ADGM, the international financial centre of the UAE’s capital, has announced an updated fee schedule for obtaining and renewing an ADGM commercial licence. Effective from January 1, 2025, fee reductions of 50 percent or more apply to non-financial and retail businesses within the ADGM jurisdiction. This initiative aims to enhance ADGM’s business ecosystem, making it more attractive and accessible for various enterprises.
Fee reductions for non-financial and retail categories
Under the updated fees schedule:
- Non-financial category
- Initial registration fees are reduced from $10,000 to $5,500.
- Annual licence renewal fees are reduced from $8,000 to $5,000.
- Retail category
- Initial registration fees are reduced from $6,000 to $2,500.
- Annual licence renewal fees are reduced from $4,000 to $2,000.
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These fee revisions further align with the conclusion of the Al Reem Island transition period, which ended on December 31, 2024, and apply across ADGM’s jurisdiction, encompassing Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.
Community engagement and review process
The updated fee structure follows extensive consultations conducted in 2023 with ADGM’s business community, focusing on jurisdictional expansion and enhancing the ease of doing business. Based on this feedback, the Registration Authority (RA) undertook a comprehensive review to ensure the new structure meets the needs of ADGM’s evolving commercial landscape while supporting a seamless transition for its expanding business segments.
Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM RA said, “The revised fee structure reflects our commitment to supporting businesses within ADGM’s thriving jurisdiction. By significantly reducing fees for non-financial and retail categories, we aim to cultivate a vibrant and efficient business ecosystem, reinforcing ADGM’s position as a leading international financial hub.”
With the conclusion of the Al Reem Island transitional period on December 31, 2024, fee exemptions previously available to qualifying non-financial and retail businesses have now been discontinued. The updated fee schedule also includes adjustments for other categories:
- Financial Category: Initial registration fees increased from $15,000 to $16,700, with annual renewals rising from $13,000 to $16,200.
- Tech Startups: Fees adjusted from $1,000 to $1,500 for both new registrations and renewals.
Additionally, a $300 data protection fee will continue to be applied across all categories at the time of new registration and annual renewal in the new fee schedule.
