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Start your company ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market)

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Why ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market)?

Regulated financial services

FSRA grants permissions across asset management, banking, insurance, and virtual assets under a Common Law framework modelled on the UK FCA.

FSRA Rulebook aligned with international standardsOver 130 authorised firms operating in the zoneRegLab sandbox active since 2016

Holding and SPV structures

ADGM applies English common law directly, allowing trust deeds, share pledges, and shareholder agreements that founders already use in London or Singapore.

ADGM Courts presided over by former English judgesTrusts (Special Provisions) Regulations 2016 in forceQFZP 0% rate on qualifying holding income

Family offices and wealth platforms

The Foundations Regulations 2017 and Private Trust Company regime give multi generational families a familiar civil law alternative to Jersey or Cayman.

No personal income tax or estate dutyFoundation minimum capital USD 100Confidential register, accessible only to regulators

Considerations

Founders without GCC substance

QFZP status requires adequate substance, qualifying activity, and arm's length pricing. Shell structures lose the 0% rate and fall back to 9% federal CIT.

Substance test reviewed annually by FTAOffice space and qualified staff effectively mandatoryTransfer pricing documentation from AED 50m revenue
→ British Virgin Islands Offshore holding without substance pressure→ Singapore Asia hub with simpler residency→ Dubai (UAE) UAE alternative with broader business mix

Consumer facing UAE businesses

ADGM entities cannot trade freely with the UAE mainland without a branch or distributor. Retail, F&B, and consumer services usually do better on a DED mainland licence.

Mainland sales need a local distributor agreementFree zone licence not valid for direct B2C onshoreCustoms treatment differs from mainland entities
→ Dubai (UAE) DMCC or DED licence covers mainland trade→ Bahrain Cheaper GCC base with fewer barriers
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