers, something a free zone company cannot do without routing through a local distributor.
Construction and contracting firms, real estate brokerages tied to Abu Dhabi’s active development zones (Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island), and hospitality or tourism operators serving the capital’s growing visitor economy.
Abu Dhabi Trade License Types and Permitted Activities
ADDED mainland licences cover an unrestricted range of commercial, professional, industrial and tourism activities, with a small carve-out of strategic impact activities (defence-adjacent work, security services and specific upstream oil and gas exploration) that require Emirati shareholder participation or additional federal approval. Outside that list, most activities now permit 100% foreign ownership under the 2021 UAE Companies Law reform, which applies to company formation across the UAE rather than to Abu Dhabi alone.
Licence Type
Covers
Notes
Commercial Licence
General trading, import/export, wholesale and retail distribution
The most commonly issued Abu Dhabi trade license category
Professional Licence
Consulting, engineering, legal and financial advisory, marketing, and information technology (IT) services
Professional Licence holders pursuing government or ADNOC advisory work are the most common ICV certification applicants among mainland service businesses
Industrial Licence
Manufacturing, assembly and processing
Many holders operate physically from ICAD (Industrial City of Abu Dhabi) or KEZAD industrial land while remaining ADDED-licensed, combining industrial infrastructure with full local trading rights
Tourism Licence
Travel agency, tour operator and hospitality-adjacent activities
Abu Dhabi’s fastest-growing mainland licence category by percentage growth, tracking the capital’s tourism infrastructure expansion on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island
How to Register a Mainland Company in Abu Dhabi: Step by Step
Confirm activity, entity type and ICV relevance. Decide your activity code, legal structure (LLC, Civil Company, Branch, Representative Office or Sole Establishment), and whether ICV certification matters for your target clients.
Reserve your trade name via TAMM. ADDED checks the proposed name against naming conventions and reserves it.
Obtain initial approval. ADDED confirms no objection to your proposed activity and structure.
Prepare and submit incorporation documents. Passport copies of all shareholders, the application form and a drafted Memorandum of Association. Indian founders should expect board resolutions to require Hague Apostille certification, which myHQ coordinates within this step.
Register a physical office. ADDED mandates a registered physical office address in Abu Dhabi, which myHQ can meet through flexi-desk or serviced office partners without a full commercial lease.
Receive your ADDED trade licence. Licence and establishment card are issued, typically 7 to 12 business days from step 1 for standard activities.
File for ICV certification, if applicable. ICV registration, with supporting Emiratisation and local-spend documentation, is filed once the licence is active.
Process visas and open a corporate bank account. Banking is typically the longest post-licence step, running 2 to 6 weeks.
ICV Certification in Abu Dhabi: What It Is and Who Needs It
In-Country Value (ICV) certification is a scoring programme driven by ADNOC and adopted across Abu Dhabi government procurement. It rates suppliers on local spend, Emiratisation and local manufacturing, and it is available only to mainland-registered companies. Free zone entities, including ADGM and KEZAD companies, are not eligible regardless of their local spend or Emiratisation levels.
For founders targeting government and ADNOC-linked contracts, mainland registration is the entry ticket: ICV certification is a hard prerequisite in many ADNOC vendor panel categories and a scored advantage in most government tender evaluations.
Three practical points founders consistently underestimate:
ICV is filed after the trade licence is issued, not alongside it, so a company cannot bid on ICV-gated tenders immediately after registration
Emiratisation requirements form part of the ICV scoring model and apply regardless of founder nationality, so they should be planned into the hiring structure from the outset rather than retrofitted
ICV certification carries its own re-verification cycle, separate from annual trade licence renewal, and lapsing it removes tender eligibility even while the licence remains valid
Planning activity codes and Emiratisation for ICV at the point of registration shortens the path to a first successful bid.
Abu Dhabi Mainland License Cost: Full Breakdown (2026)
Abu Dhabi mainland license cost is driven primarily by the mandatory office requirement rather than the licence fee itself.
Cost Component
Abu Dhabi Mainland (ADDED)
ADDED licence fee (single activity)
AED 8,000–15,000/year, activity-dependent
Initial approval and trade name reservation
AED 1,500–3,000
MoA drafting and notarisation
AED 1,000–2,500
Physical office (mandatory)
AED 12,000–25,000+/year depending on size and location
Establishment/immigration card
AED 1,500–3,000
Per-visa cost (investor/employee)
AED 4,500–7,000 per visa
Medical fitness + Emirates ID (per person)
AED 700–1,200
Document attestation (Indian founders)
AED 1,500–4,000 depending on document count
ICV certification filing (if applicable)
Variable, typically AED 3,000–8,000 depending on scope of audit
Annual renewal
Broadly matches initial licence and office renewal cost
A single-activity LLC with a small flexi-desk office and no visa typically lands around AED 16,000 to 20,000 all-in for the first year. Adding a standard office and one visa pushes the total to roughly AED 24,000 to 30,000, and a larger office with two visas plus ICV certification filing runs AED 32,000 to 38,000+.
The office lease is consistently the largest single line item separating Abu Dhabi mainland license cost from an equivalent free zone setup in the emirate, such as ADGM or KEZAD, where a physical office is frequently optional.
Abu Dhabi Mainland vs Free Zone and Other Emirates
Compared to
Abu Dhabi mainland wins on
The alternative wins on
ADGM free zone
Local UAE market access, ICV and government tender eligibility
Setup cost and speed, 0% tax on qualifying income, no office requirement, suits financial services with international clients
Dubai mainland
ICV weight, government and ADNOC procurement access, generally lower office rents outside premium zones
Broader, more commercially diverse private-sector market
Sharjah mainland
ICV certification and Abu Dhabi-specific tender eligibility
Materially cheaper office rents and government fees
ADGM often wins on setup cost and speed for financial services founders with international clients, but anyone needing to trade locally or bid on government-linked contracts needs mainland.
Against Dubai mainland company formation through DET, Abu Dhabi’s clearest structural edge is ICV. Abu Dhabi’s government and ADNOC procurement ecosystem is substantially larger and more centralised than Dubai’s, so ICV carries more weight for a company registered in Abu Dhabi than for a Dubai-based company bidding in from outside the emirate.
Sharjah mainland, governed by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), is generally the lower-cost option. Abu Dhabi’s advantage is access: ICV certification and tender eligibility tied to Abu Dhabi-specific procurement programmes that a Sharjah-registered company cannot reach on the same terms.
UAE Visa Options Through an Abu Dhabi Mainland Company
An Abu Dhabi mainland company can sponsor several visa types:
Investor Visa: typically 2-year validity, tied to shareholding
Employee Visa: quota generally scaling with office size rather than the fixed tiers common to free zone packages
Dependent Visa: available for spouse and children once the primary holder’s residence visa is active
Golden Visa: 10-year validity, available to mainland company owners meeting the relevant investment or professional criteria, assessed at the federal GDRFA level
Visa processing typically takes 2 to 5 weeks post-licence issuance, including Emirates ID biometrics and medical fitness testing.
Corporate Bank Account Opening for Abu Dhabi Mainland Companies
UAE banks generally treat mainland companies as lower-risk than free zone entities during Know Your Customer (KYC) review, since a physical office and local trading activity provide a clearer business rationale. First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), ADCB, Emirates NBD and Mashreq are commonly used, with approval typically running 2 to 5 weeks. For Indian passport holders, a formal bank introduction from your setup partner, combined with a clear ICV or government-contract business case where relevant, materially improves approval speed.
UAE Corporate Tax and VAT for Abu Dhabi Mainland Entities
UAE federal corporate tax applies at 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000, with 0% tax on profit at or below that threshold. Abu Dhabi mainland companies do not qualify for the 0% qualifying income rate available to free zone entities under the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime. That is the trade-off for ICV and local market access.
Value Added Tax (VAT) registration is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 annually, and voluntary above AED 187,500. Corporate tax registration is separate and required for all UAE entities regardless of profit level. Companies pursuing government or ADNOC contracts should budget for both from year one, since these contracts typically push revenue above the threshold quickly.
Registering a Company in Abu Dhabi from India: What Indian Founders Must File
Indian founders registering an Abu Dhabi mainland company should confirm Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) compliance and any applicable Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notification requirements with their CA before incorporation. Settle this before documents are signed, not after.
Document apostille remains the most common practical friction point: board resolutions and specific personal documents typically require Hague Apostille certification before ADDED accepts them, and myHQ handles this as a standard part of the documentation stage.
The India-UAE Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) prevents double taxation on the same income, and with the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), founders trading across borders benefit from reduced duties on qualifying goods.
Ongoing Compliance and Annual Requirements
Abu Dhabi trade licences require annual renewal before the printed expiry date. Late renewal triggers escalating fines and can freeze the immigration file tied to the licence, affecting any visa holders under it. Other standing obligations:
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) filings are mandatory and must be kept current
Bookkeeping is required for corporate tax compliance regardless of turnover
Formal audit requirements apply to specific entity types and thresholds
Why myHQ for Abu Dhabi Mainland Setup
myHQ’s PRO services team is in-house and ADDED-registered, so filings go through myHQ’s own licensed team rather than a subcontracted third-party PRO firm, with a direct escalation path when a submission needs to move faster. Backed by ANAROCK Group, myHQ treats ICV documentation as a standard part of the Abu Dhabi mainland package rather than an add-on discovered after a first lost tender.
Get a free consultation for your Abu Dhabi mainland setup: a fixed-price quote covering every ADDED and office cost upfront, and end-to-end support through ICV registration, visas, banking, tax registration and annual renewals.
Frequently Asked Questions: Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup
Is TAMM the same as ADDED?
No. TAMM is Abu Dhabi’s unified digital government services portal, through which ADDED applications and renewals are filed. ADDED is the licensing authority; TAMM is the platform used to reach it.
Can I get an Abu Dhabi trade license without an office?
Not for a mainland licence. ADDED requires a registered physical office in Abu Dhabi, though a flexi-desk or serviced office can satisfy this. Founders who want no office at all should look at Abu Dhabi’s free zones, where most licences are issued without one.
What entity type should I choose, LLC or Civil Company?
LLC suits trading and general commercial activities with two or more shareholders and capped liability. Civil Company suits licensed professionals such as consultants, engineers and legal advisors, and doesn’t require share capital, but carries unlimited liability for partners.
How do I renew my Abu Dhabi trade license?
Before the licence expiry date, confirm your registered office lease is active, pay the ADDED renewal fee, and update any changed shareholder or activity details. Companies with ICV certification should also track their separate ICV re-verification cycle.
Full access
Abu Dhabi Mainland From AED 18,000 per year 
You don't automatically need an Emirati shareholder.Most Abu Dhabi mainland commercial, professional and industrial activities allow 100% foreign ownership under the UAE's 2021 Companies Law changes.
Most popular
Abu Dhabi Free Zone From AED 12,900 per year 
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