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KIZAD free zone packages start at AED 9,450 for one year, VAT included, with a business licence, a shared workstation or office and one visa. KIZAD is now part of KEZAD Group, which sells four start-up packages with 1 to 4 visas and says setup takes 24 hours. The zone suits traders, logistics firms and manufacturers that want to sit near Khalifa Port.
KIZAD, ZonesCorp and KEZAD Group
The names confuse people, so here is the short version. On 19 September , AD Ports Group merged Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) and ZonesCorp into one company, KEZAD Group. KEZAD stands for Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. It now sits in the Economic Cities and Free Zones Cluster of AD Ports Group.
KEZAD Group covers 12 economic zones and 550 sq km. About 100 sq km of that is free zone. The rest is domestic economic zone, which is mainland land under Abu Dhabi rules, and KEZAD offers both. Check which side your quote is for before you sign, because the licence and ownership rules differ.
The free zone areas sit near Khalifa Port, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in Areas A and B. KEZAD also lists Musaffah, Al Ain and Al Faya, and a free zone facility called KLP Al Ma'mourah Free Zone 3.
How much does a KEZAD license cost?
These are KEZAD's start-up packages for one year. Each one includes a business licence, a shared workstation or dedicated office, internet and Wi-Fi, with no security deposit and no visa deposit.
| Package | Price for 1 year | Visas |
|---|---|---|
| Start-up, 1 visa | AED 9,450 | 1 |
| Start-up, 2 visas | AED 11,150 | 2 |
| Start-up, 3 visas | AED 12,850 | 3 |
| Start-up, 4 visas | AED 14,550 | 4 |
Source: KEZAD free zone business setup solutions page, prices include VAT, checked .
KEZAD also sells each package for two or three years at a lower price per year. The 1 visa package costs AED 17,800 for two years, for example.
The tariff page explains why the packages look cheap. New company registration is AED 0, and a new industrial, trading or service licence is AED 0. You pay mainly for the space and the visa allocation.
What setup agencies quote
Agencies publish KEZAD entry packages with one visa at about AED 9,450 to AED 20,000 a year (published prices of 3 agencies, checked ). The low end repeats KEZAD's own 1 visa price. The high end is a "typically begins around" figure that bundles licence, facility, documents and visas, with the agency's service. Neither end is our price.
What does a KEZAD visa cost?
The packages give you a visa allocation, not the visa itself. The tariff page lists the fees you pay per person and per company:
- establishment card, new: AED 1,000
- establishment card cancellation: AED 500
- employment residence fee: AED 1,500
- ID card: AED 300
- access card: AED 200
Medical tests and Emirates ID are charged by the federal side, so ask for them in your quote. Our free zone visa cost guide shows how these fees compare across zones.
What office options does KEZAD offer?
This is where KEZAD differs from most desk-based zones. The space menu runs from a seat to a factory site:
- Shared workstation or dedicated office in the KEZAD Incubation Hub, used by the start-up packages
- Pre-built warehouses for storage and distribution
- Light industrial units for assembly and small production
- Serviced land plots to build your own facility
- Build-to-suit, where KEZAD builds to your spec
Serviced industrial plots are listed at AED 32 to AED 38 per sq m a year. A common area levy of AED 3 per sq m is added. Logistics plots are priced higher than industrial ones.
KEZAD renewal fees
Renewal works in two year blocks:
- industrial, trading or service licence: AED 5,000 per 2 years
- general trading licence: AED 15,000 per 2 years
Office, warehouse or land rent renews on its own terms. For how renewal works elsewhere, see our licence renewal guide.
Which licence types and company forms does KEZAD offer?
KEZAD issues four licence types:
- Industrial, for manufacturing and processing
- Trading, for a limited range of goods
- General Trading, needed once you trade more than 17 items or more than 3 groups of goods
- Service, for consultancy and service work
Company types are FZE (one shareholder), FZC or FZCO (several shareholders) and a branch of an existing company. KEZAD's brochure says there is no minimum capital in the free zone. One agency says a minimum applies, which conflicts with the brochure. Ask KEZAD to confirm it in writing.
How do you set up a company in KEZAD?
- Choose free zone or domestic economic zone, based on where you will sell.
- Pick the licence type and list your activities.
- Choose a start-up package, or ask for a warehouse or plot quote.
- Apply through KEZAD's online services on the ATLP platform.
- Sign the lease and receive the licence. KEZAD says setup takes 24 hours for start-up packages.
- Apply for the establishment card, then the visas in your allocation.
KEZAD's pages do not list the documents. Expect passport copies, photos and, for a branch, the parent company's attested papers. Industrial activities may need extra approvals before you start production.
Pros and cons of KEZAD
Pros:
- a 1 visa package at AED 9,450 with VAT already in the price
- no deposit on start-up packages or visas
- real industrial and logistics space next to a deep sea port
- free zone and mainland options under one operator
Cons:
- the main free zone areas sit out at Khalifa Port, not in Abu Dhabi city
- general trading renewal is three times the standard renewal
- documents and remote setup rules are not published
- prices for warehouses and offices beyond the packages need a quote
For port-linked trading elsewhere, compare Jafza in Dubai and SAIF Zone in Sharjah. If you are weighing KEZAD against the older industrial city on the ADDED list, read our page on the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi free zones hub covers all six zones.
Get a KEZAD quote through us
Fill in the form on this page with your activity, the visas you need and whether you want a desk, a warehouse or land. We are an independent directory, not KEZAD Group or any part of AD Ports. Your enquiry goes to KEZAD or a licensed setup partner, and they come back to you with prices.
Setup consultants that work with KEZAD
Setup consultants that list KEZAD among their zones include Creative Zone, FREEZONER: The Company Formation Experts and Crosslink International Business Setup in Dubai UAE, the three highest ranked by weighted Google score. Creative Zone is based in Downtown Dubai. Ask each for a quote with government fees and service fees on separate lines, then compare it with the price above. More firms are in the directory of Dubai setup consultants.
Sources
- KEZAD free zone business setup solutions: packages, prices, inclusions, 24 hour setup
- KEZAD tariffs: registration, licence, renewal, establishment card, visa and land fees
- KEZAD licence types: industrial, trading, general trading and service licences
- KEZAD business setup: company types and online services
- KEZAD business facilities: locations and free zone facility
- KEZAD about us: size and number of zones
- AD Ports Group news on the KEZAD Group launch: merger of KIZAD and ZonesCorp
