# Masdar City Free Zone company setup

Abu Dhabi · Free zone · Dubai Setup Index

> Masdar City Free Zone is a Abu Dhabi free zone regulated by Masdar City Free Zone.

- Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/masdar-city
- Updated: 2026-09-04
- Regulator: Masdar City Free Zone
- Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology

## Key facts

- From, no visa: Not published — No published price for a 0-visa package was found for this zone.
- Licence issued in: 1 calendar day (The authority advertises a digital licence in one day.)
- Visas: Not published — no visa allocation published.
- Premises: Office, Campus facilities
- Renewal: Not published — No complete public renewal detail was found.
- Activities: Not catalogued

### May suit your business

- Cleantech, sustainability and related innovation companies

Based on the zone’s published specialism. Confirm suitability for your activity.

## Costs and packages

Prices are the authority's published figures. Confirm the current package before you budget.

| Visas | Starting price |
| :--- | :--- |
| No visa | Not published — No published price for a 0-visa package was found for this zone. |
| One visa | AED 17,500 (published package) |
| Two visas | Not published — No published price for a 2-visa package was found for this zone. |

### Other published prices

- Start-Lite: AED 7,000 (published package)
- Innovation: AED 12,000 (published package)
- Business One: AED 17,500 (published package)
- Enterprise: AED 27,000 (published package)

A starting price is not a full setup total.

## Setup steps and timing

### Company setup

| # | Step | Timing |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1 | Licence — Conditions apply — see timing details below. | 1 calendar day |

### Residency · remote preparation

| # | Step | Timing |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 2 | Security approval | To confirm |
| 3 | Establishment card | To confirm |
| 4 | E-channel | To confirm |
| 5 | Entry visa approval | To confirm |

### Residency · in the UAE

| # | Step | Timing |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 6 | Medical test | To confirm |
| 7 | Biometrics | To confirm |
| 8 | Residence visa approval | To confirm |
| 9 | Emirates ID printing | To confirm |
| 10 | Emirates ID delivery | To confirm |

### Bank account

| # | Step | Timing |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 11 | Bank account | To confirm |

Timings are per step, not a total. Appointments and approvals may vary. Where only “days” is shown, the business or calendar-day basis is to confirm.

### Timing details and conditions

- The authority advertises a digital licence in one day.
- The official commercial-licence guide gives a 3-5-working-day processing range.

## Required documents

### Individual shareholder

- Passport copies
- Completed application forms
- Proposed company name
- Business-activity description
- Shareholder details
- UAE visa or Emirates ID when applicable

### Corporate shareholder

- Certificate of incorporation
- Board resolution
- Memorandum of Association
- Additional approvals or supporting documents for regulated activities

## Licences and activities

### Licence types

- Clean tech
- Sustainability
- Services

### Business activities

Not published — We have not published an activity catalogue for Masdar City Free Zone, so we cannot say which licence lines it carries.

## Visa and office options

### Facility options

- Office
- Campus facilities

### Remote paperwork

No (Expect more on-site presence than a fully remote lane.)

### Visa options

We have not recorded the visa categories for this jurisdiction.

### Nationality-specific requirements

- Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq: National ID copy for entry and residence applications.
- Pakistan: National ID copy for an investor or partner visa. (zone guidance — confirm for your route)
- Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Tonga, Albania, Bangladesh, Colombia, Cyprus, Fiji, Mauritius, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Belarus, China, Georgia, Iran, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa: Attested police clearance for a new visa. (reported — confirm before applying)
- Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka: UAE embassy visit within 45 days to complete entry approval. (zone guidance — confirm for your route)
- Ethiopia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka: Attested medical report for entry approval when applying from outside the UAE. (zone guidance — confirm for your route)

## Renewal costs

Not published — No complete public renewal detail was found.

## Practical considerations

- Sustainability-themed free zone in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City
- Better fit for cleantech narratives than generic trading
- Abu Dhabi address and processes — not a Dubai free-zone substitute
- Confirm activity list against current Masdar Free Zone catalogue

## Alternatives

- [IFZA](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) — Dubai setup option
- [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) — Lower-cost setup option
- [Dubai mainland (DET)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland) — Onshore alternative

## Sources

| Claim | Access | Source |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| packages | Published page | https://masdarcityfreezone.com/explore/license-and-registration |
| documents | Published page | https://masdarcityfreezone.com/resources/blog/documents-company-setup-abu-dhabi-free-zone |
| timeline | Published page | https://masdarcityfreezone.com/resources/blog/commercial-licence-abu-dhabi-guide |

### Known gaps

- No complete public renewal detail was found.

### Conflicts and aliases

- Official surfaces differed over Start-Lite activity or visa inclusions, so the variants must not be merged without confirmation.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Dubai Setup Index set up companies in Masdar City Free Zone?

Not currently. We document this zone so you can compare it honestly, while Dubai Setup Index handles applications in IFZA and Ajman.

### Is a free zone the same as mainland DET?

No. Free zones license under their own authority. A Dubai mainland company is licensed by DET and normally needs Ejari-registered premises.

## Related

- [All free zones](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones)
- [Business activities](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities)
- [How company setup works](https://dubaisetupindex.com/how-it-works)

## Machine-readable

- [Masdar City Free Zone record (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/free-zones/masdar-city.json)

## Citation

Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional.

Dubai Setup Index. “Masdar City Free Zone company setup.” Updated 2026-09-04. https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/masdar-city

[Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/masdar-city). “Masdar City Free Zone company setup.” Updated 2026-09-04.

Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown.