Abu Dhabi starts a new authority to register and license businesses, aiming to support and manage the business sector
Abu Dhabi has set up a new authority to handle business registration and licensing. Its goal is to make business processes easier, improve the business environment, and ensure rules are followed properly.
Abu Dhabi sets up new business registration authority
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has created the Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA) to make it easier and faster to set up businesses in the emirate, according to a statement on Monday.
ADRA will handle business registrations in Abu Dhabi, including in its free zones, and ensure that businesses follow all laws and regulations.
This new system will create a simple and transparent process for starting businesses in different sectors, including measures to prevent money laundering and illegal activities.
By removing obstacles and clarifying rules, Abu Dhabi aims to become a leading global economic hub. A clear and efficient system will attract investors and bring in more foreign investments, ADDED said.
Unified Database
ADRA will create a unified database to bring together data on businesses in Abu Dhabi. This includes businesses in both the mainland and non-financial free zones.
The new database will gather information on all businesses in Abu Dhabi, whether they are on the mainland or in free zones.
ADRA will also introduce new types of business licenses to attract talents, investors, and entrepreneurs, allowing them to benefit from Abu Dhabi’s strong and diverse economy.
In June last year, ADRA launched the Unified Economic License initiative to make setting up businesses easier across free zones. This initiative combines the registration process for economic licenses throughout the emirate and its free zones.
This move will give all licenses a standard reference number and ensure that company data is up-to-date in a new integrated registry for Abu Dhabi. This will make data management easier and improve cooperation between free zones and mainland authorities.
Investment Opportunities
In April 2024, ADDED released a guide highlighting investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi’s transportation industries. The guide, part of the Abu Dhabi Channel Partners program, offers domestic and international investors a chance to invest in a sector that is expected to grow to a market size of $3 billion (AED 11.04 billion) by 2027.
The Industrial Development Bureau, which works under ADDED to develop and manage the industrial sector in Abu Dhabi, has also been active in launching new programs. In 2023, the number of high-skilled jobs in the emirate grew to 16,810.
Additionally, the number of new industrial licenses in Abu Dhabi increased by 51.25%, reaching 363 in 2023. These new licenses represent a total investment of $2.9 billion (AED 10.76 billion). The number of active factories in Abu Dhabi also grew by 11.75%, reaching 1,103 in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Published: 7th January 2025
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