ADGM Approved Business Activities & License Directory
Leading International Financial Centre (IFC) situated on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, operating directly under English Common Law for banking, asset management, private wealth, family offices, and tech ventures.
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What Businesses Can Be Set Up in ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market)? Licensing & Legal Framework
Leading International Financial Centre (IFC) situated on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, operating directly under English Common Law for banking, asset management, private wealth, family offices, and tech ventures.
Permitted License Categories
- Financial Services (Regulated): Asset management, private equity, hedge funds, investment banking, brokerage, and digital asset exchanges.
- Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs): Holding structures, asset ring-fencing, intellectual property holding, and joint venture vehicles.
- Family Offices & Private Wealth: Single and multi-family office structures, trusts, and private foundations.
- Professional & Corporate Services: Top-tier legal practices, management consultancies, audit firms, and corporate service providers.
- Tech Startups & Venture Labs: Regulated fintech sandboxes, AI development, and venture capital syndicates.
Facility & Visa Framework
- Registered Office / Cloud Office: Permitted for SPVs and holding companies requiring no physical employees.
- Co-Working Desks: Flexible workspace solutions for seed-stage fintech startups in Hub71.
- Grade-A High-Rise Offices: Executive corporate towers on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.
Legal Structures and Permitted Formations
Investors setting up in ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) can incorporate as a Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC / FZE), a Branch of a Foreign Company, or a Branch of an existing UAE Enterprise. All corporate structures provide 100% foreign equity ownership, zero personal income taxes, zero customs duties on re-exports, and full capital and profit repatriation.
External Ministry & Regulatory Approvals
While standard commercial trading and management consulting activities receive expedited approval, specialized or regulated business activities require prior clearance from relevant UAE federal and emirate authorities:
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA): Mandatory authorization for all investment, banking, and financial services.
- ADGM Registration Authority (RA): Governs commercial, SPV, and non-financial business registration.
- ADGM Courts: Independent English-language commercial judiciary enforcing common law contracts.
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Activity Group
Financial, Corporate Administration & Professional Services
License Type
Financial & Non-Financial |
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|---|---|---|
| Accounting & Bookkeeping | Activities of ADGM Foundation | Activities of Holding Partnerships |
| Activities of Call Centres | Activities of Member Orgs | Admitting Financial Instruments |
| Advertising | Advice on Financial Products | Air & Spacecraft Manufacture |
| Air Transport (Freight/Pass) | Amusement & Recreation | Arbitration Services |
| Architectural Activities | Arranging Credit/Investments | Arranging Custody |
| Arts & Entertainment | Asset Management | Auditing Activities |
| Authorised Person (Financial) | Bakery Products Manufacture | Beverage Serving Activities |
| Book Publishing | Botanical & Zoological Gardens | Building Center & Construction |
| Business Support Services | Civil Engineering Projects | Collection of Waste (All) |
| Combined Facilities/Office Admin | Computer Consultancy & Programming | Confectionery Manufacture |
| Convention & Trade Show Org | Corporate Investigation | Creative & Performing Arts |
| Custody & Administration | Cyber Security Services | Dairy Products Manufacture |
| Data Processing & Hosting | Dealing in Investments | Defense & Military Training |
| Defense Logistics & Supply | Defense Manufacturing (All) | Defense Research & Systems |
| Defense Systems Maintenance | Demolition & Site Prep | Desalination Plants |
| Developing Payment Systems | Digital/Software Publishing | Disinfection & Sterilization |
| Domestic Personnel Activities | Drilling Towers Services | Education (Primary & Secondary) |
| Educational Support | Electric & Gas Supply | Electrical Installation |
| Event Catering | Extraction of Oil & Gas | Family Office |
| Financial Leasing | Finishing of Textiles | Food & Beverage Services |
| Footwear & Apparel Manufacture | Foreign Affairs | Freight Transport (All) |
| Fund Management | Funeral & Related Services | Furniture Manufacture |
| Gambling & Betting | General Cleaning Services | General Medicine & Health |
| General Public Administration | Hairdressing & Beauty | Handcrafted Products |
| Higher Education | Hospital Activities | Hotels & Accommodation |
| Industrial Cleaning | Inland Water Transport | Innovation – Tech Start-up |
| Insurance Brokerage & Admin | Insurance Business Training | Investigation Activities |
| Investment Management | Issuing Electronic Money | Justice & Judicial Activities |
| Land Transport & Pipelines | Landscape Maintenance | Law Training Services |
| Legal Consultancy | Libraries & Archives | Life & Non-life Insurance |
| Management Consultancy | Management of Medical Facilities | Managing a Collective Fund |
| Managing Assets | Manufacture of Chemicals | Manufacture of Computers/Electronics |
| Manufacture of Food/Dairy | Manufacture of Furniture | Manufacture of Glass/Metals |
| Manufacture of Machinery | Manufacture of Medical Inst. | Manufacture of Motor Vehicles |
| Manufacture of Paper/Plastics | Manufacture of Pharmaceuticals | Manufacture of Rubber/Wiring |
| Manufacture of Wood Products | Market Research & Polling | Medical Analysis & Diagnostics |
| Medical & Dental Practice | Military Maintenance (All) | Military Manufacturing (All) |
| Military Training (All) | Mobile Medical Services | Monetary Intermediation |
| Motion Picture/TV (All) | Multi-dimensional Printing | Museums & Historical Sites |
| Natural Gas & Oil Well Services | News Agency Activities | Nursing & Residential Care |
| Office Administrative Support | Onshore/Offshore Field Services | Operating Trading Platforms |
| Organization of Conventions | Other Education Services | Other Financial Services |
| Other Human Health Activities | Other Information Services | Other Personal Services |
| Other Publishing Activities | Packaging Activities | Passenger Rail Transport |
| Patent & Trademark Agents | Pediatric & Geriatric Medicine | Pension Funding |
| Photocopying & Document Prep | Physical Well-being Activities | Plumbing, Heat & HVAC |
| Police & Fire Protection | Postal & Courier Activities | Prepared Meals Manufacture |
| Printing & Media Reproduction | Private Security Activities | Professional Membership Orgs |
| Proprietary Investment Company | Providing Trust Services | Public Order & Safety |
| Real Estate (Fee/Own/Leased) | Reinsurance | Remediation Activities |
| Rental & Leasing (All) | Repair of Computers & Comm. | Repair of Household Goods |
| Repair of Industrial Machinery | Repair of Motor Vehicles | Repair of Personal/Home Goods |
| Research & Experimental R&D | Restaurants & Cafes | Retail Sale (Non-spec stores) |
| Retail Sale of Cultural Goods | Retail Sale of Food/Bev/Fuel | Retail Sale of ICT/Electronics |
| Retail Sale of Pharma/Medical | Retail Sale of Sports/Toys | Risk Management |
| Roads & Railways Construction | Roofing Activities | Sale of Motor Vehicles & Parts |
| Satellite Telecommunications | Scientific Research & Development | Sea & Coastal Water Transport |
| Security & Defense Consultancy | Security Systems Services | Sewerage & Water Treatment |
| Social Work Services | Specialized Construction | Specialized Design Activities |
| Sports Activities & Clubs | Sports Services & Contracting | Steam & Air Conditioning |
| Strategic & Security Studies | Support for Transport | Tax Consultancy Activities |
| Technical Testing & Analysis | Television Programming | Tour Operator Activities |
| Translation & Interpretation | Travel Agency Activities | Trusts & Funds |
| Utility Projects Construction | Veterinary Activities | Warehousing & Storage |
| Washing & Cleaning of Textiles | Weapons & Ammo Maintenance | Web Portals |
| Wholesale of Agri/Food/Bev | Wholesale of Household/ICT | Wholesale of Machinery/Fuel |
| Wholesale on Fee/Contract | Wired/Wireless Telecom | |
Frequently Asked Questions: ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) Business Activities & Licensing
What legal system governs corporate disputes in ADGM?
ADGM is an independent common-law jurisdiction. English Common Law applies directly, with commercial disputes adjudicated by the internationally renowned ADGM Courts.
Why are ADGM SPVs globally popular for holding assets?
ADGM SPVs offer fast digital incorporation, zero physical office lease requirements (utilizing an authorized corporate service provider’s address), robust insolvency protections, and complete tax neutrality.
What is the regulatory process for setting up a fund manager in ADGM?
Fund managers submit a detailed regulatory business plan to the FSRA, demonstrating appropriate capital adequacy, approved key personnel (SEO, Compliance Officer), and risk management controls.
Are ADGM companies subject to UAE Federal Corporate Tax?
ADGM entities are subject to the UAE Corporate Tax law; however, Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZPs) conducting qualifying financial activities can benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income.
Can an ADGM foundation be used for generational wealth transfer?
Yes. ADGM Foundations provide a private, flexible vehicle for succession planning, asset protection, and estate governance without forced heirship restrictions.
Need Assistance with ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) Licensing or Activity Approvals?
Selecting the correct activity code is critical to ensure corporate bank account approval and compliance with UAE Corporate Tax regulations. BUH Consulting assists investors in structuring licenses, adding new activities, and acquiring ready-made companies.
WhatsApp: +971 58 508 6656 | Telegram: @BUHConsultingAE | Email: info@buh-consulting.com