Form an ADDED-licensed company in the seat of the federal government. Direct access to the UAE's largest sovereign wealth pools, energy & finance ecosystem, and AED 200B+ in annual public-sector tenders.
Capital-grade companies set up by Fairway
Abu Dhabi is the UAE's capital and largest emirate — home to the federal government, the country's biggest sovereign wealth funds (ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ), and 87% of the UAE's land mass. Mainland licensing is issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
While Dubai dominates retail and tourism, Abu Dhabi is the gateway to energy, finance, defence, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and government enterprise. Setting up here puts your company in the same regulatory neighbourhood as ADNOC, Etihad, Mubadala, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
Abu Dhabi annual GDP
Mainland activities
Of MENA energy reserves
Banking partners via ADGM
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development governs all mainland trade licenses across the emirate.
Abu Dhabi mainland is built for enterprises that want capital-city credibility, federal tender eligibility, and proximity to the UAE's deepest pools of institutional capital.
As the seat of federal authorities, only Abu Dhabi-based mainland firms enjoy walking-distance access to ministry decision-makers.
Most ADDED activities permit 100% foreign ownership post-2021 reforms — no Emirati partner required.
Eligibility to bid on giga-projects: NEOM partnerships, Etihad Rail, Saadiyat Cultural District, and Masdar Initiative.
Direct supply-chain proximity to ADNOC, EWEC, TAQA — ideal for oilfield services, energy tech, and industrial firms.
Pitch and partner with ADIA ($1T+), Mubadala ($300B+), ADQ ($200B+) — the largest institutional capital in the region.
Abu Dhabi Global Market — a separate common-law jurisdiction with private banking, prime brokerage, and family office infrastructure.
0% personal tax. 9% corporate tax only on profits above AED 375K. ADGM entities can access additional structures.
Cleveland Clinic, M42, PureHealth — Abu Dhabi is the regional hub for healthcare and biotech investment.
No ceiling on residence visas. Family sponsorship, golden visa pathways, and long-term residency available.
Capital-intensive, government-adjacent, and globally connected — these are the sectors where Abu Dhabi out-performs.
ADDED issues four primary mainland license categories, broadly aligned with DET but with stronger industrial and tourism allocations.
For trading activities — wholesale, retail, import, export, and general trading. The most common ADDED license category.
For consultancies, advisory firms, and skilled service businesses — heavily weighted toward government, energy, and finance advisory.
For manufacturing and industrial operations — Abu Dhabi offers the largest industrial land allocations in the UAE via KIZAD and ICAD.
For tourism & cultural businesses — supported by Saadiyat Cultural District, Yas Island, and the Department of Culture & Tourism.
Our 6-step ADDED process gets your trade license issued in 7–10 working days.
Pick activity & legal form (LLC, sole estab., civil)
Reserve a compliant trade name with ADDED
ADDED initial approval & sector clearances
MOA notarisation & Tawtheeq tenancy
ADDED issues trade license & chamber registration
Visa stamping & bank account (ADCB / FAB / ADIB)
ADDED documentation is similar to DET's but with additional sector-specific approvals where applicable (e.g., Department of Health for medical, ADRIC for industrial).
Original presence is required only for visa biometrics and bank account opening — typically a single 3–4 day visit to Abu Dhabi.
Get Document ChecklistEvery business is different — your jurisdiction, visa needs, banking requirements, and timeline shape the final cost. Tell us about your plans and we’ll send a transparent, all-in quote within one business day.
Capital-city setups demand capital-city expertise. Our ADDED specialists have placed engineering firms with ADNOC, advisory firms inside ADGM, and family offices in Saadiyat — at speed and without unforced errors.
Talk to a SpecialistDirect ADDED relationship cuts processing time by 35%.
ADNOC, Mubadala, ADQ — we get you on the approved supplier lists.
Pre-approved channels at ADCB, FAB, ADIB, and ADGM private banks.
Renewals, amendments, PRO, and accounting — one team.
We needed an ADDED license that would let us bid on ADNOC procurement within 60 days. Fairway delivered the license in 8, opened the FAB account in 14, and got us on the ADNOC vendor list in week six. Exceptional.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Have a different question? Just WhatsApp us.
ADDED-licensed mainland companies operate under UAE federal civil law and can trade across the entire UAE. ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) is a separate common-law financial free zone designed for asset managers, fund structures, and family offices — better tax treatment, but limited to financial activities. We help you choose based on your business model.
Yes — an ADDED mainland license is the prerequisite for ADNOC vendor registration and federal/Abu Dhabi government tenders. Different sectors (oilfield services, construction, IT, healthcare) have additional pre-qualifications. Fairway handles the supplier registration as part of our Enterprise package.
Standard ADDED licenses are issued in 7–10 working days from full document submission. Sectors requiring secondary approvals (medical, education, financial) take 14–21 days. Visa stamping and bank account opening add another 10–15 days.
Yes. Following federal reforms, most ADDED activities permit 100% foreign ownership. A short list of strategic activities (defence, oil & gas concession, certain national security categories) still require Emirati partners or 51% local ownership.
Yes — a Tawtheeq (Abu Dhabi's tenancy registration system) tenancy is required. For service businesses, a flexi-desk in a registered business centre is acceptable. Industrial and tourism activities require dedicated physical premises.
Starter packages begin at AED 19,500 all-inclusive — slightly higher than Dubai due to ADDED fees and Tawtheeq registration. SME-grade Growth packages with 2 visas start at AED 32,500.
Yes. Fairway has direct relationships with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), ADCB, ADIB, ENBD-Abu Dhabi, and ADGM private banks. Most accounts are activated within 10–15 working days post-licensing.
Excellent — Abu Dhabi is the UAE's healthcare capital (Cleveland Clinic, M42, PureHealth). The Department of Health (DOH) approval is required for medical activities; Fairway coordinates DOH along with ADDED to keep timelines tight.
Tell us your setup preferences and our consultants will calculate a transparent, all-in quote within one business day. No spam, no high-pressure sales — just a clear path to your setup.
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