You select your activities, choose a free zone limited liability company or a branch, and apply through the e-services portal. Masdar City Free Zone says registration takes as little as three days and generally no more than five.
It issues commercial, service and industrial licences and a freelance permit. NXTSTAR prepares the application and the Abu Dhabi approvals with you.
Last reviewed: by the NXTSTAR team.
Rules are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current position before you apply.
Who Masdar City Free Zone suits
Masdar City suits companies that want an Abu Dhabi base, particularly in clean technology, renewable energy, technology, healthcare and life sciences, as well as regional headquarters and holding companies.
If your team and clients are in Dubai, the commute and address are worth weighing.
Company structures
- Free Zone Limited Liability Company, with one or more shareholders.
- Branch of a foreign company.
- Branch of a UAE company.
Licences and activities
- Commercial licence, for trading and selling products.
- Service licence, for consultancy and professional services.
- Industrial licence, for manufacturing, processing and production.
- Freelance permit, for individuals offering creative or consultancy services.
Documents
- Passport copy, with visa or Emirates ID if applicable
- Proposed company name
- Business activity description
- Shareholder details and completed application forms
The process, step by step
- Select activities from the approved list of more than 1,000.
- Choose a company or branch structure.
- Reserve the name and submit initial details on the e-services portal.
- Provide documents and obtain approvals from the Abu Dhabi authorities and the free zone.
- Receive the licence and registration certificate.
What is particular to Masdar City
Its sector focus is sustainability and technology, and its approved list includes energy, clean technology, information technology, healthcare services and regional headquarters. Being in Abu Dhabi also matters for companies that work with Abu Dhabi government entities.
What NXTSTAR does, and what we do not
- We help you choose the structure, licence and activities.
- We prepare and submit the application.
- We handle the visa and bank account steps afterwards.
- We do not decide approvals. The authority does, and banks decide on accounts.
- We are an independent consultancy and are not part of Masdar City Free Zone.
Common questions
How long does Masdar City registration take?
Masdar City Free Zone says registration takes as little as three days and generally not more than five, in no more than five steps.
Is Masdar City only for green energy companies?
No. Its licensed sectors also include technology, marketing and events, human resources, healthcare services, trading and holding companies.
Can I open a branch instead of a new company?
Yes. Masdar City Free Zone registers branches of both foreign and UAE companies.
How much does Masdar City Free Zone setup cost?
We do not publish prices. Ask us for a written quote that separates authority fees from our service fee.
Sources
The rules on this page come from the authority's own published material, checked on 7 October 2026.
Talk to NXTSTAR about Masdar City Free Zone
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you which route fits, what it involves and what we would need from you.