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Not for crypto / Web3
→ Compare launch routesVirtual-asset activities need a VARA / FSRA / DIFC licence; this zone doesn't issue one.
Not for F&B
→ MainlandRestaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens need a mainland DED foodservice licence. Free zones don't issue these.
Not for clinics
→ DHCCDHA-regulated medical/clinical activity requires Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC).
Visa cap: 6
→ Browse higher-cap zonesPlanning a team of 7+? You'll hit this zone's visa cap. Compare SRTIP, IFZA, RAKEZ, or another launch route with the right visa capacity.
Abu Dhabi · Free Zone
Coming as channel partnerFull UAE Free Zone profile · pricing on request
Formenzo files directly at Masdar City as part of our full-coverage service — complete formation, visa, and banking support. Pricing is quoted per case based on your passport, activity, and visa count. The figures on this page reflect the authority’s published rate card.
Masdar City Free Zone
Sustainability-focused free zone — cleantech, AI, space tech
7d est.
Licence pace
6
Visa quota
800+
Activities
7/10
Bank score
Masdar City is Abu Dhabi's sustainability-focused free zone backed by Mubadala. 2,000+ companies. Home to IRENA, Siemens Energy, UAE Space Agency. LEED Platinum campus, 99% occupancy.
Starting from
AED 21,200
Formenzo all-in estimate
Includes: Government fees, Formenzo service, flexi-desk, establishment card
Invoice transparency · Masdar City
What lands on your invoice. Line by line.
Every fee, in the order it hits. No “admin” tax, no hidden markup — Formenzo's margin is the zone's channel-partner commission, not a line on your invoice.
0 visas · licence only
- Masdar City licenceAED 21,200
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
1 visa · founder
- Masdar City licenceAED 21,200
- Entry permit × 1AED 3,500
- Medical + EID × 1AED 720
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
2 visas · partners
- Masdar City licenceAED 21,200
- Entry permit × 2AED 7,000
- Medical + EID × 2AED 1,440
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
Visa bundle uses Masdar City-standard rates. Final visas stamped per applicant; typing-centre and translation fees are only added when they actually occur and billed at cost (usually AED 0 for English-passport applicants, AED 100–200 otherwise).
Banking reality · Masdar City
The real bank-approval picture for a Masdar City licence.
Channel-partner outcomes by passport bucket, over the last 90 days. “Limited” means the bank rarely approves this combo — we'll re-route you rather than waste your time.
| Bank | IN / UK / PH Low friction | PK / BD / NG Enhanced DD | RU / IR / SY Sanctions screen | US FATCA disclosure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wio | Strong | Limited | Limited | Standard | 5–7 |
| Mashreq NeoBiz | Strong | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Standard | 10–14 |
| Emirates NBD | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Enhanced DD | 14–21 |
| RAKBANK | Strong | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 12–18 |
| CBI | Standard | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | 14–25 |
| ADCB | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 18–21 |
Outcomes are directional channel-partner patterns, not a guarantee for any specific applicant. “Days” = typical bank review time after licence issuance and clean KYC documents.
Banking partners
Banking routes commonly reviewed for Masdar City companies, with final decisions subject to each bank's KYC and risk review.
Banking-review estimate
21 days
after licence issuance; subject to KYC
Formenzo setup timeline
Day-by-day what we deliver end-to-end, from signed engagement to bank-file routing.
Initial approval
We file your application with the Free Zone authority.
~3 days
License issued
Trade license + Establishment Card in hand. You can sign contracts.
~4 days
Investor visa
Entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → stamping.
~9 days
Bank file routed
Clean KYC pack prepared and routed; final onboarding remains subject to bank review.
~5 days
Full cost breakdown
Every fee, transparent. Real 2026 dirham pricing, no surprise invoices.
| Government license fee | AED 7,000 |
| Filing support and authority handling | AED 3,000 |
| Flexi-desk / office lease | AED 10,000 |
| Establishment Card (only with visas) | AED 1,200 |
| Per-visa cost (optional) | AED 3,500 |
| Emirates ID (per person) | AED 370 |
| Medical fitness (per person) | AED 350 |
| Minimum setup (no visa) | AED 21,200 |
| With 1 investor visa (most founders) | AED 25,420 |
Why founders pick Masdar City
- ✓LEED Platinum campus — ICE vehicles prohibited
- ✓Home to IRENA, Siemens Energy, UAE Space Agency
- ✓Startup package from AED 7,000
- ✓The Catalyst accelerator — up to USD 100K investment
- ✓Women Entrepreneurs package from AED 6,000
- ✓Mandatory ESG/sustainability reporting
Best for these activities
Not allowed
Masdar City — frequently asked questions
Quotable, answer-first, optimized for AI search (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Mode).
How much does a Masdar City license cost in 2026?
+
A Masdar City Free Zone (Masdar City) starts from AED 21,200 in 2026. Government fees, Formenzo service, flexi-desk, establishment card. Add one investor visa and the customer-facing 1-visa route is AED 25,420 before any case-specific authority extras.
How long does Masdar City company setup take?
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Masdar City publishes a typical licence-issuance estimate of 7 business days after initial approval (3 days). A residency visa adds an additional immigration stage. Banking preparation and review add another case-specific stage. Timelines vary by authority, immigration, document readiness, and bank risk review.
How many visas can I get with Masdar City?
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Masdar City default package includes 2 visas, and the maximum allowed per license is 6. A 1-visa customer route is approximately AED 25,420 based on the current pricing schedule.
Which UAE banks open accounts for Masdar City companies?
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Masdar City companies primarily bank with FAB, ADCB, Emirates NBD. Formenzo prepares the KYC pack, identifies missing items, and routes the application to a suitable bank. Bank outcomes vary by nationality, activity, source of funds, and full risk review.
What business activities does Masdar City allow?
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Masdar City permits approximately 800 business activities. It is best suited for consulting, it services. Activities not allowed include restaurant, retail physical, industrial — these require a UAE Mainland license.
Can I form a Masdar City company without visiting the UAE?
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Yes — Masdar City formation is fully remote through Formenzo. We handle document collection, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, and submission without a UAE visit. You only come to the UAE for one day to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — and only if you want a residency visa. The trade license itself can be issued with zero travel.
Is Masdar City eligible for 0% UAE Corporate Tax?
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Yes. Masdar City is a recognized UAE Free Zone, so companies qualifying as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can maintain a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% above AED 375,000. Masdar City companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months of incorporation — Formenzo handles this filing.
Why choose Masdar City over other UAE Free Zones?
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Sustainability-focused free zone — cleantech, AI, space tech. LEED Platinum campus — ICE vehicles prohibited. Home to IRENA, Siemens Energy, UAE Space Agency. Banking readiness score: 7/10. Published licence pace: 7 days, subject to document and authority review. Starting cost: AED 21,200. Run Formenzo's 60-second match to compare Masdar City against indexed UAE formation options based on your nationality, budget, and business activity.
Other Abu Dhabi Free Zones
Compare Masdar City with other options in the same emirate.
Meydan FZ
Premium Dubai address with strong banking & ecommerce support
IFZA
Best balance of price, speed, and Dubai address
SHAMS
LLC without the 'FZ' — 4-hour formation for media & creative entrepreneurs
SRTIP
R&D + innovation park — 5 activities per licence, free R&D grant available
Ready to form your Masdar City company?
Run the 60-second match. We'll prepare your docs, file with Masdar City, and track the case-specific licence timeline.