Get your Virtual Licence now

Apply online for your Abu Dhabi licence today

Abu Dhabi’s Virtual Licence enables non-resident foreign investors to easily obtain an economic licence to do business in Abu Dhabi.

Investors can apply for the Virtual Licence without meeting any residency requirements and regardless of current location.

The Virtual Licence covers a range of economic activities under 13 sectors, including: agriculture, manufacturing, repair, contracting, maintenance and installations, retail trade, transport, services, leasing services, health and entertainment events, wholesale trade, and import and export. Foreign investors can apply for a licence permitting 100% ownership for either of two approved legal forms: Limited Liability Company and Sole Proprietorship L.L.C.

To apply for your Virtual Licence, visit Abu Dhabi Business Centre’s website and select “Abu Dhabi Virtual Licence”.

Abu Dhabi’s Virtual Licence enables non-resident foreign investors to easily obtain an economic licence to do business in Abu Dhabi.

Ready to start your business in Abu Dhabi?

Discover a range of new online tools that can accelerate your growth in Abu Dhabi.

Investors seeking new investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi can access the Investor Journey portal, an all-in-one business creation platform that facilitates new business ideation, execution and support.

The portal aims to transform economic activities licensing services into fully integrated digital services, making it easier than ever for investors to do business in Abu Dhabi.

The Investor Journey features many investor-friendly tools like ‘Licence Finder’, which guides the investors through a smart questionnaire helping them to identify a suitable legal form and licence type. Investors seeking information can use the ‘Simulate Your Business Setup’ tool. The Investor Journey also features tools that enable contracts to be processed and signed digitally, allowing investors to apply for a trade name and a licence online within six minutes.

As part of the tools, investors can better understand the complete process involved in setting up a new venture in the emirate with the Business Simulator.

Access the full range of investor tools and services on TAMM.

Investors seeking new investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi can access the Investor Journey portal, an all-in-one business creation platform that facilitates new business ideation, execution and support.

Access government land with Musataha
Apply online for plots within ADIO’s land bank

Government land in Abu Dhabi is available to private investors via Musataha partnerships, which grant investors Musataha rights to develop a particular plot of land for a defined time period.

Investors can apply for land within a comprehensive land bank managed by ADIO. ADIO facilitates Musataha partnerships in collaboration with other Abu Dhabi government entities to stimulate investments and fast-track approvals.

Apply in two steps.

Step 1:

• Investor submits the Land Request Form including a preliminary Business Case
• ADIO studies the request and finds a suitable land matching the investor’s requirements
• If the investor accepts the proposed plot, an initial acceptance is issued within two working days

Step 2:

• Within three working weeks of the initial acceptance, investor submits a detailed Business Plan including Design, Market Assessment, Financial Model; Financial Statements; Licence and Proof of Funding
• If approved, ADIO issues the Award and Musataha Contract within five working days

Government land in Abu Dhabi is available to private investors via Musataha partnerships, which grant investors Musataha rights to develop a particular plot of land for a defined time period.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), in collaboration with the Department of Municipal and Transport (DMT), has pre-qualified nine companies for Phase 2 of its Road Lighting LED public-private partnership (PPP) project tender.

The project, which forms part of the Abu Dhabi Road Lighting Programme, includes the finance, supply, installation, operation and maintenance of 135,742 LED energy-efficient luminaires in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It will result in significant electricity savings of almost 2,400 million kWh, equivalent to a reduction of approximately 76 percent in power consumption, over the 12-year concession period.

The project is being procured in accordance with the PPP Law, ADIO’s Partnership Projects Guidebook and its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy.

ADIO has now concluded its bid evaluation process as part of the Request for Qualification (RfQ) phase and has pre-qualified the following companies: CRCCI (China Railway Construction Corporation International); Dussman Gulf; DUTCO Construction; EDF (Electricite de France); EESL/Hansa Energy Solutions; Orascom; Saif Bin Darwish; Shikun and Binui; and ST Engineering.

The companies hail from eight countries, including the UAE, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Israel and Singapore.

Pre-qualified bidders will be invited to participate in the next stage of the procurement process and submit detailed proposals in response to a Request for Proposal (RfP).

ADIO is the central Abu Dhabi government hub managing the facilitation, development and procurement of all infrastructure projects delivered through a PPP framework in Abu Dhabi, in line with its mandate to support private sector investment in the emirate. Find out more about ADIO’s infrastructure projects here: https://www.investinabudhabi.gov.ae/en/Infrastructure-Partnerships

DMT aims to encourage investment in Abu Dhabi through partnerships with the private sector. It facilitates projects related to its expertise in cooperation with strategic partners to ensure integration and knowledge exchange.In collaboration with Department of Municipal and Transport, ADIO has pre-qualified nine companies for Phase 2 of Road Lighting LED PPP project tender.

Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector is set for a boost with eight new projects announced during the Make it in the Emirates Forum. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and its partners signed MoU agreements with high-growth companies covering key areas, including manufacturing, banking, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare that will accelerate the growth of the UAE capital’s manufacturing base. During the Forum, ADIO also signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) to support the industrial sector.

Abu Dhabi’s ambitious Industrial Strategy aims to double the sector’s GDP contribution by 2031, leveraging strong enablers such as infrastructure, competitive operational costs, business-enabling regulations and access to financing. The projects announced by KEZAD Group, Infinity Green, Vitamol, ADAFZ, A2N Holdings, EMIC, Mark AB Capital Investment, SuperJet International, Oil Man, United Eastern Group, Orion Italy and Petrona Gulf DWC will significantly bolster Abu Dhabi’s industrial ecosystem.

Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz AlShamsi, Director General of ADIO, said: “The UAE continues to power ahead with its strategy to place advanced manufacturing at the heart of the economy. Within Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s innovation ecosystem, established infrastructure and exceptional connectivity to markets in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa continue to create unparalleled opportunities for investors. We welcome the latest group of industrial companies to Abu Dhabi and look forward to working with our partners across government to support their sustained success in the UAE capital.”

The projects were announced during the Make it in the Emirates Forum, themed ’Investment, Sustainability, Growth,’ and held in Abu Dhabi from 31 May to 1 June, and organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Economic Development Department (ADDED) and ADNOC. The event brought together decision-makers, experts, entrepreneurs, financing institutions, and investors from the industrial sector to enhance cooperation and explore new industrial collaboration opportunities. It also highlighted the potential for localising products by redirecting local purchases into the national economy and giving priority in bids to companies that participate in the National In-Country Value (ICV) Program.

His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: “These projects represent a remarkable milestone in our pursuit ofsustainable industrial development, supporting Abu Dhabi’s position as a manufacturing powerhouse. This position is support by the UAE’s strategic location and unique value proposition, which serve as an important magnet for industrial investment, offering unparalleled opportunities for growth. Our nation takes great pride in providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and fostering priority sectors, as well as industries of the future.”

The MoUs signed by ADIO during the Forum will power the next wave of growth of Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector.

A2N Holdings LLC, a company headquartered in Abu Dhabi with an extensive investment portfolio in the healthcare and distribution sectors, is embarking on a ground-breaking venture to establish the first fully integrated state-of-the-art IV solutions manufacturing facility in the UAE.

Emirates Investment Corporation (EMIC), a diversified investment company with a portfolio covering a range of sectors including Aviation, F&B, Facility Management, Oil and Gas and retail, will setup a pioneering solar manufacturing facility in Mussafah, which will employ cutting-edge automated technology to manufacture solar products from cells to panels.

Infinity Green, a subsidiary of India’s Sathi group, has introduced green solutions to the UAE for two decades. The leading cement manufacturer signed an MoU along with KEZAD Group to establish the first fully automated and integrated glass recycling plant in the Gulf to be set up in KEZAD Al Ma’mourah.

 Oil Man, a pioneering UAE-based company, has signed an MoU to establish a state-of-the-art facility for the design and manufacture of advanced drilling tools and pipeline repair equipment. This initiative emphasises their role as a technology owner and developer, contributing to the growth of the local industry.

The MoU between Mark AB Capital Investment, a UAE based private equity company, and SuperJet International (SJI), an Italian aviation company based in Italy, will support the development of the civil aviation industry in the UAE by establishing a state-of-the-art facility in Al Ain.

Vitamol, a researcher and manufacturer that focuses on the production of high-quality functional powder products, created through its trademarked Molecular Dispersion Technology, signed an MoU along with Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) to build a first-of-its-kind research and manufacturing plant located within ADAFZ for pharmaceutical application and global export of local camel milk powder. 

United Eastern Group, in partnership with Orion Italy and Petrona Gulf DWC, will setup United Clad Technology, a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi to produce clad pipes, fittings, flanges, valves and bends for the Oil & Gas Industry.

The MoU signed with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading bank in the UAE headquartered and listed in Abu Dhabi will support domestic enterprises and investors in the industrial sector.

Pure Salmon, a global land-based salmon aquaculture company, will strengthen Abu Dhabi’s agriculture technology (AgTech) ecosystem with the establishment of its headquarters in the emirate. A partnership between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Pure Salmon will see the company receive financial and non-financial incentives to expand local food sustainability efforts with its proven salmon farming technology. The partnership is part of ADIO’s AED 2 billion Innovation Programme to help innovation-driven companies achieve long-term global success from Abu Dhabi.

ADIO is casting a wide net in its support for aquaculture and promoting innovation that addresses global food security challenges. Pure Salmon joins other AgTech companies, including FreshToHome, that have partnered with ADIO under the same programme to bring aquaculture expertise to advance food sustainability from Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director General of ADIO, said: “Over the last year, Abu Dhabi’s AgTech sector has experienced exponential growth, led by rapid technological developments that are enabling sustainable agriculture and farming practices to take root in arid and desert climates. The introduction of Pure Salmon’s pioneering technology and knowledge to Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem will enhance the emirate’s aquaculture capabilities and create a hub from which new agriculture solutions can proliferate. ADIO is committed to supporting businesses aligned with our mission of advancing regional and global innovation.”

Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), said: “The aquaculture sector has been identified as a priority sector for development by the Government of Abu Dhabi. In alignment with government commitment, EAD launched the sustainable aquaculture policy of Abu Dhabi Emirate in 2019 in collaboration with relevant federal and local entities. One of the key initiatives seeks to encourage economic investment in the sector, thereby reducing pressure on the UAE’s severely overexploited fisheries, providing meaningful employment and generating wealth for citizens by producing safe, wholesome and high-quality seafood products. We are excited to welcome Pure Salmon to Abu Dhabi and look forward to celebrating its sustainable impact on the aquaculture ecosystem.”

The wave of aquaculture development in Abu Dhabi is spearheaded by EAD, which aims to accelerate the growth of a competitive local aquaculture industry that contributes to food security and economic growth. Abu Dhabi’s aquaculture sector seeks to satisfy market demand using sustainable technologies that preserve biodiversity and ensure the protection of healthy, productive and resilient ecosystems.

Pure Salmon is a portfolio company of private equity funds managed by 8F Asset Management. It uses Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology to sustainably farm clean, fresh, traceable and healthy Atlantic salmon in close proximity to end consumers, which considerably reduces transport and carbon footprint, minimises the negative impact on the oceans’ ecosystems, and significantly lowers resource consumption.

The company’s Abu Dhabi headquarters will manage global production facilities in Poland, Japan, USA and France. ADIO’s partnership enables Pure Salmon to hire world-class talent and expand its operations as it makes headway towards becoming the largest global sustainable salmon producer with its target production of 260,000 tonnes per year. In addition, Pure Salmon will establish academic collaborations based on the proprietary Pure Salmon Academy knowledge base to share its aquaculture know-how and capabilities within the Abu Dhabi ecosystem.

Stephane Farouze, Chairman and Founder of 8F Asset Management and Board Director of Pure Salmon, said, “We are proud and grateful to have ADIO as a strategic partner in the development of Pure Salmon. Setting up Pure Salmon’s global headquarters in Abu Dhabi will enable the growth of a local team that will advance sustainable economic solutions and establish the UAE as an industry leader. With ADIO’s support, Pure Salmon will advance towards its goal of supplying the world with nutritious, healthy and locally produced protein.”Pure Salmon, a global land-based salmon aquaculture company, will strengthen Abu Dhabi’s agriculture technology (AgTech) ecosystem with the establishment of its headquarters in the emirate. A partnership between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Pure Salmon will see the company receive financial and non-financial incentives to expand local food sustainability efforts with its proven salmon farming technology. The partnership is part of ADIO’s AED 2 billion Innovation Programme to help innovation-driven companies achieve long-term global success from Abu Dhabi.