Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) / KEZAD Complete Guide 2026
KIZAD (now rebranded as KEZAD — Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi) is Abu Dhabi’s largest integrated industrial zone and free trade zone, located adjacent to Khalifa Port — the largest semi-automated port in the region. KEZAD/KIZAD is the primary industrial gateway for Abu Dhabi’s non-oil economic diversification. This guide covers KEZAD/KIZAD for 2026.
KEZAD/KIZAD Overview
- Location: adjacent to Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi
- Total area: 417 sq km (one of the UAE’s largest free zones)
- Operator: AD Ports Group (Abu Dhabi Ports)
- Industries: petrochemicals, metals, logistics, food processing, pharma, manufacturing
- Companies: 1,000+ (growing)
KEZAD Clusters
- Petrochemical and plastics cluster: BOROUGE, CHEMZONE partnership
- Metal cluster: aluminium downstream, steel fabrication
- Logistics cluster: adjacent to Khalifa Port; 3PL, freight, e-commerce
- Food and beverage cluster: food processing and packaging
- Pharma and healthcare cluster: pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution
- Technology cluster: advanced manufacturing, data centres
KEZAD Costs 2026
- Industrial land lease: AED 15–40/sqft/year depending on zone and services
- Built-to-suit factory: from AED 45/sqft/year
- Warehousing: AED 30–55/sqft/year
- Licence fee: AED 12,000–30,000/year depending on activity
Khalifa Port Advantages for KEZAD Companies
Khalifa Port is the world’s largest semi-automated port and the UAE’s second-largest port after Jebel Ali. Annual capacity: 2.5M TEUs (containers). Adjacent free trade zone status means: goods arriving at Khalifa Port transit directly to KEZAD without UAE customs, enabling seamless port-to-warehouse-to-manufacturing operations. Direct shipping routes connect Khalifa Port to Asia (China, India), Europe, and Africa.
KEZAD vs JAFZA for Industrial Companies
- KEZAD: Abu Dhabi-based; larger plot sizes for heavy industry; Abu Dhabi government backing; ADNOC supply chain proximity; cheaper land
- JAFZA: Dubai-based; more established international logistics ecosystem; Jebel Ali Port (larger container capacity); better for smaller warehousing needs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone | Official KEZAD 1-visa startup-package reference; Khalifa Port facility separate | AED 9,450 official one-year KEZAD 1-visa startup package including VAT; Khalifa Port facility costs separate Confidence: Verified official KEZAD starter price; complete Khalifa Port facility setup requires confirmation |
Quote-based renewal - confirm current licence and facility charges Confidence: Needs confirmation |
AED 22,575 official three-year KEZAD 1-visa startup package including VAT; port-linked facility costs separate Confidence: Verified official KEZAD starter price; complete Khalifa Port facility setup requires confirmation |
1 visa in the published KEZAD startup reference; port and industrial configurations vary | Shared workstation is listed in the startup package; office, warehouse, industrial unit or port-linked land/facility is separate | Verified official KEZAD starter price; complete Khalifa Port facility setup requires confirmation | Official KEZAD package page; current starter-package component, not a port-facility total | Current package / renewal confirmation required | July 2026 |
| What is included | The official startup page lists a free-zone business licence, shared workstation, internet/Wi-Fi and one visa for the one-year and three-year package references. Published package amounts include VAT. |
|---|---|
| What is not included | Port-linked office, warehouse, land or industrial facility, utilities, deposits, customs, additional visas, insurance, industrial approvals and support costs. |
| Hidden-cost risk | The AED 9,450 and AED 22,575 figures are current KEZAD startup references, not complete Khalifa Port operating totals. Confirm the exact premises, customs and facility route before comparing costs. |
| Banking difficulty | Depends on activity, ownership, documents and transaction profile |
| Best fit | Specialist businesses that match the authority activity and facility requirements. |
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.