Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone is an integrated business park located near Abu Dhabi International Airport and is being developed by SkyCity, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Airports Company. The free zone offers modern facilities and integrated infrastructure of commercial offices, plots of land, warehousing units and logistics services, and mainly targets the aviation, airport services, logistics, transportation and shipping sectors.
The free zone offers many benefits and incentives to investors, such as complete tax exemption, full foreign ownership of companies, world-class infrastructure and multiple facilities.
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone is the new global address for businesses in the world, offering its customers a variety of products within a free zone environment. Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone offers its customers a full range of free zone services, including company registration, licensing, leasing, fast-track visa processing for employees, and many other high-quality services within an integrated environment.
Opening a business in one of Abu Dhabi’s free zones is an attractive option for foreign investors seeking to benefit from the emirate’s huge potential and active business environment.
These zones were established as part of the emirate’s ambitious efforts to diversify sources of income, by encouraging foreign investors to invest in the local economy.
Abu Dhabi’s free zones operate primarily in areas such as transportation, logistics, media, and light, medium and heavy industries.
Establishing a company in Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
The procedures for establishing companies in the free zones in Abu Dhabi are simplified and require less time and effort, as the main goal of establishing these zones is to attract and facilitate the investment process, and remove bureaucratic obstacles and barriers. In each free zone, there is an independent authority responsible for issuing operating licenses and helping companies establish businesses there.
Investors can register their projects as a free zone company or establishment, or establish a branch or representative office of the existing company or parent company, whether local or foreign. Free zone establishments and companies are limited liability companies and are subject to the laws and regulations in force in the free zone in which they are established.
Advantages of Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zones
The Abu Dhabi government provides great support to companies that open their projects within the free zones, and provides many incentives, such as the freedom of full foreign ownership of companies without the need for a local partner, a low-cost operating environment, the freedom to fully transfer capital and profits, and exemption from import and export taxes, personal income taxes and corporate taxes. In addition, the free zones provide a one-stop shop service that helps companies quickly obtain the necessary permits and licenses from the relevant authorities, in addition to providing them with skilled labor and suitable housing.
Importing goods into free zones
The country’s free zones and duty-free shops allow the entry of various types of foreign goods from many countries, and their export outside the country or to other free zones and shops, without being subject to taxes and customs duties. Foreign goods re-exported in the country may also be entered into the free zones and shops abroad, provided that they are subject to export restrictions and customs procedures followed in the case of re-export.
Abu Dhabi Global Market
Abu Dhabi Global Market is a pivotal part of Abu Dhabi’s economic vision and plays a significant role in establishing Abu Dhabi as a leading international financial and business hub, connecting with the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and other regions of the world.
The market was established pursuant to Federal Law No. (8) of 2004, Federal Decree No. (15) of 2013, Cabinet Resolution No. (4) of 2013, and Law No. (4) of 2013. The Abu Dhabi Global Market, the international financial center located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, officially began its operations on October 21, 2015.
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is made up of three independent authorities: the Registration Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the ADGM Courts. Located in a city that is home to one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds and one of the largest concentrations of high-net-worth individuals and institutions, the market’s strategy is based on activity in key areas that build on Abu Dhabi’s strengths, including private banking, wealth management and financial innovation.
Abu Dhabi Global Market allows registered companies to operate within a business environment with world-class regulatory frameworks, an independent court system and a legislative infrastructure.
Target sectors
Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone is being established to create a unique and preferred commercial destination for international and local institutions in the following sectors:
• Aviation
• Space
• Defense
• Airport Services
• Logistics
• Cargo
• Shipping
• ICT
• Pharmaceuticals
• Management Consulting
• Trade
• Light Industries
• Marketing and Events
• Other service providers that are related to the aviation industry in one way or another as well as some industrial activities, and that seek the advantage of proximity to the airport for import and export purposes.
Advantages of Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
Companies choose free zones because of the facilities they provide, as follows:
• 100% tax exemption for companies
• 100% foreign ownership
• 100% return of capital and profits
• No customs fees
• Stay close to the airport to facilitate imports and exports.
• Fast and simple registration and licensing services.
• Protection services are available 24 hours a day.
• Communication and technology services
• Independent regulations and laws
• Easy access to regional markets
How can you establish a company in the free zone?
Establishing companies in Dubai’s free zones is much easier than establishing a company inside Dubai, as it can be 100% owned by any nationality and does not require a partner or sponsor from the UAE citizens, as the company is registered as a free zone establishment or a company belonging to the free zone or a branch or representative office in the Dubai free zone. In this case, the main company can be outside the Emirates and it is not required to be inside the Emirates. Companies located inside the free zone are regulated by the authority responsible for the free zone, which issues any licenses for the company. This is done based on the location of the free zone and the activity it carries out. The type of license issued by the responsible authority varies according to the commercial activity. A company can be established in the free zone by following some steps, including:
- Choosing a company location
- Agree on the trade name, as it is the name that distinguishes one company from another.
- Obtaining the company’s business license.
- Obtaining initial approval to start work.
- Commercial license registration.
- Complete the requirements for the commercial license and obtain it.
Establishing a company in the free zone
The UAE is distinguished by having more than 40 free zones in addition to some areas that are being established. Therefore, establishing a company in the free zone is one of the difficult things facing the investor, as it is difficult to choose between many areas. Therefore, Kaber Company, through its extensive experience in business management, helps many investors in choosing the appropriate free zone for their commercial activity. It also helps in establishing and founding the company in the free zone in the shortest time and at the lowest costs.
