Built for Manufacturing at Scale
Around 40 km² of industrial land, clusters and infrastructure across metals, oil & gas, food and materials — capacity a service zone cannot offer.
Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD)
Company Formation
Set up in the capital's industrial heartland. Spanning roughly 40 km² in Musaffah and operated by the KEZAD Group (AD Ports), ICAD is one of the UAE's major manufacturing hubs — metals, oil & gas, food processing, logistics and building materials.
- 100% Ownership
- KEZAD Group · AD Ports
- Musaffah, Abu Dhabi
- Heavy Industry
- ~40 km²
Abu Dhabi's Manufacturing Heartland
The Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) is a large industrial zone in Musaffah spanning around 40 km², operated by the KEZAD Group (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, part of AD Ports Group) and served by the deepwater Musaffah Port within the wider AD Ports network. It is one of the UAE's major manufacturing hubs across metals, oil, food and materials.
The Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) is a large industrial zone in Musaffah, southwest of Abu Dhabi city, spanning around 40 km². It is operated by the KEZAD Group — Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, part of AD Ports Group — and is integrated with the emirate's port and logistics network, including the deepwater Musaffah Port that directly serves ICAD. It is one of the UAE's principal homes for heavy and light manufacturing.
ICAD is built for industry at scale. It hosts a deep base of factories across metals and steel, oil & gas, food processing, construction materials and logistics, organised into clusters with the utilities, land and infrastructure that industrial operations require. For a manufacturer or industrial trader, the value is the ecosystem and the integration: large industrial plots, established supply chains, AD Ports logistics and proximity to the capital's market — backed by the operational discipline of the KEZAD Group.
Industry at scale, integrated with AD Ports logistics
Why the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
ICAD competes on industrial scale and integration. For manufacturing and heavy trade in the capital, its land, utilities, supply chains and port links are the deciding factors.
Integrated with AD Ports Logistics
Operated by the KEZAD Group and linked to the emirate's port and logistics network, including the deepwater Musaffah Port that serves ICAD — a real supply-chain advantage.
An Established Industrial Ecosystem
A deep base of factories, suppliers and contractors already on site, shortening supply chains for new operations.
Backed by the KEZAD Group
The scale and operational backing of Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (AD Ports Group) behind the zone.
100% Foreign Ownership
Full foreign ownership of the company, with profit and capital repatriation — no local partner required.
UAE Free-Zone Tax Status
Free-zone status with eligibility for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income.
Ideal for
- Manufacturing and processing businesses
- Metals, steel and fabrication
- Oil, gas and petrochemical services
- Food and beverage production
- Construction-materials manufacturing
- Industrial logistics and warehousing
Industrial City of Abu Dhabi Licence Types
ICAD licences are weighted towards industry, trade and the services around them.
Industrial Licence
For manufacturing, processing, assembly and fabrication — the core of ICAD, supported by land, utilities and clusters.
- Metals, steel & fabrication
- Oil, gas & petrochemical processing
- Food & beverage production
- Construction & building materials
- Industrial assembly
Commercial / Trading Licence
For industrial trading, import, export and distribution connected to the manufacturing base.
- Industrial & equipment trading
- Import / export & re-export
- Raw materials & components
- Distribution & stockholding
- Machinery & spare parts
Logistics / Service Licence
For the logistics, contracting and technical services that support the industrial base.
- Logistics & warehousing
- Engineering & contracting
- Industrial maintenance
- Inspection & technical services
- Supply-chain services
Legal Structures Under the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
ICAD recognises the standard KEZAD / free-zone legal forms.
Free Zone LLC (Single Shareholder)
A limited-liability entity with one shareholder, individual or corporate — common for owner-run industrial businesses.
Free Zone LLC (Multiple Shareholders)
A limited-liability entity with two or more shareholders, for industrial partnerships and joint ventures.
Branch of an Existing Company
A branch of an existing UAE or foreign industrial company operating under the parent's identity.
How an Industrial City of Abu Dhabi Company Is Formed
Six steps from activity to a licensed, infrastructure-connected operation.
- 01
Define Activity & Licence Type
Select the industrial, commercial or logistics activities and the matching licence, and size the land or facility the operation needs.
- 02
Reserve Name & Initial Approval
Reserve the company name and secure initial approval for the chosen activities.
- 03
Arrange Land / Facility
Select the industrial plot, warehouse or pre-built unit, with the utilities the operation requires.
- 04
Submit Documents & Sign
Submit incorporation documents and sign the constitutional documents; regulated activities complete the additional permits.
- 05
Licence, Establishment Card & Customs
The licence and establishment card are issued, and customs registration is completed for import and export.
- 06
Bank Account & Visas
Open the corporate bank account and process residence and labour visas with Emirates ID and medicals.
Documents Required for Industrial City of Abu Dhabi Setup
The standard set, plus project detail for industrial activities.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Proposed company names and a description of activities
- Business / project plan for industrial and land-based activities
- For corporate shareholders: licence, constitutional documents, board resolution and UBO list
Why Choose the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
ICAD pairs industrial scale and AD Ports integration with free-zone ownership.
100% foreign ownership of the company
Full repatriation of profits and capital
Around 40 km² of industrial land and clusters
Integration with AD Ports logistics and the deepwater Musaffah Port
An established industrial ecosystem and supply chains
0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime
Operated by the KEZAD Group
Proximity to the capital's market in Musaffah
Tax & Compliance Position — Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
ICAD entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. As an industrial and goods zone, the VAT and customs position matters.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
ICAD entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income.
QFZP eligibilityQualifying activities include manufacturing, processing and qualifying trading; sales into the UAE mainland are treated differently. Eligibility needs adequate Free Zone substance, arm's-length transfer pricing and audited financials.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Designated-Zone Treatment May Apply
ICAD entities follow UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold. Exports are typically zero-rated while domestic sales are standard-rated.
Designated Zone status: verify with FTADesignated-Zone status for goods is set by Cabinet decision and can change; several Abu Dhabi industrial zones hold it. We confirm the current status for ICAD and map the VAT treatment to your goods flows.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment, with import/export flows correctly treated
- Audited financial statements (free zone requirement; mandatory for QFZP)
- Customs registration and per-shipment documentation
- Industrial / environmental permits where the activity requires them
- Trade / industrial-licence renewal with the zone authority
- ESR notification + UBO register maintained and updated
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Cabinet Decision 59/2017 (Designated Zones)
Sectors Active in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
ICAD's tenant base is manufacturing, energy services, logistics and industrial trade.
Manufacturing & Processing
Metals, Steel & Materials
Oil, Gas & Energy Services
Food & Beverage
Industrial Trading
Logistics & Warehousing
Engineering & Contracting
Export & Re-Export
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs ICAD setups end-to-end — matching the licence and land to your operation and handling customs, banking, visas and tax.
Industrial Structuring
We structure the entity around your manufacturing or industrial operation and the land, utilities and permits it requires.
Logistics & Customs Setup
Customs registration and documentation set up for import and export, with AD Ports logistics in mind.
Industrial Tax & VAT
QFZP assessment for manufacturing and qualifying trading, plus VAT and Designated-Zone treatment mapped to your goods flows.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks that onboard industrial businesses, with the compliance file prepared.
Visas & Emirates ID
Investor, management and labour visas processed with Emirates ID and medicals.
Ongoing Compliance
Corporate Tax, VAT, customs, permits, ESR and UBO obligations handled so the operation stays compliant.
Meet Our Specialists
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of an ICAD setup — industrial structuring, customs, tax and ongoing compliance.
Why Industrial Founders Choose Avyanco for ICAD
Three things that come up in every Industrial City of Abu Dhabi engagement.
Industrial Fluency
We set up manufacturers and industrial traders and understand the land, utilities and logistics realities ICAD is built around.
End-to-End Delivery
Licence, land, customs, bank, visas and tax — coordinated by one team.
Tax Done for Industry
QFZP, VAT and Designated-Zone treatment mapped for the way industrial revenue actually arises.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
The Industrial City of Abu Dhabi suits manufacturing and heavy industry. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE entities through Avyanco.
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
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In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
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Sheru George12 May 2026
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
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Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
Industrial City of Abu Dhabi — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi.
What is the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD)?
ICAD is a large industrial zone in Musaffah, southwest of Abu Dhabi city, spanning around 40 km². It is operated by the KEZAD Group (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, part of AD Ports Group) and served by the deepwater Musaffah Port within the wider AD Ports network. It is one of the UAE's principal manufacturing hubs, with clusters across metals, oil & gas, food and construction materials.
How does ICAD relate to KEZAD?
ICAD is part of the wider KEZAD Group ecosystem — Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, under AD Ports Group. ICAD is the established industrial city in Musaffah with its own identity, while KEZAD spans a broader portfolio of economic zones across the emirate. We help you choose the right zone within that ecosystem for your operation.
What is ICAD best for?
It is built for industry at scale — manufacturing and processing, metals and steel, oil & gas services, food and beverage production, construction materials, and the logistics around them. Its advantage is industrial land, utilities, established supply chains and AD Ports logistics integration.
Does an ICAD company qualify for the 0% Corporate Tax rate?
ICAD is a UAE free zone for Corporate Tax. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person — which can include manufacturing and qualifying trading — while mainland sales are treated differently and non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. We assess the position against your activity.
Is ICAD a VAT Designated Zone?
Designated-Zone status for goods is set by Cabinet decision and can change, and several Abu Dhabi industrial zones hold it. We confirm the current status for ICAD and map the VAT treatment to your specific import/export flows rather than assuming it.
Can Avyanco arrange industrial land in ICAD?
Yes. We help select the industrial plot, warehouse or pre-built unit with the right utilities, coordinate it with the zone authority alongside the company setup, customs registration, banking and visas, and handle the ongoing compliance.
Verification & independence
Content verified against KEZAD Group / AD Ports sources and public area guides as of June 2026. ICAD is operated within the KEZAD Group (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi) ecosystem. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of ICAD, the KEZAD Group, AD Ports Group and all UAE government authorities, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Zone branding, Designated-Zone status, licence categories, industrial permits, VAT treatment and Corporate Tax Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules and the correct licensing entity for your operation directly with the KEZAD Group and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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