An Abu Dhabi mainland company is licensed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and can trade freely throughout the UAE and internationally. As the capital and the UAE’s largest emirate, Abu Dhabi is a natural base for energy, industrial, contracting, healthcare and government-facing businesses, and offers strong support for investors through the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
We handle your Abu Dhabi mainland setup end to end activity selection, trade name reservation, initial approval, Memorandum of Association, Tawtheeq tenancy, license issuance, visas and corporate bank account introduction working with ADDED through the TAMM government services platform.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, known as ADDED, is the government authority responsible for regulating and licensing economic activity in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADDED issues mainland trade licenses, approves business activities and trade names, and oversees commercial compliance. Many of its services are delivered through TAMM, the emirate’s unified digital government platform. A license issued by ADDED is the foundation of every mainland company in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi mainland companies can be formed under several legal forms depending on the owners and the chosen activity. Most activities permit 100% foreign ownership; a limited list of strategic-impact activities may still require a local partner or Emirati agent. Shareholding and governance are set out in the company’s Memorandum of Association.
The most common structure for commercial and industrial activities.
Owned by a single individual carrying out a professional or commercial activity.
For professional partners such as consultants and engineers.
An extension of an existing parent carrying out the same activities.
ADDED issues several categories of mainland trade license. Your business activity determines the correct one.
An Abu Dhabi mainland license requires physical business premises. The tenancy contract must be registered through Tawtheeq, Abu Dhabi’s official lease registration system. The size of your premises influences how many residence visas your company can sponsor, so the office is chosen with your visa needs in mind. We assist with locating suitable space and completing Tawtheeq registration.
An Abu Dhabi mainland company can sponsor residence visas for its owners, employees and their families.
We manage each stage with ADDED and any external approval bodies on your behalf.
We confirm your business activities and the right licence type.
We secure your trade name with ADDED and obtain preliminary consent to proceed.
We draft and notarise your MOA and clear any activity-specific government approvals.
We arrange premises and register the tenancy.
ADDED issues your mainland trade licence via TAMM.
We process the establishment card, investor and staff visas, Emirates ID and medical, then introduce you to our banking partners.
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The documents below cover the typical requirements for each shareholder type. We issue a tailored checklist after your consultation.
An Abu Dhabi mainland company is typically licensed within 5 to 10 business days, depending on the activity and the approvals required. Investor and employee visas, together with Emirates ID, usually take an additional 2 to 3 weeks.
The cost of an Abu Dhabi mainland setup depends on the number of business activities, the legal structure, the office or Tawtheeq premises, the visa quota and any external approvals. Government fees payable to ADDED and other bodies are separate from professional service fees. Contact us for a personalised, all-inclusive quote with no hidden charges.
Direct operational configurations aligned to your corporate rollout workflows.
We manage activity codes, approvals and notarisation daily.
Licensing, Tawtheeq, visas and bank-account introductions under one roof.
Clear, all-inclusive packages with no surprise invoices.
A single dedicated point of contact throughout your setup.
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