Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KIZAD/KEZAD) Complete Guide 2026
KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi), formerly known as KIZAD, is UAE’s largest industrial free zone by area — 417+ km² of industrial, logistics, and commercial zones adjacent to Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi. This complete guide covers KEZAD for manufacturing and industrial businesses in 2026.
KEZAD Overview 2026
- Former name: KIZAD (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi) — rebranded to KEZAD in 2021
- Location: Abu Dhabi, adjacent to Khalifa Port and KIZAD Port
- Area: 417+ km² (UAE’s largest free zone by area)
- Port: Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi’s largest container port; 5.7M TEU capacity)
- Operator: Abu Dhabi Ports (government-owned)
Khalifa Port Strategic Context
- Khalifa Port annual capacity: 5.7M TEUs (growing)
- Deepwater port: 18m draft; can accommodate world’s largest container vessels
- COSCO Partnership: Chinese COSCO Shipping has a Khalifa Port terminal (UAE’s first Chinese-operated terminal)
- Saudi trade: Khalifa Port connects directly to Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province by road
KEZAD Industrial Zones
- Chemical cluster: petrochemical and specialty chemical manufacturers; ADNOC downstream connection
- Food processing cluster: food and beverage manufacturing; halal certification support
- Logistics cluster: warehousing, distribution, 3PL operators
- Steel and aluminium: EGA (Emirates Global Aluminium — world’s largest aluminium smelter) adjacent; metals supply chain
- Paper and packaging: regional paper and packaging manufacturers
- Pharmaceutical cluster: pharma manufacturing; Abu Dhabi’s pharmaceutical ambitions
KEZAD vs JAFZA for Abu Dhabi Manufacturers
- KEZAD: Abu Dhabi location (30% of UAE population; Abu Dhabi government procurement priority); ADNOC supply chain access; lower land cost than JAFZA; newer infrastructure
- JAFZA: Dubai location; more established ecosystem; higher global brand; Jebel Ali Port has higher container volumes than Khalifa Port
For companies with significant Abu Dhabi government or ADNOC business: KEZAD is strongly preferred. For companies primarily in global trade: JAFZA’s established ecosystem wins.
KEZAD Costs 2026
- Industrial land (long-term lease): AED 15–40/sqft/year
- Built-to-suit factories: available; long-term lease
- Ready-built warehouse: AED 25–50/sqft/year
- Licence: AED 12,000–25,000/year (depending on activities)
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.