Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ / KIZAD) — Complete Business Guide 2026
Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ) and KIZAD (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi) are two of Abu Dhabi’s key free zones for industrial and trade businesses. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
In this guide:
ADAFZ at a Glance
- Location: Abu Dhabi International Airport area
- Focus: Logistics, aviation support, air cargo, and related services
- Key benefit: Direct airport adjacency; ideal for aviation, MRO, and time-sensitive cargo companies
KIZAD at a Glance
- Location: Khalifa Port area; 65km from Abu Dhabi city
- Focus: Heavy industrial; petrochemical; metals; manufacturing
- Key benefit: Khalifa Port access — Abu Dhabi’s deepwater port; massive industrial land plots
ADAFZ Costs (2026)
- Trade licence: AED 15,000-25,000/year
- Flexi-desk: AED 8,000-12,000/year
- Small warehouse: From AED 40,000/year
KIZAD Costs
- Warehouse/factory: Land lease from AED 20/sq.m/year; warehouse from AED 35/sq.m/year
- Anchor tenant: For heavy industrial, minimum commitments apply
Who Uses ADAFZ/KIZAD?
- ADAFZ: MRO companies; aviation ground handling; cargo agents; freight forwarders serving AUH airport
- KIZAD: Petrochemical processors; steel/aluminium companies; plastics manufacturers; large-scale warehouse and logistics operations