Free Zones for Manufacturing in Abu Dhabi (2026)
The 4 Abu Dhabi free zones that license manufacturing activity, ranked by published year-1 cost, with visa quotas and setup times. Data as of July 2026.
Take the matching quiz4 free zones in Abu Dhabi license manufacturing activity. Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 11,000–50,000 as of July 2026. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi has the lowest firm published entry cost at AED 11,000–20,000. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi reports the shortest setup at 5–14 days. Which one fits depends on your visa count, office type and banking needs.
Abu Dhabi free zones licensing manufacturing
Ranked by published year-1 example cost, lowest first. Figures are typical packages as of July 2026, not quotes.
| Free zone | Year 1 cost | Typical visa ceiling | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi | AED 11,000–20,000 | 50 | 5–14 days |
| Khalifa Port Free Zone | AED 11,000–25,000 | 50 | 5–14 days |
| Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone | AED 15,000–40,000 | 15 | 5–7 days |
| Industrial City of Abu Dhabi | AED 15,000–50,000 | 50 | 5–14 days |
Looking UAE-wide rather than Abu Dhabi only? See every UAE free zone for manufacturing .
Questions
Which free zone in Abu Dhabi is best for manufacturing?
4 free zones in Abu Dhabi license manufacturing activity. Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 11,000–50,000 as of July 2026. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi has the lowest firm published entry cost at AED 11,000–20,000. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi reports the shortest setup at 5–14 days. Which one fits depends on your visa count, office type and banking needs.
How many free zones in Abu Dhabi allow manufacturing activity?
4 of the 52 free zones FreezoneMatch scores list manufacturing among their licensed activities in Abu Dhabi: Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Port Free Zone, Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. As of July 2026.
What does a manufacturing licence cost in Abu Dhabi?
Among the zones publishing firm package prices, year-1 costs run AED 11,000–50,000 as of July 2026, based on each zone's published example package. The lowest is Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi at AED 11,000–20,000. These are typical package figures, not quotes — final cost depends on visa count and office type.
How many visas can a manufacturing company get in Abu Dhabi?
Visa quotas in Abu Dhabi are driven mainly by office type rather than by zone choice — a flexi-desk caps you low almost everywhere. Among these zones, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi models the highest typical ceiling at 50. Confirm the quota for the specific office package you intend to take.