Industrial Licence
For manufacturing, processing and assembly. The core licence for factories, tied to a land plot or industrial unit.
ManufacturingIndustry
ZonesCorp Abu Dhabi Company Formation
Now part of KEZAD, Abu Dhabi's industrial zone by Khalifa PortZonesCorp is now part of KEZAD, Abu Dhabi's largest industrial and logistics zone. Run by AD Ports Group beside Khalifa Port, it offers land, warehouses and industrial licences for manufacturers.
Excellent
Now part of KEZAD Group
Founded as ZonesCorp in 2004
Run by AD Ports Group
Beside Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi
Home to ICAD industrial city
Excellent
ZonesCorp Abu Dhabi
What is ZonesCorp now?
ZonesCorp is the name most people still use for Abu Dhabi's industrial zones. It was founded in 2004 as the Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones and built the emirate's first industrial cities, led by ICAD in Musaffah.
Here is the update. In 2022, ZonesCorp merged with KIZAD, the Khalifa Industrial Zone, to form KEZAD Group. It now runs under AD Ports Group. So a ZonesCorp setup today is a KEZAD setup, and both names point to the same place.
KEZAD is now Abu Dhabi's largest industrial and logistics platform, next to Khalifa Port. It spans 550 square kilometres across a dozen zones. It is built for manufacturers, processors and logistics firms that need land and a port.
Business Benefits
Why set up your business in KEZAD?
ZonesCorp, now KEZAD, earns its place for one type of founder: the one who needs land, a port and industrial scale. Here is what you get.
- Khalifa Port right beside your facility
- Land leases up to 50 years to build on
- Sector clusters for metals, food and polymers
- The full AD Ports logistics network
- On-site worker housing communities
- Reach to the Gulf, Asia and Africa
- 100% foreign ownership with no local partner
- No corporate tax on qualifying income
An honest fit check
Is ZonesCorp right for your business?
ZonesCorp, now KEZAD, is an industrial platform, not a cheap-licence shortcut. Its value is land, a port and scale. That fits some businesses and wastes money for others. We tell you which before you commit.
Choose KEZAD if you
- Manufacture, process or assemble goods
- Need land or a warehouse to operate
- Ship through a major container port
- Serve the Gulf, Asia or Africa
- Want Abu Dhabi's industrial scale
- Plan a long-term physical operation
Look at another zone if you
- Run a service or digital business
- Need no warehouse or physical space
- Specifically need a Dubai address
- Want a clean-tech ecosystem instead
Many guides still sell ZonesCorp as its own free zone. It is now KEZAD, under AD Ports. Riz & Mona sets you up under the current framework and quotes the full facility picture upfront.
Licence Benefits
What comes with your KEZAD setup?
Every ZonesCorp, now KEZAD, setup gives you the licence, facility and access you need to manufacture, trade, hire and ship from day one.
Industrial licence
Your KEZAD licence covering the industrial, trading or logistics activities you select. Renewable each year.
Company registration
Legal proof your company exists inside KEZAD. Banks, clients and immigration all ask for it.
Registered KEZAD address
An Abu Dhabi industrial address used for banking, contracts and official filings.
Land or warehouse
A serviced land plot, a pre-built warehouse or an industrial unit, matched to your operation.
Establishment card
Your company's registration with UAE immigration. Needed before any visa.
Visa eligibility
Sponsor UAE residence visas for owners, staff and your workforce.
Khalifa Port access
Direct use of the port and the AD Ports logistics network for import and export.
Worker housing access
On-site staff accommodation communities for a labour-scale workforce.
Corporate banking access
Introductions to UAE banks that work with industrial and trading firms.
Licence Types
Which KEZAD licence do you need?
KEZAD issues licences across industry, trade and logistics. Your choice sets the activities you can run and the facility you need.
Trading Licence
For import, export, re-export and distribution of goods, usually paired with a warehouse.
TradingImport-export
Logistics Licence
For freight, storage, distribution and supply-chain operations beside Khalifa Port.
LogisticsStorage
Service Licence
For services that support the industrial base within the zone.
ServicesSupport
Not sure which one you need?
Your licence and activities set your facility, approvals and cost. Riz & Mona confirms the exact activities your business needs before you apply.
Legal Structures
Company structure options in KEZAD
Free Zone Establishment
- A single shareholder company
- A separate legal entity from you
- Limited liability on personal assets
- Full control in one owner's hands
- Best for solo founders and SMEs
Free Zone Company
- Two or more shareholders
- A separate legal entity from owners
- Limited liability on personal assets
- Scales as you add partners or capital
- Best for joint ventures and larger firms
Branch Company
- Extends a company from outside KEZAD
- Runs the parent's activities
- No separate legal personality
- Parent carries full liability
- Best for manufacturers expanding here
Pricing
How much does a KEZAD setup cost?
A KEZAD licence can start from around AED 16,000, but the real cost is the facility you lease, from a warehouse to a land plot. That is where budgets swing. Treat every figure as indicative.
Licence and office
From about AED 16,000
A licence with a small office or workstation and one visa. The lean start for trading and service firms.
Warehouse or unit
Rent quoted per project
A pre-built warehouse or industrial unit in the KEZAD logistics park. For storage, distribution and light production.
Industrial land plot
Leases up to 50 years, quoted per project
A serviced plot for your own factory or facility. Priced by size, sector and location.
What moves your total cost?
The facility
This is the big one. An office is cheap. A warehouse or a land plot is the real driver, and it dwarfs the licence fee.
Licence type
An industrial licence with approvals costs more than a simple trading licence. Your activity sets the base.
Visa count
A visa package adds to the licence. Your facility sets how many visas you can sponsor.
Sector approvals
Chemicals, food and heavy industry need approvals from the relevant authority, which add time and fees.
Utilities and build-out
A land plot means construction, power and water on top of the lease. Energy here is competitive.
A note on these figures
All costs shown are indicative and move with your licence, facility and visa count. The facility is the real driver at KEZAD and swings budgets widely, and KEZAD quotes land and warehouse tariffs per project, so the only accurate number is a tailored quote. Riz & Mona provides a personalised quote at no charge before you commit to anything.
The Process
How to set up a company in KEZAD
KEZAD can license a business in about 1 to 3 weeks though land-and-build projects take longer. Here is the journey.
Day 1
Choose activity and licence
Pick your activities and an industrial, trading, logistics or service licence. This sets your facility and approvals.
Day 1
Choose a structure
Select an FZE, an FZCO or a branch, based on owners and your plans.
Day 2–5
Select your facility
Choose an office, warehouse or land plot, then sign the lease with KEZAD.
Day 3–7
Submit your documents
Reserve your name and submit the shareholder file for review.
Week 1–2
Clear any approvals
Industrial and regulated activities need pre-approval from the relevant authority.
Week 2–3
Get your licence
KEZAD issues your trade licence and registration once approvals clear.
Week 2–6
Visas and banking
Apply for the establishment card, staff visas and a corporate bank account.
Requirements
Documents needed for KEZAD company formation
Having your file ready before you apply is what keeps a standard licence inside that one-to-three-week window.
The list is light for individual applicants and heavier when a company is a shareholder. Industrial and land activities also need a business plan, and regulated goods need pre-approvals. Get the individual documents ready first.
Documents issued outside the UAE need attestation before submission. Requirements shift by nationality, activity and facility. Riz & Mona confirms your exact checklist before you prepare anything.
For corporate shareholders
Certificate of incorporation, MOA and articles of the parent, a board resolution approving the setup, power of attorney for the signatory, and passport copies of all directors.
Full process
15–25
Working days
From entry permit to Emirates ID in hand, a standard visa runs about three to five weeks once your establishment card is live.
Visa notice Visa approvals and conditions are set by UAE immigration authorities and can change without notice. Riz & Mona Consultancy handles the full process on your behalf, from establishment card to Emirates ID collection. Only the medical test and biometrics need your presence in the UAE.
Visa & Immigration
Your KEZAD licence lets your company sponsor UAE residence visas. The number follows your facility. An office supports a few. A warehouse or plot supports a labour-scale workforce, with on-site housing communities available.
- Investor or partner visa, renewable term
- Employee visas for staff and management
- Labour visas for your workforce
- Dependent visas for spouse and children
- Golden Visa route for investors and talent
- On-site worker housing communities
Corporate Banking
Banking for KEZAD companies
UAE banks run close checks before opening any account. Industrial and trading firms with import and export flows get questions on suppliers, buyers and cash flow. A clear KEZAD activity gives your file a solid base. Each bank decides on its own.
Banks, timelines and what to expect
Banks that work with industrial firms
First Abu Dhabi BankAbu Dhabi-based
Abu Dhabi Islamic BankAbu Dhabi-based
ADCBGrowing SMEs
Mashreq NeoBizSME-friendly
Emirates NBDWidely used
Wio BankDigital-first
Realistic account opening times
UAE resident applicant4 to 8 weeks
Non-resident applicant6 to 12 weeks
Industrial or trading firm5 to 10 weeks
Digital bank3 to 7 days
- Traders should open a digital bank account first to keep moving while the main account is reviewed.
- Import and export firms face deeper review. Come with a clear picture of your suppliers and buyers.
- Account approval and timelines are decided by each bank and are never guaranteed. Riz & Mona positions your file well but cannot promise a decision.
Inside the Zone
Inside the KEZAD industrial platform
Cheap licences exist everywhere. What KEZAD has that they do not is Khalifa Port and the AD Ports network, built around the zone.
Zone Comparison
How does KEZAD compare for industry?
The real question is not KEZAD versus every UAE zone. It is KEZAD versus the industrial zones a manufacturer would actually shortlist. Here is that comparison.
Not sure which industrial zone fits?
Every operation weighs port, land and cost differently. Riz & Mona compares zones against your activity, your markets and your budget, then recommends one.
Start Today
Start your ZonesCorp Abu Dhabi setup
From licence to land or warehouse to bank account, Riz & Mona sets up your KEZAD company end to end, so you get an Abu Dhabi industrial base built on the right numbers.
Free consultation•Full facility quote upfront•Licence, visa and banking•Approvals handled for you
All costs are indicative and vary by licence, facility and visa count. Riz & Mona provides a personalised quote before you commit.