DMCC or ADGM
Compare DMCC's Dubai trading and commodities district with ADGM, Abu Dhabi's financial free zone on Al Maryah Island with English common law and the FSRA regulating financial activity.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
No like-for-like starting price is published for ADGM, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | DMCCFree zone | ADGMFree zone |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | DMCC AED 43,780 12 months · published package | ADGM Not published: Not published |
| Lowest package price | DMCC AED 35,484 12 months · published package | ADGM Not published: Not published |
| Licence issued in | DMCC 2 weeks Company setup is described as usually taking about two weeks. | ADGM 10 business days |
| Residency visa in | DMCC 0–20 business days The employee visa guide allows up to 20 working days. | ADGM Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | DMCC AED 20,265 Trading or service licence renewal for one year is AED 20,265. | ADGM USD 500 Renewal quoted alongside Foundation initial fee |
| Licence types | DMCC Trading, Service, Industrial | ADGM Non-regulated, FSRA-regulated financial |
| Facility options | DMCC Flexi desk, Office, Retail | ADGM Office, Coworking within ADGM |
| Visa options | DMCC Not published: Not published | ADGM Not published: Not published |
| Remote paperwork | DMCC No | ADGM No |
| Activity guides catalogued | DMCC Not published: Not published | ADGM Not published: Not published |
| Next step | Explore DMCC | Explore ADGM |
Check before choosing
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FAQ
Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
DMCC licences sit in Dubai and ADGM licences in Abu Dhabi. ADGM's framework is shaped for financial firms; DMCC's for trading and commodities. Confirm which authority licenses your exact activity.
How are the prices compared?
Only package prices at the same visa count and term are ranked against each other. A calculator output, a licence-only estimate or a product flagged as not like for like is shown in the table but never used to name a cheaper side.
Which costs less on published figures, DMCC or ADGM?
No like-for-like starting price is published for ADGM, so the cost side of this comparison is open. Decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.