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Masdar City Free Zone (MCFZ) in Abu Dhabi licenses companies inside Masdar City, with a focus on clean technology, energy, ICT and research, though its activity list covers more than 1,000 activities. It publishes its licence packages, desk rents and visa fees on its own site, and its Business Licensing Regulations 2026 set the rules. This page sets out those official figures as checked on 4 October 2026.
Masdar City Free Zone packages
| Package | Price (AED, plus 5% VAT) | Activities | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup | 7,000 | Up to 2 | Licence and registration |
| Innovation (start-ups and innovation) | 12,000 | Up to 3 | Licence and registration, flexi desk lease, 2 visa quota |
| Business One | 17,500 | Up to 3 | Licence and registration, flexi desk lite lease, one visa, establishment card, e-channel fees, visa medical, Emirates ID application |
| Enterprise | 27,000 | Up to 6 | Licence and registration, flexi desk plus lease, 3 visa quota |
Extra activities cost AED 2,500 each for a general activity and AED 5,000 for a special activity, and a special company name adds AED 1,000. The packages exclude some special activities, including non-profit associations, service providers, regional headquarters, oil and gas field services, retail and space. Start-up package clients move to the standard package after three years.
Office: required, and what it costs
Masdar City Free Zone requires every business to choose an office solution based on its visa needs: a virtual desk at AED 6,000 a year, a flexi desk at AED 10,000 a year, a dedicated desk or an office. Flexi desk leases need a refundable security deposit of two months’ rent. So the cheapest licence with a desk is the Startup package plus a virtual desk, AED 13,000 before VAT (our arithmetic).
Visa costs
Masdar City Free Zone lists, including 5% VAT except for the lease:
- Immigration establishment card: AED 1,600, one time.
- E-channels registration: AED 2,600, one time; the annual renewal fee is printed on the site as “D 1,6000”, most likely AED 1,600.
- Employment visa deposit: AED 2,500, refundable.
- Two-year employment visa: AED 3,050, excluding the medical test and Emirates ID.
- Medical test: AED 350; Emirates ID: AED 450 for two years.
- Entry permit inside the UAE: AED 800; change of status: AED 900, where they apply.
Legal forms and rules
Companies can be a free zone limited liability company or a branch of an existing UAE or foreign company; freelancer and non-profit licences are allowed where MCFZ permits. Masdar City Free Zone companies can also choose to be governed by ADGM‘s common law framework. A licence is renewed for one year at a time, and the renewal application must be made at least three months before the term ends. Renewal fees are not published.
Masdar against other Abu Dhabi free zones
Masdar’s licence is cheap but the office is separate, while KEZAD’s package price already includes VAT and a visa, and Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone starts at AED 6,000 with a smart desk. Compare them on Abu Dhabi free zone licence cost, and see KEZAD and twofour54 for their own figures.
What Masdar City Free Zone does not publish
- Renewal fees and the schedule of tariffs its regulations refer to.
- Dedicated desk and office rents.
- A total first-year cost; its calculator returns an estimate only after you submit your contact details.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Masdar City Free Zone licence?
The Startup package is AED 7,000 plus 5% VAT for licence and registration with up to two activities. Innovation is AED 12,000, Business One AED 17,500 with one visa and a flexi desk, and Enterprise AED 27,000 with three visas.
Do I need an office in Masdar City Free Zone?
Yes. Every business must choose an office solution: a virtual desk at AED 6,000 a year, a flexi desk at AED 10,000, a dedicated desk or an office. Flexi desks need a refundable deposit of two months’ rent.
What is the cheapest way to set up in Masdar City?
The Startup package at AED 7,000 plus a virtual desk at AED 6,000, AED 13,000 before VAT by our arithmetic, without a visa. With one visa, the Business One package at AED 17,500 bundles the desk, visa, establishment card, medical and Emirates ID application.
How much is a Masdar City visa?
A two-year employment visa is AED 3,050, excluding the medical test (AED 350) and Emirates ID (AED 450 for two years). The establishment card is AED 1,600 and e-channel registration AED 2,600, plus a refundable AED 2,500 visa deposit.
Can a Masdar City company use ADGM law?
Yes. Masdar City Free Zone says companies can choose to be governed by ADGM’s common law framework.
Official references used for context in this article.
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