Updated July 2026 · ADGM Registration Authority fees
ADGM Company Cost
From AED 48,226 — common law, at less than half DIFC's price.
An ADGM operational or holding company costs from AED 48,226 in government fees. Like DIFC it is an English common-law jurisdiction with its own courts and regulator, but it costs roughly AED 56,000 less to enter — which makes it the serious alternative for anyone who needs the legal framework more than the Dubai postcode.
Government cost from
AED 48,226
zero-visa operational / holding company · ADGM
- Zero visaAED 48,226
- With 1 visaAED 52,726
- Setup timeSeveral weeks
- Ownership100% foreign
Trusted by Founders, Family Offices, and Global Enterprises.
In brief: An ADGM operational or holding company costs from AED 48,226 in government fees with no visas, AED 52,726 with one visa, AED 57,226 with two and AED 61,726 with three — each visa adds a flat AED 4,500. ADGM is an English common-law jurisdiction on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands in Abu Dhabi, with the ADGM Courts and the FSRA as regulator. It offers substantially the same legal advantages as DIFC for around AED 56,000 less, which is why holding structures, family offices and regional headquarters increasingly choose it. An ADGM SPV or Foundation for pure structuring starts around AED 25,000. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
What it costs — line by line
These are the government line items. Ranges are real variation by activity and legal form, not padding — where a figure genuinely moves, we show the span rather than a flattering minimum.
| Government item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-visa operational / holding company | AED 48,226 | Licence, incorporation and registration fees |
| With 1 residence visa | AED 52,726 | Each visa adds a flat AED 4,500 |
| With 2 residence visas | AED 57,226 | Visa steps are predictable at ADGM |
| ADGM SPV or Foundation | from AED 25,000 | Structuring vehicles — no visas, far lower cost |
| Typical start — operating company with one visa | AED 52,726 | Government cost; office space in ADGM is additional |
What each visa adds
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Each residence visa | + AED 4,500 | Flat and predictable across all tiers |
Indicative government costs as at July 2026. They exclude Avyanco’s professional fee, office rent, VAT where applicable and external-approval charges for regulated activities. Government fees are set by the authorities and change — confirm the live figure for your activity and visa mix before budgeting.
What the price includes — and what it doesn’t
Most “cheap setup” quotes fall apart here. This is the honest split.
Included in the figures above
- Licence and incorporation with the ADGM Registration Authority
- An English common-law jurisdiction with the ADGM Courts
- Operation under the FSRA regulatory framework
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- An Al Maryah or Al Reem Island address in Abu Dhabi
Additional, quoted separately
- Office space in ADGM — an Abu Dhabi commercial lease
- FSRA authorisation for regulated financial activities, a separate process with its own capital requirements
- Visas for dependants — spouse and children are priced separately
- Corporate bank-account opening and minimum balances
- Audit, accounting, tax registration and regulatory reporting
- Avyanco's professional service fee, quoted separately
Download the complete ADGM fact sheet
The table above answers the headline question. The fact sheet answers the next ten — every visa tier priced out, what year two costs, and how it stacks up against the cheaper free zones. It is the same one-pager our advisers send to clients, and it is free.
Free PDF · instant download
Download the full ADGM fact sheet
The one-page sheet our advisers quote from — every number, on one page. Yours free.
- Every cost priced for 0, 1, 2 and 3 visas
- Operational company vs SPV vs Foundation, compared
- ADGM vs DIFC on total cost
- Document checklist and realistic timeline
What actually moves the price
Two companies registered on the same day can differ by more than AED 10,000. These are the factors that decide where you land in the range.
Structure type
An operational or holding company starts at AED 48,226. An SPV or Foundation — holding assets rather than trading — starts around AED 25,000. Getting this right is the largest single saving available in ADGM.
ADGM or DIFC
Substantially the same legal framework, around AED 56,000 apart at entry. The honest test is where your counterparties, bankers and staff actually are. Abu Dhabi's sovereign and energy ecosystem favours ADGM; a Dubai-centred network usually favours DIFC.
Regulated or unregulated
FSRA authorisation is a separate application with capital requirements, compliance appointments and its own timeline. For a regulated business the licence fee is a small part of the total.
Office space
ADGM space on Al Maryah or Al Reem is a premium Abu Dhabi lease and is typically the largest ongoing cost after the first year.
Ongoing compliance
Budget for annual audit, accounting and regulatory reporting from the outset. Common-law jurisdictions carry heavier ongoing obligations than a standard free zone, and that is part of what you are paying for.
How long it takes
- 1
Week 1 — Structure
We confirm whether you need an operational company or whether an SPV or Foundation at around half the cost achieves your objective.
- 2
Week 1–2 — Application
Name reservation and the application to the ADGM Registration Authority.
- 3
Week 2–4 — Approvals & documents
Constitutional documents, shareholder and director due diligence, and any FSRA engagement for regulated activity.
- 4
Week 4–6 — Licence issued
Incorporation completed and the licence issued.
- 5
After licensing — Establishment card & visas
Immigration card, then entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID per person.
- 6
Ongoing — Audit & compliance
Annual audit, accounting, corporate tax registration and regulatory reporting where applicable.
Get a quote with the government fees shown separately
Tell us the activity and how many visas you need. You will get a written figure that separates what goes to the authorities from what goes to us — no bundled “all-in” number hiding the difference.
Compare before you commit
Cost is one input. Where you can trade, who your customers are and what banking you need matter just as much. Read the adgm page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does an ADGM company cost?
From AED 48,226 in government fees for an operational or holding company with no visas, rising to AED 52,726 with one visa, AED 57,226 with two and AED 61,726 with three. An ADGM SPV or Foundation starts around AED 25,000. Avyanco's professional fee is quoted separately.
Is ADGM cheaper than DIFC?
Substantially — AED 48,226 against AED 104,079 for a comparable operational company, a difference of about AED 56,000 at entry. Both are English common-law jurisdictions with their own courts and financial regulator, so for many holding and headquarters structures ADGM delivers the same legal substance for less than half the cost.
Why would I choose DIFC over ADGM then?
Ecosystem and location. DIFC has the deeper Dubai financial community, a longer track record and is where many counterparties, bankers and advisers already sit. If your business, staff and clients are Dubai-centred, that convenience is often worth the premium. If they are not, ADGM deserves serious consideration.
What is an ADGM SPV used for?
Holding assets — shares in subsidiaries, real estate, intellectual property or investments — rather than trading. It cannot sponsor residence visas. At around AED 25,000 against AED 48,226 for an operational company, using an SPV where an SPV suffices is the largest saving available.
Does the price include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure here is government cost paid to the ADGM Registration Authority and related bodies. Our professional fee is quoted separately and transparently.
How long does ADGM incorporation take?
Several weeks, longer if FSRA authorisation is needed for a regulated activity. Shareholder and director due diligence is more thorough than in a standard free zone, so how quickly you supply documents largely sets the timeline.
Can an ADGM company sponsor residence visas?
An operational or holding company can, with each visa adding a flat AED 4,500. SPVs and Foundations cannot — they are structuring vehicles with no visa allocation.
Where exactly is ADGM?
Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. It is a defined jurisdiction with its own courts and laws, not simply a business district — which is precisely what distinguishes it from a conventional free zone.
Does an ADGM company pay corporate tax?
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above it. A qualifying free-zone person can access 0% on qualifying income subject to strict conditions. Being in ADGM does not exempt an entity from the UAE Corporate Tax regime.
Is ADGM suitable for a family office?
It is one of the strongest options in the region. The common-law framework, the Foundation regime for succession planning and the cost advantage over DIFC make it a common choice for family offices and private holding structures. The right vehicle depends on whether you need to trade and employ, or only to hold.
Pricing note. Figures on this page are indicative government costs as at July 2026, published so you can budget realistically. They are set by the relevant UAE authorities, vary by activity, legal form, visa mix and office type, and change over time. They exclude Avyanco’s professional service fee, office rent and any external-approval charges. This is general guidance, not a quotation — confirm your specific position with us before acting.