The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the UAE capital’s premier international financial center, has unveiled a new fee schedule for commercial licenses, effective 1st January 2025. This update introduces significant reductions, particularly benefiting non-financial and retail businesses, with some fees slashed by 50% or more, along with other incentives.
Fee Reductions by Category
Non-Financial Category
- Initial Registration: Reduced from USD 10,000 to USD 5,500
- Annual Renewal: Reduced from USD 8,000 to USD 5,000
Retail Category
- Initial Registration: Reduced from USD 6,000 to USD 2,500
- Annual Renewal: Reduced from USD 4,000 to USD 2,000
Strategic Context
These changes align with the end of the Al Reem Island transition period on 31st December 2024, which expanded ADGM’s jurisdiction to include both Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands. The new structure follows comprehensive consultations with ADGM’s business community in 2023, aimed at simplifying processes and enhancing the ease of doing business.
This blog is a part of ADGM’s Expansion to Al Reem Island: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses
Additional Fee Adjustments
While non-financial and retail categories see reductions, other sectors will experience adjusted fees:
- Financial Category: Initial registration fees rise from USD 15,000 to USD 16,700; renewals increase from USD 13,000 to USD 16,200.
- Tech Startups: Fees for new registrations and renewals adjusted from USD 1,000 to USD 1,500.
A USD 300 data protection fee will continue to apply across all categories at the registration and renewal stages.
Impact on Businesses
The updated fee structure eliminates previous exemptions for qualifying businesses under the Al Reem Island transition period. However, the reduced fees aim to encourage entrepreneurship, reduce operational barriers, and attract a diverse range of businesses to ADGM.
ADGM’s revised fees highlight its commitment to fostering a competitive and inclusive business environment. With these changes, the financial hub is poised to further solidify its role as a global leader in facilitating growth and innovation for businesses of all sizes.
