Incorporation • ADGM

ADGM Operating Company

Businesses can establish an operational company in ADGM quickly and easily and benefit from the selection of a wide range of permitted business activities.

Why an
ADGM Operating Company?

Grow and scale in Abu Dhabi’s award-winning international financial centre, providing an international and supportive business environment. Companies benefit from the low cost, speed, and simplicity that ADGM’s fully digitized incorporation process achieves, while investors are attracted by the investment flexibility and legal protections that ADGM’s regulatory environment provides. Clara can also assist with work permits and visas, securing office space and other government services.

Please get in touch with us to get an instant quote on your email in under one minute.

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Journey

Process of forming an ADGM Operating Company

01

/07

Proposal

Sign proposal with pricing.

02

/07

KYC

Client completes KYC form to provide identification details.Client is the individual or corporate entity who will sign our engagement and pay our invoice.

03

/07

Engagement

Engagement letter signed and invoice paid.

04

/07

Complete form

Client completes the business application form.

05

/07

Sign Lease

Client signs the office or desk lease.

06

/07

Incorporation documents

Clara prepares the documents and client signs.

07

/07

Submission

Incorporation documents submitted to ADGM

From SPVs to Tech Startup licenses and foundations, Clara’s got you covered in ADGM.

ADGM Operating Company

Requirements to setup an operating company in ADGM 

   

Business activities

ADGM offers a wide range of permitted business activities. There are no additional fees for selecting multiple activities, but the business plan submitted with the application must demonstrate the use of all selected activities. Additional approvals from external agencies may be required.

Authorised signatory

A GCC National or UAE resident must be appointed as the authorised signatory. Clara can provide Nominee services for this role at an additional annual fee

Lease

All ADGM operational entities must have their own lease on Al Maryah or Al Reem Island. Clara can provide contact details for you to arrange your lease. The lease should be signed when finalising the incorporation application so the lease dates aligns closely with the commercial licence dates.

Employment visas

An ADGM operational company can obtain employment visas following incorporation. The number of visas permitted is up to 2 visas per dedicated desk or 1 visa per 8 sqm of office space leased by the company. Clara can assist with employment for Golden visas.

Clara bundles

Save up to $795 when you bundle
your formation with our platform subscription

Make the most of Clara by integrating the formation and management of your
company with our wider company OS. 

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From company formation to maintaining the cap-table, by using Clara founders can digitally form their companies in a range of jurisdictions, create and manage their cap-tables and generate legal documents. Clara is quickly becoming an integral part of the startup software stack.

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Binance uses Clara to incorporate and manage ADGM entities. The team at Clara are extremely efficient and go the extra mile to ensure we always have a smooth experience and meet our deadlines. Top-notch service!

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Our customers operate from more than 45 different countries.

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Savings on fees

Our customers on average save more than 80% on their annual legal and admin fees.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

We have put together some commonly asked questions 

Are there any minimum capital requirements?

No. An ADGM Non-Financial company does not have a minimum share capital requirement.

Will my ADGM company need to lease an office?

Operating companies must have an office space on Al Maryah Island before ADGM will issue their commercial licence. The minimum office space requirement for an operating company is one allocated desk space. Here
​are a number of providers for office space.

Can I incorporate the ADGM company with multiple classes of shares and / or customized Articles of Association?

Yes, you can. You will need to provide Clara with the customized Articles of Association for filing at the time of incorporation. A declaration will need to be signed by the incorporating shareholders that these have been prepared in accordance with the ADGM Regulations.

Can I open a bank account for an ADGM company?

Yes. After the company is incorporated and the commercial license is issued, you may begin the process of opening a bank account. Clara Formations can provide you with a list of banks and their contacts, but will not assist you with the opening of a bank account.

Are there ongoing obligations for an ADGM company?

Yes. Most changes to a company (e.g. director and shareholder changes) trigger an obligation to file the change within 14 days. Annually, the company must file its commercial licence and data protection renewal, an annual confirmation statement, financial accounts and economic substance filings.

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