Financial activities are licensed by the FSRA regulator, while non-financial companies — from consulting to IT — go through the Registration Authority under a simplified procedure. All government fees are published in the official Schedule of Fees and quoted in US dollars. Below we break down the structures, the steps, current 2026 fees and the tax regime.
Why Choose ADGM
ADGM competes less with neighbouring free zones and more with DIFC, Singapore and London. Investors pick it for predictable law and reputation, not for the lowest price tag.
- English common law jurisdiction: disputes are heard by the independent ADGM Courts, familiar to international investors
- A dedicated financial regulator, the FSRA — licences for asset managers, brokers, banks and fintech, plus the RegLab sandbox
- Flexible structures: Private Company, SPV, Foundation — for holdings, asset ownership and succession planning
- Discounted Tech Startup licence — 1,500 USD per year for the first three years, subject to Hub71 approval
- 100% foreign ownership and free repatriation of capital
- Access to the UAE’s network of double taxation treaties
Steps to Register a Company in ADGM
The procedure is fully digital: the application, documents and payment all go through the registrar’s online portal. The key fork in the road is whether your activity is financial or not — it drives both the timeline and the budget.
- Choose a structure: Private Company Limited by Shares, SPV, Foundation or a branch
- Check and reserve a company name via the ADGM portal
- Determine the activity type: non-financial goes through the Registration Authority, financial through the FSRA
- Prepare incorporation documents: articles, details of directors, shareholders and beneficial owners
- Submit the application online and pay the registration and licence fees
- Receive the licence, arrange residence visas and open a corporate bank account
A non-financial company or SPV is usually registered within 5–10 business days once a complete file is submitted. An FSRA financial licence is a different story: reviewing the business plan, capital and team takes 2 to 6 months.
Cost of Setting Up a Company in ADGM (2026)
ADGM is a rare case where every government fee is published officially: the Registration Authority’s ‘Overview of Fees’ is available on adgm.com. Fees are set in US dollars (USD), and that is the currency we use in the table below.
| Cost item | Amount, USD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-financial company: first year | 5 800 | Application, licence, business activity fee and Data Protection |
| Non-financial licence renewal | 5 300 | Annually, per the Schedule of Fees |
| SPV: registration / renewal | 1 900 / 1 400 | Non-exempt SPVs also require a corporate agent (CSP) |
| Foundation: registration / renewal | 1 000 / 500 | Renewal includes the Data Protection fee |
| Tech Startup licence | 1,500 per year | Discounted rate for 3 years, Hub71 approval required; standard fees apply afterwards |
| Financial company: Registration Authority fee | 17 000 | Renewal — 16,500; FSRA fees are calculated separately under the FSRA Fees Rules |
| Office or flexi-desk rent | on request | A confirmed address on Al Maryah Island is mandatory |
For a quick estimate: a holding SPV runs around 1,900 USD in government fees for the first year, a standard consulting company around 5,800 USD plus office rent. The budget for a financial licence depends on the category and is always calculated individually.
Taxation in ADGM
ADGM companies pay the UAE federal Corporate Tax: 9% on profit above 375,000 AED and 0% below that threshold. VAT is the standard 5%, though many financial services are exempt or zero-rated. A zone resident with Qualifying Free Zone Person status can apply a 0% rate to qualifying income — this requires genuine economic substance and control over the revenue mix. QFZP conditions are worth modelling before registration, not after the first tax return.
Who ADGM Is Right For
- Fund managers, brokers and fintech startups that need a Western-style regulator and the RegLab sandbox
- Families and wealth owners structuring assets and succession through a Foundation or a holding SPV
- International groups that value English law, dedicated courts and a jurisdiction banks take seriously
‘ADGM is the only zone in Abu Dhabi where a fund gets an FSRA licence and the protection of English common law while physically staying in the UAE with all the local tax benefits’, notes the lead lawyer at Dynasty Business Adviser.
Set Up Your ADGM Company with Dynasty Business Adviser
Dynasty Business Adviser handles ADGM registration end to end: we select the structure — from SPV to Foundation — prepare the documents, liaise with the registrar and the FSRA, open the bank account and arrange visas. Get in touch and we will cost your structure against the current Schedule of Fees.
Get a consultation
Pricing information is accurate as of the publication date (July 13, 2026) and verified against open sources, including adgm.com; confirm current fees directly with the zone administration before paying.
