Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) — Complete Business Guide 2026
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre with English common law jurisdiction. Here is the complete 2026 business guide.
ADGM Overview
- Location: Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
- Established: 2015
- Jurisdiction: English common law; independent ADGM courts
- Regulator: Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) for financial activities
ADGM Key Sectors
- Financial services: Funds, asset management, private equity, wealth management
- Family offices: ADGM is a leading family office jurisdiction
- Fintech: ADGM RegLab for fintech innovation
- Professional services: Law firms, accounting, consulting
- Technology: Tech companies serving financial sector
ADGM vs DIFC — Key Differences
| Factor | ADGM | DIFC |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Abu Dhabi | Dubai |
| Legal framework | English common law | English common law |
| Financial regulator | FSRA | DFSA |
| Focus | Wealth, family offices, asset management | Broad financial services, banking, fintech |
| Ecosystem | Abu Dhabi-centric | Dubai and wider region |
ADGM 2026 Cost
- Non-regulated company: USD 8,000-12,000/year for office + licence
- FSRA-regulated: USD 15,000-50,000+/year for licence fees; physical office required
- Physical office: Required for most ADGM entities
Pricing Evidence & Source Notes
Use this profile as a planning guide, not a final invoice. Confirm the current package, activity wording, visas, office or flexi-desk requirement and renewal amount before payment.
| Free Zone | Package | Year 1 Cost | Renewal Cost | 3-Year Total | Visa Option | Office / Flexi Requirement | Year 1 Confidence | Source Type | Conflict Status | Last Reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADGM | Non-financial Category B official fee schedule | SPV (no office): ~AED 6,980 (USD 1,900); Tech startup all-in: ~AED 74,500 (USD 20,300); Commercial licence all-in: ~AED 95,500–165,330 (USD 26,000–45,000); Financial services: ~AED 220,440+ (USD 60,000+). FSRA licensing fees are additional for regulated entities. Confidence: Verified official price |
USD 5,300 official annual renewal before office and visas Confidence: Verified official price |
USD 16,400 official 3-year fee components before office and visas Confidence: Verified official price |
Residence visas and immigration services are separate | A registered office or qualifying lease is required; premises cost is excluded | Verified official price | Official authority fee schedule | No material public conflict recorded | July 2026 |
| What is included | Category B initial and renewal totals in the official schedule include the listed registration, commercial licence and data-protection fee components. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Office or lease, lease registration, establishment and immigration services, visas, insurance, regulated permissions and advisory costs. |
| Hidden-cost risk | The published total applies to a non-financial Category B entity. Financial, retail, tech-startup and special-purpose structures use different official fee categories. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium to high |
| Best fit | Finance, holding, investment, fintech and professional companies needing Abu Dhabi framework. |
Source evidence: Review source | Methodology | Corrections.
Prices can change based on free zone authority updates, activity selection, visa count, office or flexi-desk requirement, shareholder structure, establishment card, immigration file, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance, banking support and consultant service fees. Last reviewed July 2026. Always request a current quote before payment. View methodology or compare all rows in the UAE Free Zone Cost Index.