Company Setup in Masdar Free Zone: Get 100% Foreign Ownership
Masdar City Free Zone Company Setup 2025: Business Opportunity, Licenses & Investment Advantages
Imagine! You are launching a business in a city that is built on smart mobility, clean technology and solar power. Such a visionary city is a living testbed for sustainability and that is the vision for developing Masdar city in UAE. Masdar City, Abu Dhabi is going to appear as an innovative arm and a spearheading green transition of Abu Dhabi.
Masdar City is developing as one urban and sustainable innovation hub to converge eco-friendly development with the integration of smart research and technology boost. Masdar City is becoming a home for research centres, academic institutions, offices and clean tech organisations.
For investors and entrepreneurs globally, Masdar City is offering a powerful proposition in terms of sustainability brand, high-quality infrastructure and innovation ecosystem with the combination of UAE free zone features.
In this article, you will learn How to Start a Company Setup in Masdar Free Zone business advantages, licence types and opportunities with a clear roadmap to get your company registered smoothly.
What are the unique features of the Masdar City Free Zone?
Smart infrastructure and eco-friendly design
Masdar City is structured as one of the most sustainable landscapes in the world incorporating green building standards such as LEED Platinum, water recycling, smart mobility and energy efficient systems. Businesses that will get the opportunity to locate in Masdar can collect the benefit of low operational cost and an alignment with sustainability branding in terms of environmental credentials and strong PR boost.
Strategic connectivity with Global markets
Masdar City is situated at a distance of 5 minutes from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and only 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi while to reach Dubai it will only take 45 minutes. Masdar City will be a prime location for businesses to collect accessibility for supply chain, international travel, logistics and regional distribution hubs.
Convenience, lifestyle and Central Park
Masdar City will offer a diverse utility for residential purposes, walkable space, green park, cafes, retail and offices. One of the best features observed at Masdar is its green public space known as Central Park Masdar. This feature adds quality of life at Masdar City alongside business hubs that provide employees motivation to learn, work, live and relax. Masdar City adds not only regulatory perks but delivers sustainable credentials, integrated environment and brand prestige.
Advantages of setting up business in Masdar City
Most of the entrepreneurs in UAE carry the pain points regarding cost, bureaucracy and foreign ownership and here are the benefits of setting up business in Masdar City.
- Profit repatriation and 100% foreign ownership: 100% foreign ownership provides full accessibility to the company owner without involving UAE sponsor or national partner. Moreover, profits and capital are also repatriated freely.
- Registration and fast licensing in terms of one-stop shop: Registration, leasing, licensing and Visa processing become easier through one-stop shop service at Masdar City.
- Zero duty on import and export: Products and services getting in and out are charged with 0% import or custom duties within Masdar Free Zone.
- Network accessibility and innovation ecosystem: Being at Masdar City will provide a community partnership with startup, Universities, research centres and more than 1000 + companies alongside clean technology investors.
Legal and regulatory support: At Masdar City businesses will get flexibility in legal structuring along with licensing support under ADGM Common Law framework.
Types of Licenses available in Masdar City
Selecting one right licence at Masdar City is critical.
- Commercial licence: Commercial licence is necessary for general trading, import-export and retail operations.
- Industrial licence: Value-added production, processing and manufacturing operations require industrial licence.
- Service licence: Professional services, accounting, legal, ICT and consulting operations require service licence.
- Investment or holding company licence: Investment entity and shareholders require investment or holding company licence.
Picking up right license
- First, map out your business activity.
- Check eligibility of your business activity in Masdar Free Zone.
- Select individual or dual licensing based on business activities.
- Decide licence permit in terms of local sales, import-export or visa issuance.
- Consult with a business setup advisor for business plan alignment.
Process of company registration at Masdar City
Step-wise guidance is required for proper registration of business under Masdar City Free Zone.
Business activity selection: Masdar supports tech startup, AI, Biotech, energy, logistic and business consultancy based on which secondary activities can be possibly selected.
Legal structure: For selection of legal structure, businesses can observe foreign company ownership, brand holding company or Free Zone LLC.
Registration of trade name: For business registration, domain reservation is necessary for preliminary approval.
Preparation and document submission: Documents submission requires proof of address, business plan, NOC, MoA, passport copies of the shareholders along with board resolution for authority approval.
Desk allocation and Lease Agreement: After documentation, selection of physical space required to choose between custom facility, serviced office or flex along with lease signing.
Final licence issuance: Licence issuance will be delivered following the payment, legal documentation and final check.
Visa processing and bank account setup: Visa application for employees along with bank account opening and Emirates ID generation will be supported through one stop-shop service in Masdar Free Zone.
Cost of business setup in Masdar City
Business setup cost completely depends on requirements and expense for business smooth transition in Masdar City. Here is one approximate cost breakdown:
| Setup Options | Typical Range |
| Business registration | AED 10,000 to 30,000 |
| Business license | AED 15,000 based on consultancy |
| Office/Desk/Lease | AED 20,000 to 50,000 Annually |
| Visa fees | AED 3,000 to 5,000 |
| Business reservation and approval | AED 1,500 to 2,000 |
| Total Cost | AED 50,000 to 90,000 depending on business scale. |
Note: This is only an indicative figure, for your business type get the customized quote via Masdar Cost Calculator.
Comparison with Abu Dhabi mainland and other free zones
- Other freezone charge less rent but there is a shortage of sustainability and innovation credentials.
- Abu Dhabi mainland provides unrestricted trade; however, it requires more regulatory integration and local sponsor mandatorily.
- Dubai freezone can be expensive due to overheads and higher demands.
Key sectors and companies in Masdar City Free Zone
| Sector | Key companies | Focus area |
| Renewable energy / cleantech | Masdar | Leading sustainable projects and Clean Energy in UAE. |
| Smart infrastructure / energy engineering | Siemens energy | Smart infrastructure and energy technology solution for sustainable cities. |
| Healthcare Technology / biotechnology | G42 Healthcare | Pioneer of genomics, AI-based Healthcare Solutions and Biotechnology innovation in UAE |
| Renewable advocacy/international policy | IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) | Globally responsible for promoting sustainable energy transition. |
| Research and development / artificial intelligence | Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) | AI-based advanced education and world’s first AI based University for research and innovation. |
Location, Contact Information and Facilities
- Proximity: 5 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, 20min to downtown Abu Dhabi and 45 min to Dubai.
- Landmarks: Integrated with Central Park with an eco-urban feature comprising smart mobility and free green zone.
Facilities and infrastructure
- Serviced offices, flex desk, co-working and office features.
- BUILT-TO-SUIT space for bigger Enterprise.
- Custom land plots.
- One stop-shop amenities like visa desk, bank tie-up, documents services and PO Box.
Contact and enquiry for Masdar City Freezone
Masdar City: Major choice of foreign Entrepreneurs in UAE
There are certain factors for which Masdar stands unique in the UAE.
Simplified foreign setup: Simplified foreign setup provides repatriation freedom, full ownership and no involvement of local partners.
Efficiency and transparency in the regulatory process: Transparency and efficiency in terms of one-stop services can support business in reducing the friction.
Innovation ecosystem and capital accessibility: Investor proximity, business flexibility and research innovation is accessible in Masdar City.
Brand sustainability alignment: Green credentials are conveyed in terms of sustainability and brand alignment in Masdar.
Scalable infrastructure: From desk level to custom facility are all available in terms of scalable infrastructure at Masdar.
These features alleviate most of the pain points of foreign entrepreneurs such as infrastructure risk, credibility challenge and bureaucratic delays.
Conclusion
Masdar City Free Zone offers one compelling value proposition for foreign entrepreneurs and emerging corporations that demands innovation, sustainable technology and future-forward brands. At Masdar City, you get 100% foreign ownership, high-tech accessibility, streamlined licensing along with green urban infrastructure in only one package.
Get ready to expand your future in the UAE with your clean-tech venture. Masdar City Free Zone can be your ultimate launchpad.
Kick starts your journey with the smartest Free Zone in Abu Dhabi today. Visit Masdar City Free Zone and get your best package for business setup.
Most FAQ’s
What is Masdar City Free Zone famous for?
Masdar City Free Zone is popular for its sustainability, technology and clean energy businesses in Abu Dhabi.
What are the top brands situated at Masdar City?
Top brands such as Siemens Energy, Masdar, MBZUAI and G42 Healthcare are the renowned innovation and AI-tech brands present in Masdar City
What are the key sectors integrated in Masdar City?
Masdar City Free Zone is highly integrated with biotechnology, clean engineering, Artificial Intelligence and renewable energy sectors.
Why are foreign entrepreneurs choosing Masdar City Free Zone?
Tax-free incentive, global networking, sustainable infrastructure and 100% foreign ownership are the potential attractions at Masdar City for foreign Entrepreneurs.
How can I set up my brand in Masdar City?
You can set up your brand easily through online registration, licensing and document verification via Masdar Portal.
