Private company limited by shares
The Abu Dhabi Global Market Free Zone (ADGM) is a no-tax international financial services center located in Al Maryah Island in the heart of the UAE’s capital city, Abu Dhabi. The Free Zone is administered and governed by three independent authorities: the Registration Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and the ADGM Courts.
Companies incorporated in the ADGM enjoy a full corporate tax exemption until 2063, no foreign ownership restrictions, no limits on repatriation of profits, no withholding taxes, and access to a wide range of tax treaties.
ADGM companies can conduct business and trade within the Free Zones and internationally, but cannot do business with UAE residents out of Free Zone areas, without a UAE resident agent.
ADGM company regulations are based on the UK Companies Act of 2006. The ADGM has an English speaking common law environment and has its own courts and dispute resolution bodies. The Shariah Law does not apply within the free zone.
A company must have at all times a physical office that must be located in Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. However, physical office requirements vary according to business activity. For instance, SPVs and Fintech Companies may fulfill this requirement with a Virtual Office lease.
A company carrying out a commercial activity must be approved by the ADGM Registration authority and obtain a commercial license.
The non-financial and retail business activities permitted include professional service providers, such as law firms and accounting firms, consultants, business training providers, IT and HR/search firms, corporate headquarters, management offices and treasury functions, single family offices and proprietary investment entities, holding companies and special purpose vehicles, industry and professional associations, retail outlets, F&B and services, among others.
A commercial license will also be issued upon incorporation of the company. This document allows the company to conduct business in ADGM in accordance with the approved activities stated in the Commercial License. The license is valid for one year and renewable upon filing the relevant form, paying the relevant fee to the Registrar and completing other applicable requirements for Commercial License renewal.
Companies conducting financial services activities are regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and must obtain the appropriate license to operate. These include international and Islamic banks, lending and credit institutions, fund management companies, investment businesses, hedge funds, banking, hedge funds, forex and securities dealers, cryptocurrency exchanges, among others.
Regulated companies must appoint an authorized individual resident in the UAE as senior executive officer, chief financial officer, compliance officer, and money laundering reporting officer – authorized individuals must be UAE residents.
There is an attractive SPV regime in ADGM. SPVs are private companies established to hold and protect assets, with the purpose of segregating financial and legal risk by ring-fencing assets and liabilities. SPVs can be established as subsidiaries, project or joint venture vehicles.
Protected Cell Companies (PCC) and Incorporated Cell Companies (ICC) are available. A Protected Cell Company (PCC) is a corporate structure in which a single legal entity is comprised of a core and several cells that have separate assets and liabilities. An Incorporated Cell Company (ICC) is similar to Protected Cell Company but adopts a fundamentally different approach to cells. The ICC incorporates each cell as a separate legal entity without the cell company needing to have any shareholder relationship with the relevant cell.
There is also an interesting investment company regime for open-ended and closed-ended funds investing the pooled capital of investors in financial securities.
Cryptocurrency exchanges also find a regulated environment to conduct their activities. They are regulated in a similar manner to “Multilateral Trading Facilities”.
Exchanges that include cryptos that are considered securities will remain subject to the relevant regulatory requirements and will need to obtain another license as a Recognized Investment Exchange or Recognized Clearing House.
In addition, the ADGM has recently introduced a new Tech Startup License, in which qualified startups will be able to access one of the most robust regulatory regimes for finance, flexibility in structuring options and a growing community of funds, banks, family offices, advisors and corporate partners.
The new Tech Start-up License is highly flexible, start-ups can receive a full operational license, the option to apply for four residential visas and meet the requirement for a registered address with a virtual office lease, at a nominal cost of USD 700.
ADGM is also an aviation powerhouse, including an ecosystem of aviation finance and aircraft leasing activities.
AGDM companies also have access to a solid, capitalized and high-quality banking sector.
Directors and employees, and their dependents are eligible for business visas. Usually, a company is authorized to apply for a visa per 100 sq. ft. of leased office space.
Visas are valid for up to 3 years, renewable, and entitle its holder to reside in any of the 7 states of UAE.
Legal
Country code – AE
Legal Basis – Common law for corporate matters. Abu Dhabi Global Market has its own Judiciary Court
Legal framework – ADGM Companies Regulations 2015 (As amended), Financial Services and Market Regulations, 2015 (As amended)
Company form – Private company limited by shares (Ltd)
Liability - The liability of the shareholders is limited to their unpaid shareholdings.
Permitted Business Activities – A company business activity must be approved by the ADGM Registration authority and the company must obtain a commercial or financial services license.
The non-financial and retail business activities permitted include professional service providers, such as law firms and accounting firms, consultants, business training providers, IT and HR/search firms, corporate headquarters, management offices and treasury functions, single family offices and proprietary investment entities, holding companies and special purpose vehicles, industry and professional associations, retail outlets, F&B and services, among others.
A commercial license will also be issued upon incorporation of the company. This document allows the company to conduct business in ADGM in accordance with the approved activities stated in the Commercial License. The license is valid for one year and renewable upon filing the relevant form, paying the relevant fee to the Registrar and completing other applicable requirements for Commercial License renewal.
Financial services activities are regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSR) and must obtain the appropriate license to operate.
Companies incorporated in the ADGM Freezone can conduct business and trade within the Free Zones and internationally, but cannot do business with UAE residents out of Free Zone areas, without a UAE resident agent.
Share Capital – There are no minimum share capital requirements for companies carrying out non-regulated activities or SPVs, although in order to obtain a commercial license the company must have sufficient capital to carry out its business activity. For companies carrying out regulated activities, a minimum AED 180,000.00 must be paid up prior to licensing. Higher capital requirements may apply for certain regulated activities - The FSRA may decide at its discretion the amount of capital required according to the size, scope, and complexity of the business.
Shareholders – A Private Company may be incorporated by one or more shareholders, who can be either a corporation or a natural person, resident or non-resident.
Directors – A private company must have at least one director. Corporate directors are permitted but at least one director must be a natural person.
Secretary – Appointment of a company secretary is not mandatory. Secretary may be an individual or corporate body.
Registered Address – A company must have at all times a registered office. It is the physical location to which all communications and notices may be addressed. The registered address must be located in Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The applicant should provide a copy of the lease agreement duly signed by all relevant parties.
SPVs and Fintech Companies may fulfill this requirement with a Virtual Office lease.
General Meeting – Annual general meetings are not mandatory.
Electronic Signature – Permitted.
Re-domiciliation – Inward/outward re-domiciliation is generally allowed.
Compliance – Companies must annually file an annual return and audited accounts with the competent authorities.
Companies conducting a non-regulated business activity with aggregate turnover of not more than USD 13.5 million net (or USD 16.2 million gross) and with an aggregate number of employees of not more than 35, are considered small companies and exempted of audit requirements.
- Shareholders not disclosed
- Directors not disclosed
- Corporate shareholders permitted
- Corporate directors permitted
- Local director required
- Secretary required
- Local secretary required
- Annual general meetings required
- Redomiciliation permitted
- Electronic signature
- Annual return
- Audited accounts
- Audited accounts exemption
- Exchange controls
- Common law for corporate matters Legal basis
- 1 Minimum shareholders
- 1 Minimum directors
- Varies Minimum issued capital
- Varies Minimum paid up capital
- AEDUSD Capital currency
- Anywhere Location of annual general meeting
- 2018 AEOI
Taxes
Corporate income tax –
Starting June 2023, UAE companies will be subject to tax as follows -
- 0%, for taxable income not exceeding AED 375,000;
- 9%, for taxable income exceeding AED 375,000
Dividends and capital gains will be excluded from the tax base as long as they arise from participations of at least 10% held during one year.
A 0% tax would apply to Freezone companies that comply with
- economic substance requirements in the UAE as long as such companies transact with non-UAE counterparts or other
- Freezone/offshore companies (i.e. they are directed and managed from within the UAE, they have adequate premises and employees in the UAE, and carry out their core-income generating activities from within the UAE),
- have not made an election to be taxed at standard corporate tax (see above),
- derive qualifying income, which is not derived from a trade with UAE residents
- their accounts are audited by an independent auditor,
- comply with transfer pricing requirements, and
- comply with additional conditions as prescribed by the Minister.
Other taxes – In U.A.E. there is no personal income tax, capital gains tax, real property tax, inheritance tax or estate duty, capital transfer tax, gifts tax or wealth tax.
There is a real property tax levied on the transfer of properties, at rates that vary from 2% to 4%, depending on the Emirate where the property is located. Some municipalities, e.g. Dubai, also levy an annual property tax on the assessed rental value of the property.
V.A.T is levied at 5% on most goods and services.
- Offshore Income Tax Exemption
- Offshore capital gains tax exemption
- Offshore dividends tax exemption
- CFC Rules
- Thin Capitalisation Rules
- Patent Box
- Tax Incentives & Credits
- Property Tax
- Wealth tax
- Estate inheritance tax
- Transfer tax
- Capital duties
- 0% Offshore Income Tax Rate
- 9% Corporate Tax Rate
- 9% Capital Gains Tax Rate
- 9% Dividends Received
- 0% Dividends Withholding Tax Rate
- 0% Interests Withholding Tax Rate
- 0% Royalties Withholding Tax Rate
- 0% Personal Income Tax Rate
- 5% VAT Rate
- 76 Tax Treaties
Country details
The United Arab Emirates is a former British protectorate and currently a federation of the Middle East, located to the east of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Oman to the southeast, with the Persian Gulf to the north and Saudi Arabia to the west and south. It is composed of a hybrid monarchy consisting of 7 emirates, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Umm al Qaywayn.
It has a population of 9 million. Its capital is Abu Dhabi, but the most populated and popular city is Dubai. Arabic and English are their official languages. The official currency is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 3.67:1.
The Supreme Council, made up of each emirate Sheikhs, is the highest political decision-making body in the country. Although each Emirate retains a considered political, economic and judicial autonomy, with different rules and regulations.
The federation is one of the richest countries in the world, supported by a liberal and open economy with the eighth highest per capita income worldwide and a considerable annual trade surplus.
Having the seventh largest oil reserve in the world, its economy is clearly dependent on this commodity fluctuations. In recent years efforts have been made to diversify the economy, be less oil-dependent and develop sectors such as retail, financial and tourism.
Tax treaties
Tax treaties Map
Services
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