Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD/KEZAD) — Manufacturing Hub Guide 2026
Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD, now known as KEZAD – Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi) is Abu Dhabi’s industrial masterplan covering Khalifa Port, the adjacent industrial zone, and the broader Abu Dhabi Economic Zone. KEZAD is the largest economic zone in the Middle East by area. This guide covers KEZAD for 2026.
KEZAD Overview
- Full name: Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (formerly KIZAD)
- Managed by: Abu Dhabi Ports Group (ADPC)
- Location: 70km south-east of Abu Dhabi city; adjacent to Khalifa Port; near Abu Dhabi International Airport
- Scale: 417 sqkm total (one of the world’s largest industrial zones); Khalifa Port is one of the region’s largest ports
- Specialisation: heavy industry, metals, petrochemicals, food processing, logistics, manufacturing
Khalifa Port
- Scale: handles 1.7 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent containers) annually; growing rapidly
- Connectivity: direct shipping to 65+ countries; 4,000 vessels/year
- Port advantage: KEZAD companies with Khalifa Port access can import and export without transit through Dubai or Abu Dhabi city
- Semi-automated: Khalifa Port is one of the world’s most automated ports; reducing labour costs for port users
Who Uses KEZAD?
- Heavy manufacturing: steel fabrication, aluminium processing (KEZAD is adjacent to EMAL – Emirates Global Aluminium); metals downstream
- Petrochemicals: ADNOC and its downstream chemical businesses; plastics, polymers, industrial chemicals
- Food and beverage: food processing and packaging for UAE and GCC market; large food companies (Del Monte, Agthia Group) in KEZAD
- Automotive: vehicle manufacturing and assembly; CKD (completely knocked down) vehicle assembly
- Logistics: 3PL warehousing; distribution centres for Abu Dhabi, UAE, and GCC
KEZAD vs JAFZA
- Scale: KEZAD 417 sqkm; JAFZA 57 sqkm — KEZAD is much larger
- Location: KEZAD in Abu Dhabi (south UAE); JAFZA in Dubai (north UAE) — different logistics corridors
- Industry focus: KEZAD has more heavy industry and petrochemicals; JAFZA has more general trading and light manufacturing
- Port: Khalifa Port (KEZAD) is growing; Jebel Ali Port (JAFZA) is more established with more global shipping connections
- Choose KEZAD when: Abu Dhabi-focused manufacturing or logistics; connecting to ADNOC supply chain; heavy industry requiring large land plots
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEZAD | Free Zone Business Start-Up 1-visa package | AED 8,000–16,000 effective Year 1 (Abu Dhabi government waives licence fees for first 2 years; pay only visa + cards); without waiver: AED 17,000–26,000 (licence AED 9,000–14,000 + establishment card AED 1,500 + immigration card AED 1,500 + 1 visa AED 3,400–6,500) Confidence: Verified official price |
Quote-based renewal - confirm the current annual package Confidence: Needs confirmation |
AED 22,575 official 3-year 1-visa package including VAT Confidence: Verified official price |
Published packages for 1 to 4 visas | Shared workstation or dedicated office is listed in the startup solution | Verified official price | Official authority package page | Current package / renewal confirmation required | July 2026 |
| What is included | The official startup solution lists a free-zone business licence, shared workstation or dedicated office, internet/Wi-Fi and the selected visa provision. Published package amounts include VAT. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Renewal after the selected validity period, extra visas, immigration extras, insurance, industrial facility, utilities, regulated approvals and advisory services unless included in the selected package. |
| Hidden-cost risk | The AED 22,575 amount is a published three-year package, not a Year 1 figure multiplied by an assumed renewal. Industrial, warehouse and land-led configurations require separate quotations. |
| Banking difficulty | Medium to high |
| Best fit | Manufacturing, industrial, logistics, warehouse and large facility-led businesses. |
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.